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Personal thoughts/opinion on results of US presidential election
Torrential cascades have been written in American newspapers and journals. We’ve heard and seen more on CNN and BBC. My contribution in this article is a mere droplet, but I am sure I voice other women’s views too. I base my very personal views on certain criteria or bases. Oops, I almost forgot to say that I was absolutely happy and relieved with Biden being declared winner and elated about Harris being first woman VP with Jamaican/Indian blood running through her.
My son in Atlanta phoned me the moment the results from Pennsylvania were called: 10.30 pm over here on Saturday. He celebrated with a lonely champagne; me with a can of beer the next day! He was amidst rising hoots of horns, shouts of glee and fireworks bursting. I went to bed relieved; so far away but concerned since no one wants such as Trump proved himself to be in the hot seat with finger on nuclear button. Echoing a Sri Lankan resident over there, it was mentioned by others that the greatest relief would be to wake up not dreading the tweet of the day! I was suitably surprised to hear that many Lankans, at least on west coast of US, are Republican. I asked my informant, how come. Oh being Republican means being recognized as having wealth, she replies!!
Sense of humanity, fellow feeling, concern
These come through eyes, smile and natural body language when Biden speaks to the public; more so after he was confirmed Prez Elect. He conveys sincerity. His obvious empathy towards people in general could be adduced to his personal life having been full of tragedy. He admitted he considered suicide when his young wife and baby daughter were killed in an accident and his two sons seriously injured and in hospital. Tragedy did not end there; his elder son died at 35 of brain cancer. And then of course, the insults suffered at the hands of his presidential opponent; “Sleepy Joe” being one of the lesser. Khalil Gibran’s observation: ‘Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars’ is so true in Biden’s case.
For Trump there was always money and with it went power over lesser mortals, like women he groped. His blatant act of non-caring and anything goes for his sake was so obvious in his holding mass rallies packed close together, with him scorning face masks. Sure one million of the two dead of Covid 19 in the US could be traced directly to his disregard for medical advice. Then, causing doubt and vetoing a decent transfer of power, he goes off golfing.
Those around
Biden has always been a committed family man. After five years (1972-77) of being devoted sole parent to his two sons, travelling 90 minutes each way from Washington DC to Delaware to be with them at bedtime, he married Jill in 1977. You can judge how sensible and committed she is by the fact she said she will continue her teaching job when First Lady living in the White House
Also, Biden would have made his choice with much consideration, one being suitable to be his successor within the next four years or at the end of it. He may not seek a second term.
Biden listens to advisers; apparently his wife and family; and most definitely has said and will give credence to medical specialists and scientists in tackling the Covid 19 pandemic and his next priority: climate change.
How about bossy, blustering Trump? Any sign of criticism or not agreeing with him, meant ‘Off with his head’. Too numerous the VIPs in his government whom he axed; the many he let down after they compromised themselves on his behalf – Cohen. Absolutely self serving and repugnantly pugnacious. Consider his public contempt for Dr Faucci.
Honesty and Integrity
These are certainly not in doubt with Biden. No scandals whatsoever in his long political career of any misdeamenour in political and personal life. He was sixth youngest Senator in 1970 when voted in at age 29; was VP twice over; contested to be president, twice. And no whispers ever of scandal. Trump tried to implicate Biden’s son and even asked the Ukrainian President to act spy for him. That proves he could not ferret out any scandal about Joe Biden, so went the next generation.
Trump is the polar opposite: a businessman who learned from his father and outdid him in shady business deals, undercutting opponents. There is no need to talk of his morals – rock bottom, even gentlemanly behaviour. The way he, with total disregard for human lives, preferred to focus on the economy ignoring Covid 19 deaths. The latest tell-all book on Trump by his niece Mary L Trump in 2020 – Too Much and Never Enough: how my family created the world’s most dangerous man documents the depravity of the man given to lying, evading justice, worshipping money, bluster minus brains, letting others carry the blame, tax evading, exploiting women sexually so that he was considered alongside Weinstein when # MeToo was created.
Policy
Biden has outlined the work ahead for the government he leads. It is hoped both Houses will have Democrats in the majority. Biden named four major concerns: successfully battling the Covid 19 pandemic; peacefully uniting the US – politically and racially (he said this in stirring words); climate change/global warming; economy. Among many further tasks is building foreign relation bridges broken or chipped at by Trump; the most important being re-entering the Paris Agreement for Climate Change, NATO and WHO. He will restore, as far as possible, the lead given by Obama in social measures.
There really is no call to discuss Trump’s policies. They seemed to be his wholly and he acted the bull in a China shop world. For instance he left the last G7 meeting early, it is whispered, having heard that Macron, Trudeau, Johnson and Merkel on the fringe, had a good laugh over his pugnacious accusations against Canada and evident rudeness.
Peaceful and tolerant
As Senator, VP and now in power, Joe Biden absolutely advocated a non-belligerent US, multiracial and fair to all its citizens. While Trump was rabid against migrants and separated permanently children from parents at the southern border, Biden will not lock out urgent immigrants. He respects Black Lives, was totally for women’s rights and equality and opposed the Gulf War and guns freely possessed by Americans. He was against homosexuality, voting against the army’s recruitment of such, due perhaps to his Catholic faith. Maybe he holds more tolerant views on this and same sex marriage. He is pro-abortion though a regular churchgoer.
First Ladies
They play significant roles when their husbands are Presidents. Melania Trump fades into obscurity she rose from after marrying The Trump with wealth and power, when compared to solidly foundationed Jill Biden. Superficial beauty and an East European model, suspiciously (it is said) given a US passport positioned against dedicated teacher who holds a BA, two MAs and a doctorate in education from the University of Delaware. Melania is third wife of Donald Trump who threw away wives as he did women who he bedded, often amounting to rape. Biden married Jill after years of single and devoted parenthood and lives a Roman Catholic life.
Sense and sensibility versus gross crudity and overpowering selfishness
That sums up the 46th and 45th Presidents of USA. While Trump lied atrociously, had an attention span of a few minutes and no deep knowledge about the world, Biden is sharp and seems full of good sense. He does make a gaffe once in a way, but that makes him all the more a human being.