I've been reading about the Trump protestors in London.
My immediate reaction was of course, I love them. I love the signs and the Trump balloons, and I love the lady who shivved the Trump-baby balloon because I got to see the image of the shrivelled Trump-baby balloon.
On the other hand, would I protest the ruler of another country if he came to visit the United States? I know exiles would protest the Shah, and so on, but how many of the crowd in London were American exiles forced out by Trump? If Putin or this Boris clown or some dictator came to Saint Louis, would I be out there marching? Should I? This does open up new marching opportunities.
And then back on the other hand, he is a ridiculous figure, and they're protesting his hatred-based edicts, and who wouldn't pass up a chance to protest a fascist if he came to town?
I'm not torn down the middle, of course. It's about 98% "Yeah, he is an idiot," and a little nagging 2% "Stay in your lane, London."
I think it's reasonable to protest leaders of other countries when either:
1. they have major human-rights violations that they're trying to cover up or pretend it's All Just Fine We're All Reasonably Nice People Here (as with genocide, etc.) or
2. as an internationally-powerful figure, they have chosen to implement policies that affect you personally (as per farming out wars, pollution you're on the receiving end of, treaty or visa or tariff messes, etc.)
Protesting them as Just Plain Objectionable People is squishier (maybe more "stay in your lane"-ish) unless they've sought to be international figures in general, in which case it gets weirder: if the objectionable person got in their lane and built resorts and gave speeches and whatnot, *is* this in their lane to some degree? But yes. It's weird and slightly sticky and also probably varies depending on the type of protest and what they're protesting (there's "we hate you, individual!" and then there's "stop [policy choice]"). 2% sounds about right? I don't know.
Posted by: KC | June 11, 2019 at 02:56 PM
KC - I think you’ve hit it. If they’re protesting the person, they have no skin in the game, but if they protest his policies and those policies affect them (and bigotry affects all humans), then it’s open season.
Posted by: TheQueen | June 11, 2019 at 04:50 PM
Sadly, all countries are not equal. What Trump decides the US will, or will not, do, affects all the rest of us sharing this planet, in many different ways. We ordinary citizens have no effective way of registering our objections other than trying to show him physically, and ideally in as personally insulting a way as possible (he started it), how much we despise his actions, and him too. I don't think you can separate the two. He is truly disgusting in every respect, and so are his decisions. You might be surprised at how universal, and strongly-held, this opinion is around the world.
Posted by: Big Dot | June 12, 2019 at 06:48 PM
Big Dot - well, when I think about him dropping out of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, I absolutely see your point. What really surprises me are the people who support him, even in my suburban area.
Well, good. I’m glad you all hate him too. If I could cast an extra vote for you I would, so he isn’t here a second term.
Posted by: TheQueen | June 13, 2019 at 10:52 AM