Trump and the World

The unthinkable is only unthinkable until it happens. Like the attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, President Elect Donald Trump winning the 2016 US elections now seems historically inevitable. All over the world leaders are asking themselves what Trump’s policies will mean for them. No one can say for sure but Trumps speeches during his campaign have given a lot of insight on what is to come.

The largest impact of Trump on the world will likely be his policies on climate change. During his campaign, Trump denied the science of climate change and called it a “con job” and a “myth”.  In 2015 Trump announced his plans to void the Paris Accords, which seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He plans to permit mining of shale gas and oil, which defeats the target of reducing greenhouse gases. This will slowly but surely increase global warming worldwide. The world could lose its last chance to act unitedly to save our planet.

Further, Trump’s policies could have big economic impacts. Trump has accused China of “Dumping” and of “Devaluing” their currency, the Yuan. He has threatened to bring trade cases against China to the US courts and to the World Trade organisation. If implemented, Mr. Trump will get into a trade war with China causing its economy to slow down. China has the second largest economy in the world. Any country trading with China will be affected, causing those countries’ economies to slow down as well.

Furthermore, Trump is threatening to cut back trade with China, so as to make sure that North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-un does not lead North Korea any longer. North Korea has nuclear missiles. If North Korea is put in a corner, then it can unleash these missiles on Japan and South Korea. The result of this could be war.

President Elect Trump’s Defence policies could also cause an economic slowdown. During the elections, Trump announced his plan for an increased budget for defence, but also promised to reduce taxes. If taxes are reduced, the government will then need to borrow money to pay for an increased budget for Defence. This means less money for investments in the economy, which will slow down trade and investment worldwide.

In addition, Trump plans to void the nuclear agreement with Iran. Iran is the biggest producer of oil globally. Before the nuclear agreement, other countries ere banned from importing oil from Iran. Sanctions were lifted off imports of oil from Iran after the nuclear agreement was finalised. If the nuclear agreement becomes void, then the sanctions on export of oil by Iran will return, causing oil to become extremely expensive worldwide. This will cause a huge economic issue.

Trump also plans on stopping Muslim immigration because he believes that the Islamic states are the biggest “sponsors of terrorism”. This could lead to a Muslim versus non-Muslim divide worldwide. That might make terrorism worse, not better.

Trump also wants NATO to pay for protection against Russia. This has European officials worried as Russia ha become extremely strong after defeating Ukraine. Instability with Europe being so powerful is hazardous.

Global diplomacy has been likened to a game of chess‑and Trump is threatening to toss all the pieces off the board. No one knows if Trump is going to deliver on these threats but there are plenty of reasons to be very nervous. 

The Freedom of Speech

In the 16th century a philosopher named Giordano Bruno claimed the earth was not the center of the universe. We learn that in school today but his views offended the Christian church who burned him at the stake on February 17, 1600. If heroes like Giordano Bruno had shied away from expressing their opinions perhaps we would still think that the earth was flat.

In India today we have a big debate about free speech. Some people think we should not hurt others religious feelings, Others say we should not say things against our country. When our constitution was first written the right to free speech was absolute like in most democracies. But in 1951 many conditions were imposed to limit our free speech right. In the decades since many books have been banned and many writers prosecuted because they wrote what someone or the other found offensive. Since independence 52 books which have won international awards have been banned by the central or a state government in India. Who knows how many Bruno’s were among these authors.

Society’s change and grow when they are confronted by new ideas and opinions. If we had shied away from change, we would still be burning woman in the name of sati and ostracizing people because of their cast. Hurt feelings are a small price to pay for positive change. Change is painful but free speech is the only way to accomplish it. Some people say that if we have free speech then bad ideas can incite people to violence. The answer to that claim is that we have laws to punish people who are violent. The answer to a bad idea is a good idea not gagging somebody’s mouth.

Those who claim that we should trust the government to decide what we can and cannot say forget our history. From 1975 to 1977 all our free speech rights were suspended and the government used censorship to arrest tens of thousands of innocent people. Let’s look at the societies that trusted the government with unlimited power: Nazi, Germany, Imperial Japan and Starlin’s Russia. Those societies are dead along with millions of people. Where they kill free speech they will kill people too.

A Dream for Peace

In my thoughts and dreams

I see a place filled with joy and love

Prosperity and harmony and peace --

All brought on the wings of a dove.

But when I wake up all I see

Are newspapers flashing headlines constantly?

About wars, deaths, violence, hatred

And the destruction of humanity.

But it is up to us to create

This long-desired peace,

To make our dreams come true,

And all this violence to cease.

Cause we all come from people

Who somewhere, somehow,

Have this destructive impulse

To hatred and intolerance we bow.

So do we all join hands in the name

Of peace and harmony?

Or do we destroy ourselves and

Not set the winds of change free?

Do we preserve love, compassion,

Peace and humanity?

Or do we let it go, shatter it

With violence and insanity?

So let's join hands and create peace

Work till all negativity is shed --

For living happily is much better,

Far better than being dead.

My Heart Will Forever Be Mine

We all think the same thing,

Deep, deep inside.

The custom states, that I must find,

The one for me, the guy with the rose,

Who will shower me with love.

But it all comes crashing down,

At the end of the day,

When looking for ‘that’ guy,

Will lead to your doomsday.

I don’t need you or your roses,

To feel special

As today on valentines,

The roses bought will be by me,

To celebrate myself and my family.

I crush the norms,

That long stand by saying,

I don’t need you my valentine.

My heart will be forever mine.