President Trump’s conduct is disgraceful
Was there one evening when the temperature outside was just right, the sun was lowering on the horizon, the sky a beautiful shade of blue with slowly moving white clouds, leaves of the trees rustling by a light breeze, the grass of surrounding lawns a bright and fresh green?
It was then you decided to take a lone walk through the neighborhood or follow a walking trail through the woods.
Suddenly, you became aware of yourself and the mystery of life. You felt satisfied with who you are, with all your material blessings and with your family and friends nearby. All appears OK with your world, but suddenly reality intrudes on your musings.
You know life on earth is fragile and can be short-lived and dangerous. The morning newspaper attests to this – poverty exists in this country and the world, discrimination and violation of human rights permeate multiple societies, all kinds of injustices and dangers are found everywhere on earth, oppressive governments continue to deny basic needs for its citizens such as clean water, food and clothing. You come to realize; not all is right with the world outside of your smaller world.
Don’t get me wrong – there are good and honest people attempting to right the wrongs of human existence and will never be intimated by those who count such people as naïve, but the struggle seems endless and the progress slow.
One area I find troubling and not “right” in our democracy involves a large segment of citizens who tolerate an administration deep in scandal on an almost daily basis and headed by a president that can be characterized as un-American!
Just consider some recent events involving this president:
1. To welcome to the White House, with open arms, two Russian dignitaries, smiling and glad handing with pictures being taken by a Russian photographer, but no White House press present.
2. Beaming with the satisfaction of a king when meeting with the Saudis who violate human rights and just love the arms deal signed with the United States.
3. To stand at the Jewish sacred wall and knowing that some months back, he and his administration did not mention the murder of millions of Jews during World War II on the Jewish Holocaust remembrance day.
4. To embarrass our nation at the NATO gathering by chastising the members about their financial commitments, but not stressing the valuable support among members by supplying personnel and equipment during world crisis events, and showing his ignorance of decency by shoving one minister aside to get to the front of a gathering.
All these events brought to mind two statements of John Howard Griffin (now deceased) in his 1962 edition of “Black Like Me,” a book which all should read because it illustrates an ongoing disregard of human rights by a large segment of our society.
Trump may want to ponder the following: “It is by justice that we can authentically measure man’s value or his nullity (nothingness)…the absence of justice is the absence of what makes him man.” (quoted by the author from Plato), and Griffin quotes Lionel Trilling’s remark about culture: Culture is…”learned behavioral patterns so deeply engrained they produce unconscious involuntary reactions – is a prison.”
Trump, a 70-old-man, doesn’t understand justice, is locked into a self-centered, self-imposed prison; and is an unabashed liar. Don’t subscribe to the argument that he doesn’t mean what he tweets or believe all that issues from his distorted brain to mouth. His presence in the White House not only tarnishes that historic site, but degrades the very office of the presidency of the United States.
And a final comment: “Christian, when was the last time you saw Trump attending Sunday worship services or any religious service? It would be interesting to find out what Pope Francis thinks of the sort of Christianity Trump exhibits and lives by. Just a thought.
Edwin Lefevre is a resident of Monessen.