Of Trump, Hitler and World History
Written By Ogbonna Nwuke
It wasn't really supposed to be easy either for America or
for a world order that has evolved over time.
The signs had been there right from the time the new sheriff in town bared
his fangs on the campaign trail.
Now America and a bewildered world are stuck with a
situation that is unclear, an international system likely to be under siege
soon, and a future that appears uncertain. Isolationism and protectionism had
long taken a strong bashing as the world, secure in its dream for the emergence
of a global village, marched in the direction of globalisation.
Of course, there has always been the threat posed to world
peace by the cold war between the east and west, between the United States and
Russia if you like. But skillful diplomacy as well as the cautious optimism of
world leaders have helped to reduce the risk of a global war.
Side by side, the world has witnessed the spirited expansion
of frontiers of trade through carefully documented treaties and agreements. On
the home front, America has been a country of immigrants built on a liberal
philosophy which allows anyone who meets the rigorous requirements for
citizenship to pursue what has come to be seen as the American dream.
The flexibility of such a system anchored on basic freedoms
which say all men are born equal basically created the opportunity for the
forebears of Donald Trump whose home country, Germany, went to war with the
rest of the world, including the United States, to migrate into America.
America in turn has benefitted from immigration,
transforming into one of the greatest countries in the world, and holding such
a promise for all who seek to escape persecution; who wishes to make a new home
from home; and who desire to exploit the bountiful and latent energy life
offers without any limitations.
In so many ways, the tale of America and a changing world
have become intertwined, with America providing the moral fibre and leadership
for most of the change that has characterised the notion of a free world.
So the promise of a United States has impacted positively on
the concept of an European Union which now enjoys a common currency and engages
in joint collaborative action in most areas, including free movement and
immigration.
The birth of the African Union was ideally tailored along
these lines as well. The fact that in order to bond closely, create huge
markets, develop science, technology and infrastructure. And enhance
cooperation essentially among African countries; Africa had to take advantage
of some of the finest principles that are driving human progress.
Somehow, under the Trump administration, the world stares in
unbelief as what some people are beginning to tag a new world order makes its
forced entry.
The fight to evolve a new psyche, a new world view, a new pecking order
and new national perspectives for the world or for the people of the United
States by the Trump government isn't coming without a strong challenge.
Outside of America world leaders are raising indignant
voices as they try to make sense of the orders that are rolling out of
Washington like German panzers.
It is as if nazism which strives on a culture of
superiority, race, hate and extreme rightist ideals has been reborn. It is
rather strange that it has chosen America described as the land of freedom to
reincarnate under the watch of a German American. When Hitler realized his
aspiration to be German Chancellor, he unleashed a wave of German nationalism
just as Trump seeks to do now by pretending to reawaken American consciousness.
Hitler, the records show, followed up the demonstration of a
nationalistic leadership with the repudiation of international agreements,
including that which had committed Germany to paying reparations for its role
in World War I.
In no time Germany was overrun by the nazi culture. Not even
the German army known for its prowess and discipline was spared the control of
the nazi movement.
The rest is history and not many nations, especially Israel and the Jews can
forget what happened during World War II.
Although it is early in the life of the Trump
administration, I can see some parallels between Trump and Hitler whose coming
Nastrodamus foretold.
Nastrodamus had predicted a third global war. Is it possible
that the actions and reactions of President Trump have the capacity to create
room for the advent of the Prince of the house of Mohammed?
In his predictions that have never failed to come true, America's defence
systems which Nastrodamus saw, failed to intercept what may be today's nuclear warheads
fired by the Arabian Prince described as the third anti-Christ.
Trump denies targeting Islam, but the arguments flowing
back and forth doesn't suggest that the world is struck by the truth of what he
says.
Trump has spoken favourably about torture, a veritable tool
that Hitler and his henchmen promoted to an art. He has spoken in derogatory
terms with leaders of countries with which America has friendly ties like
Mexico and Australia. He has ordered soldiers into action and began to
cultivate the worst kind of propaganda that the American people have never seen
like the Germans did under Goebels and Hitler.
I wish my heart could trust Trump, wish that Trump would have the wish to make
the world a more peaceful and habitable place. But the signs aren't in any way
near here.
Dreams of an indomitable Germany under Hitler spiralled out
of control and led to the death of millions of men, women and children. Will
the dream to make America great again turn out to be another smokescreen for
dealing a deadly blow on humanity?
Trump didn't catch my fancy from the outset. Even now, his remarks
as the strongest president on earth make me ill at ease. I followed his
campaign speeches, his remarks about President Barak Obama the first black to
occupy the White House, his proven track record for discriminating against
blacks, and the snubbishness conveyed by the way he spoke while soliciting for
votes. And I came off with a great feeling of trepidation that unrest in
America and war abroad might be the ultimate outcome of a Trump presidency.
How I wish I would be wrong. How I wish that this President
would help lay the foundation for a thousand years of peace as predicted by
Nastrodamus. How I really wish.
There is no doubt that America has what it needs, going by Trump's
victory via the Electoral College. But the vast majority who cast more popular
votes for the protection of rights that are coming under threat early in the
Trump era cannot stand it.
Right from inauguration day, they have been on the streets
protesting the new face of America and the entry of a rawhide cowboy with a
smoking gun who appears determined to reinvent Red Indian territory that ought
to be conquered.
More Americans, worried by the turn of events,are joining
the ongoing debate. Not many agree that in targeting Muslims, Trump would
succeed in keeping America safe.The American court system hasn't demonstrated
any understanding for the presidential order which securely shut the door in
the face of citizens of some Muslim nations or those from such countries
who are already carrying valid US visas.
It is doubtful US courts ever will, given the uproar in America and the fear
that the presidential orders may indeed be at variance with the tenets of their
Constitution.
In the court of public opinion, among experienced diplomats
and world leaders, Trump doesn't seem to have secured mainstream support for
cancelling trade agreements entered into by the United States and other
countries.
Many Americans are beginning to think about the
consequential effects of the decisions of a president who appears to be unduly
ego driven. I am not a pyschologist but I have a strong feeling that this
president might be held hostage by a kind of dogma inherited from the formative
stages of his life.
Office, the decorum and protocols that go with it are
supposed to shape the attitude of leaders or the position of leadership on a
wide range of issues and interests. Somehow, these do not appear to have any
moderating influence on a President who continues to taunt perceived enemies
and opponents even in a manner that no president before him has done.
The trouble is, Trump carries a huge responsibility. He
needs to find a way out of the deepening cleavage that threatens America and
the established world order in which Washington is a prominent player.
He needs to wake up to the reality that America cannot
afford to act irresponsibly in a changing world that is faced with so many
challenges.
Above all, he needs to come to terms with the fact that
running a country cannot be the same as operating a business where one can
easily say to an employee, "you are fired!"
Can Trump settle down to the reality of these facts in time
to lead the free world?
Only time will tell.