by Arley Gill
Wednesday, 6 January 2021, will never be forgotten.
We will always remember, the day the world stopped and watched Donald Trump’s supporters descend on Washington DC, and subsequently disrupted a Congressional hearing where lawmakers were scheduled to certify President-Elect Joe Biden as the next President of the United States of America.
The US — the so-called “defender of democracy” — had its own reckoning that leads me to ask: How will the world respond to the United States when its leaders refuse to accept the results of a free and fair election? Dr Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, brings the issue closer to home, when he raises a similarly relevant and important question:
“Similar scenes in Venezuela resulted in sanctions by foreign nations. Is it that those same people will resort to sanctions against this country (US), since the losers of elections decide to defy authorities and call people into the street to put into office a person who feels he is entitled to the office and is being denied by fraud?’’
What is happening in the United States these days — with the incumbent President Donald Trump refusing to accept defeat — may come as a surprise to many people. But, I am not surprised!
I did not predict that Donald Trump would refuse to concede to President-elect, Joe Biden — it is sometimes impossible to predict what President Trump will do next. However, I do understand the nature of the American society and its government structure.
Years ago, as a secondary school student, I came to the conclusion that democracy is defined by America based on its interest at the point-in-time. This belief was later reinforced at Omowale Franklin’s feet at what was known then as, National College in Grenada. Democracy — when it benefits the United States — the US will support a dictator; and, when it is in America’s geopolitical, economic or military interest, the US will remove a duly elected leader. The Monroe Doctrine — a US policy that began in 1823 — perfectly outlines that philosophy and practice.
Dig deeper into the Venezuela situation — the United States, currently led by a president who does not spend time reading his briefs — implemented a policy aimed at destroying a sovereign nation and creating a refugee crisis in our region; it’s a refugee crisis that we have not seen in our region in our lifetime.
It was mindboggling to watch, and subsequently fully understand, how the United States unilaterally chooses a person in Juan Guaidó — an individual that was not democratically elected and based solely on US interest, tries to install and recognises that individual as the “president’’ of Venezuela, a sovereign nation — a nation with a duly elected President already in office.
The European Union also supported and joined President Trump in recognising Guaidó as “president’’ of Venezuela. However, with the results of the last National Assembly elections in Venezuela, the European Union issued a statement saying they no longer recognised Guaidó. Venezuelans, once again, had exercised their democratic rights and elected their own president into office, with Nicolás Maduro winning a majority.
Still, today, in the eyes of the US, Venezuela has two “presidents.” A president that was installed, recognised and supported by the United States and, interestingly, some countries in the Caribbean; and, a real president — Nicolás Maduro — who is recognised by the United Nations and a group of principled democracies. What happened in Venezuela is partly why I am not surprised at what is currently taking place in the United States.
In addition, we have more evidence of this shifting definition of democracy right here in our Western Hemisphere. Just a few years ago, the United States played a critical and crucial role in removing former Bolivian President, Eva Morales, from office.
The American government doubted the credibility of the Bolivian election, using their stooges in the Organisation of American States and other regional and international agencies to make claims — asserting that the 2019 election was not conducted freely and fairly in Bolivia.
The assertion was made despite the fact that the Centre for Policy and Economic Research, an agency that is based in the United States, along with several other reputable institutions in the US — saying publicly that the election was indeed conducted free and fair and that Evo Morales was the duly elected leader of Bolivia. However, the United States orchestrated and supported the forced resignation and exiling of the former Bolivian president. The Bolivia election result in 2020 is vindication to the electoral process in Bolivia and the Bolivian people.
Whatever your thoughts are about Donald Trump — we must remember that more than 70 million Americans voted for him. To me, this speaks to the character of the American society. Despite the racism, the lies, and just the utter madness at times — there is a significant number of Americans who would like to have Trump as their leader.
For whatever reason: low literacy, institutional racism, nativism, xenophobia — whatever it is — we must recognise that Donald J Trump is not an anomaly. Trump represents what millions of Americans stand for in America. We hope that this idiot, before he leaves office on 20 January, does not start a war or press the button of a nuclear weapon.
I cheekily remarked to some of my colleagues: Grenada stands ready to invade America to bring peace and stability; or, should Caricom impose sanctions? The irony of it all is so laughable.
But, we might have to pinch ourselves and realise that this is the current political reality in the United States of America — the home of the free and land of the brave.
The events of 2 weeks ago and the inauguration of Biden/Harris should show that even though the US is NOT perfect it did come back from 4 years of autocratic rule and the people of the US have shown that we want a change and believe in equality and NOT what trump showed – the worst of mankind, we have survived and are glad to rejoin the world as the true democracy. Grenada and USA will always have a special bond.
Well-written analysis. I think you captured the two faces of America: 1. cynical capitalistic imperialist nation terrorizing the world and 2. depraved racist society terrorizing Black people.
If the United States is “a depraved, racist society terrorizing black people”, why do so many blacks choose to live there?
According to US Census data, more than a million Haitians live in the US. More than a million Jamaicans too, Over 400,000 Trinidadians, over 380,000 Nigerians, over 235,000 Ghanaians, etc, etc.
And we know that many more black people have lined up at US embassies all over the world, desperately trying to get permission to move to the US.
The facts strongly indicate that the US is the closest place to Heaven black people have ever known. Canada is an apparently close substitute.
I will always remember when I stopped and read with unbiased mind-set Arley Gill’s … Opinion, Commentary & Satire.
The Dictator of Venezuela wrecked and looted that Country: perhaps Arley Gill has an Award for Maduro. Is that the type of nightmares Arley Gill admires ?
What is happening locally is equally a shame; with Arley Gill’s propaganda & pointing his finger elsewhere doesn’t make or set things right. Maybe Arley Gill blessing it with Holy Water will help as his forked tongue makes it worse.
the end of trump is a beautiful thing, he has been a criminal in office for four long years, the air is starting to get better, in a few days we will be rid of this vermin. He will get what he deserves , be patient. Happy days to follow
Quite hypocrite remarks by Arley, as must have been looking into a glazed mirror to not see himself in equal or worse comparison. Well, too well fed gravy train poster boy for nepotism is never a good image to project, thus easier to point fingers in other directions.
Indeed and surely, there are plenty of old vermin type individuals here that too need to go. That said: An Spice Isle where ” Kieth is not an anomaly ” too well fits that mold.
Arley, One that lives in a glass house should never throw stones, but too many find that fitting their long tongue and as a cover tactic.
We were lucky. The Trump fanatics were far inferior to SDS, the Baader-Mienhoff group, The Red Brigade, Aum Shumriko…. even the 9/11 plotters, Al Qaeda, ISIS, etc. I mean, The Proud Boys: Fight club baddies, King of Staten Island-style slacker types. Yep, it could have been much worse. The Capitol Police, whose hearts, votes, and professional actions were on the side of the rioters/terrorists would have simply and compliantly folded before more disciplined opponents. But don’t worry: the latter are coming, especially if Trump and these amateurs aren’t swiftly sent to prison for a very long time. There’s no stopping this. They’re not going to just start being reasonable on January 8. After the American, French, Russian Revolutions, people just went back to being farmers, factory workers, etc. But these guys will go back to the Confederacy, where they have lived resentfully for the last 150 years. That’s a whole different 150-year-old country, with its own flag and government; they can’t be destroyed (they double as the US military, Republicans, etc); and so they’ll fight another day…..almost definitely starting tomorrow, January 8. We are under siege like the Capitol was, and we’d better know how to (lawfully and peacefully) protect ourselves.
Um, it’s “the land of the free, and the home of the brave”.
Do your research before trying to quote something you’re not properly informed to comment on.