American Presidents are but symbols of American military might and brutality. And, Hillary made it very clear that the Presidency is that and only she is fit to lead it. Not a sexist pig like Trump.
Last week, I was watching Hillary Clinton's live speech in
San Diego where she rightly attacked Donald Trump's erratic temperament, bullish social media tactics, sexist and misogynist ideas about women, racism and intellectual and practical ignorance. Her speech was fiery, scathing and well paced so the audience could erupt into laughter when sharp digs were made at Trump's character and political abilities.
But at the same time, it was also a highly pompous speech. For every jibe and punch, she elevated herself to nauseating heights. Clinton did not shy from presenting herself as a highly accomplished, experienced and wise stateswoman.
What was of course even more infuriating was her rather jingoistic, hollow but nationalist, chest-thumping rhetoric.
Clinton stated that Trump has repeatedly belittled America by claiming it's not so great anymore. Trump has, over and over again, implied America lost its greatness. She wanted the audience to realise that by saying all this, Trump was in fact insulting the land, people, troops and might that is America. She, on the hand other, would never dare to forget or insult America's greatness, especially its brave soldiers and their families for their sacrifice in the name of freedom and democracy.
America risked its place as the Greatest Nation of all if Trump was elected.
After making it clear that Clinton is a loyal American, she proceeded to outline the threat that Trump is to Great America. She pointed out that while Trump does not have any clear policy or political platform per se, it can be easily deduced that Trump is:
- isolationist and divisive for suggesting building a wall to keep Mexicans out, supporting Britain's exit from the EU, abandoning NATO
- racist and dangerous for insulting Mexicans and threatening to ban Muslims from entering America
- irrational and dangerous who should be nowhere near critical military decisions in the Situation Room or the nuclear trigger
While she chided Trump for not having any diplomatic sensitivity, she herself did not resist declaring who America's rivals are: China and Russia. China has often been the scape goat of Trump's rhetoric. Of Mitt Romney's back in 2012. China is blamed for taking away American industry and jobs. Clinton made it clear that Moscow and Beijing are jealous of America the Great.
In her geographical global sweep, she made it clear who American allies are and, did not forget to mention how important Israel is to America.
If Moscow and Beijing are rivals and Israel is a noble American ally, what can we deduce of Clinton's foreign policy priorities? Will America the Great continue to continue foreign policy with business as usual? Of course it will. The United States's military and economic hegemony over the world is far from over and, Hillary Clinton is anything but a typical American politician who will conduct business as usual.
Was it just me who got a sick sense of how badly Hillary Clinton was trying to prove that only she is fit to be President of the United States and to be the most powerful woman in the world? Was it just me who felt that her speech was laced with aggression and pomp?
It may be indeed that Trump cannot match Hillary's historical and political prowess but let's be clear that Hillary is not out to change the world nor question American imperialism or interests.
Obama himself, the deeply sincere man who stole our hearts with his beautiful rhetoric and hope for change, his mantra, could not do much to change the interests and destruction of the American military-industrial-financial empire. Drone attacks increased under his watch and hundreds of innocent Pakistanis and Afghanis have been murdered by American drones. Thousands of Pakistani and Afghani children, men and women are traumatised by American drones and attacks. Millions of Iraqis and Syrians are enjoying American direct and indirect invasions and proxy wars. Hundreds of men and boys languished without trial in the illegal American prisons in Guantanamo Bay. Israel continues to steal Palestinian land, lives and dignity and, receives direct American support. Obama probably believes in the intriguing American idea of its own exceptionalism to some extent. After all, he paraded the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden in a covert operation a chief victory, a moment in history which symbolises how America relates to the rest of the world. He made some contributions to world peace by making amends with Cuba. He will be remembered as a great American President and rightly so. Despite everything, I do admire his style and humility.
American Presidents are but symbols of American military might and brutality. And, Hillary made it very clear that the Presidency is that and only she is fit to lead it. Not a sexist pig like Trump.
Compared to Trump, is Hillary a better choice for the United States? Probably so.
Beyond self-righteous self praise, was there any other substance to this speech? Did she really make you believe what she humbly stands for? No.
As I declared self-righteously at a momo dinner party a few weeks ago, "WE DON'T CARE WHO YOU AMERICANS ELECT, AS LONG AS YOU DON'T DRONE OR ATTACK US! WE DON'T CARE WHICH LOONY RACIST PIG YOU VOTE FOR AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT TRY TO TOPPLE GOVERNMENTS, INVADE COUNTRIES, AND FIGHT PROXY WARS. THE REST OF US DO NOT GIVE A FLYING FUCK IF YOU NEVER ELECT A WOMAN PRESIDENT AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT BOMB INNOCENT MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN. AND, STOP FUCKING SUPPORTING ISRAEL." The dinner party was full of Americans and South Asians. Everyone of course went really quiet in the room.
