Trump Regime’s Evil Policies & Hope for Change
As I sit here in the bustling Caffe Cordina, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the hum of local chatter filling the air, I can’t help but think about the stark contrast between the warmth of our Maltese community and the chill of the Trump regime’s policies. Today, let’s look five reasons why many of us see this regime as evil, and, importantly, one reason for hope.
1. The Wall: A Symbol of Division
Let’s start with the most visible symbol of the Trump regime’s divisive policies: the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. This isn’t just about immigration; it’s about the message it sends to the world. Here in Malta, a country built on immigration and cultural exchange, we understand that walls don’t keep us safe; they keep us apart. The Trump regime’s obsession with this wall is a slap in the face to our shared humanity.
2. Climate Change Denial: A Threat to Our Islands
Malta, with its low-lying coastline and dependence on tourism, is on the frontline of climate change. Yet, the Trump regime has rolled back environmental protections, withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, and actively denied the science behind climate change. This isn’t just about the U.S.; it’s about the future of our islands and our children. We can’t afford to have leaders who turn a blind eye to this crisis.
3. Family Separation: A Stain on Humanity
In 2018, the Trump administration implemented a ‘zero tolerance’ policy that led to thousands of migrant children being separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. The policy was later reversed, but many families remain separated, and the psychological trauma inflicted is incalculable. As a community that values family and compassion, we must stand against such cruelty.
4. Attacks on the Free Press: A Danger to Democracy
The Trump regime’s war on the media is a danger to democracy, both in the U.S. and around the world. Here in Malta, we’ve seen firsthand the importance of a free press in holding power accountable, following the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. When the Trump regime labels legitimate news outlets as ‘fake news’ and encourages violence against journalists, it’s a threat to us all.
5. Embrace of White Supremacy: A Dark Stain
From Charlottesville to the rise in hate crimes under his watch, the Trump regime’s embrace of white supremacy is undeniable. This isn’t about politics; it’s about morality. We must stand against racism in all its forms, whether it’s happening in the U.S. or here in Malta. As the late, great Maltese poet Dun Karm once wrote, “Il-bniedem jkun jkun, u jkun jkun” – ‘Love will be, and it will be’.
One Reason for Hope: The Power of Protest
Despite the darkness of the Trump regime, there’s reason for hope. We’ve seen it in the streets of America, from the Women’s March to Black Lives Matter protests. We’ve seen it here in Malta, from the anti-corruption demonstrations to the climate change strikes. The power of protest works. It’s up to us, the people, to keep fighting for a better world. As the late U.S. Representative John Lewis once said, “If you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something, to do something.”
