Thu Nov 19

American Presidential Election and Democracy Look for Change, Moral and Intellectual Leadership

Written by Mahboob A. Khawaja, PhD.

Presidential Election in Stained Democracy

When false claims challenge the truth, it breeds fearful and ferocious public outcomes. No wonder, why the American masses are more divided today than any time in recent history. American presidential elections failed to produce a viable prospect for the working of democracy. The nation is entrenched in an unending political crisis, more of opinions than substantial truth and reality. Opinions vary but truth is not transient and adaptable. American democracy appears to be unfolding many fault lines of time and historic consequences and being unable to see the reality beyond the obvious. Former President Obama published memoirs: “The Promised Land” emphasizing the distinction between truth and falsehood as if he had the current presidential elections in focus.

At issue is the human character, leadership sense of responsibility and honesty, human equality, hopes for justice and truth digging. American masses are fast embracing the fear of an uncertain political future that could deplete the human patience and raise the threats of greater vulnerability to chaos and political darkness to sort out realism. President Trump claims that 2020 elections were rigged and/or were “fraudulent” and alleged false voting accounting in certain states. Joe Bidden (President Elect) views a fair and accountable process of the current presidential elections and its results as approximately 76M Americans voted for him to be the next elected president of America. His voice of reasoning and legitimacy rests in “We, the People”, the core value of the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Not so, President Trump is challenging this notion in many states calling for recounts of the voting results and simultaneously echoing accusations of a “fraudulent and stolen election.” All of the 50 American States and other territories have systematic plans in place for local, regional and federal elections making the US democracy work for few centuries.

Undoubtedly, competitive elections create contradictions, new challenges, hatred, and conflicts and often undermine the conception of goodness, virtue and honesty. Once the process is over, competent and intelligent proactive leaders heel the masses and workout unity of thoughts and coherent agendas for reconciliation and unity of minds for a better future. In his victory speech, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris did exactly that to console the American people as elected President and VP of all the American masses. The normality of transition of power to the elected president is in jeopardy as the Trump administration refuses to certify the outcomes and the President Elect encounters immense problems to plan for the future, not just to deal with COVID-19 massive pandemic and its dreadful impacts but how to carve out a smooth sustainable future for the American people. Trump’s own taskforce paints a dire situation: “aggressive and unrelenting- Covid-19” pandemic across America. The US news media reports that more than 251,000 American have died and more that 11 millions are affected by the pandemic.

Trump Administration Playing with “We, the People”

John W. Whitehead (“End the Government’s War on America’s Military Veterans”: Information Clearing House: 11/10/2020), is an American Constitutional attorney and an author (Battlefield America: The War on the America People), offers this latest assessment:

The 2020 presidential election may be over, but nothing has really changed…The U.S. government still poses the greatest threat to our freedoms. More than terrorism, more than domestic extremism, more than gun violence and organized crime, even more than the perceived threat posed by any single politician, the U.S. government remains a greater menace to the life, liberty and property of its citizens than any of the so-called dangers from which the government claims to protect us.

Wickedness and piety cannot be combined in one human character. Trump inflicted disharmony and racial discrimination amongst the black and indigenous and colored population. What about absolute power instigated by absolute-minded maniac leaders regardless of the democratic principles? Today, President Trump fired Christopher Krebs (Director CISA), Cyber Security and Infrastructures for telling the truth that presidential election were fair and without any security breach or fraudulent intervention. Earlier, Trump fired Asper, The Defense Secretary for opposing the troops withdrawals from Afghanistan and launching an attack on Iran. President Trump could have learned from President Putin – how to resolve successfully the Nagarno-Kharbach prolonged problem between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

It seems that unpredictable but paranoid and vengeful Trump has incapacitated the in-born faculties of American lifelines to be a morally and intellectually crippled and more of a besieged nation in its conduct of basic tenets of the American liberty, justice and democracy. This was not accidental but a planned scheme of things although unknown in its short-long terms consequences over its ability to cope with the change phenomenon for a sustainable future. America under Trump became an insane – a victim of its own obsession with power and fearful of its future. America appears to be at threshold of an unavoidable moral and intellectual transition of reasoning but it is not following through the rational process of change and future-making. The Washington-based war culture has incapacitated the US policy makers to think rationally and act responsibly in global affairs. Strange as is, President Trump and his advisors cannot explain why every day 18-25 US war veterans commit suicides? (“Why Do Soldiers Commit Suicide and Global Warlords.” Uncommon Thought Journal, USA). Trump claimed “America First” but acted as if “Trump cult” was preferred and chosen value and nothing beyond that spectrum towards conception of goodness and sincerity to the American national interest. He favored Netanyahu over America. When asked about the peaceful transfer of power, Secretary of State Pompeo responded, “Yes, there will be a smooth transfer of power to a second Trump presidency.” Is Pompeo a Trump’s “puppy’? Across America, morality and intellect appears to be in a shallow laughable stockhouse. One wonders, how the conscientious and informed global community will view such a threshold of disingenuous and wicked “Trump cult” behavior. America is in desperate need of political change, national unity, harmony and a coherent transition process to replace disunity, hatred, turmoil and missing consciousness of viable democracy. Trump refusal to recognize Joe Biden as an elected President seems unexcitable shadow without moral and intellectual force or feeling – a kind of dead-ended unconscious human behavior generating formidable historic problems for a democratic America. Could Joe Bidden learn from Trump’s negligence and offer a hope for change and better global relationships including Russia and China and the Arab Middle East?

“We, the People” Agenda for Joe Bidden - President Elect

Be the leader of all America as you claim to be and listen to voices of REASON, even the dull and ignorant – they all have a story to tell. Dignity of moral values and tranquility of temperament should be the characteristic of sustainable wisdom for official policies and practices.
Focus mind is more powerful than all the advanced weapons and machinery. Yes, COVID-19 Pandemic is a critical issue to be dealt with cautiously and scientifically for the good of the masses.
Trump neglected advice and reasoning in all official endeavors. He opted for transgressors, killers and morally corrupt rulers across the globe. You will have the opportunity and time to take corrective actions to enhance human equality, human rights – be it in Kashmir, Palestine, Myanmar-Burma or elsewhere and legislate changes to ensure participation of indigenous, black and people of colors as equal citizens in American political systems.
Be conscious of your leadership strength and weaknesses and aware of the people around you and your political maneuverability. Do not engage in any hybrid culture – part human and part inhuman.
Be a peacemaker, not a warmonger as there is much evil and much good in the creed of human optimism. True leaders create new leaders and always listen and accept readily intelligent advice from people of knowledge and wisdom. Your passion should be a progressive and changing America for the best of people and humanity.

Dr. Mahboob A. Khawaja specializes in international affairs-global security, peace and conflict resolution with keen interests in Islamic-Western comparative cultures and civilizations, and author of several publications including the latest: One Humanity and the Remaking of Global Peace, Security and Conflict Resolution. Lambert Academic Publications, Germany, 12/2019.