(ThyBlackMan.com) For the past week the nation has been transfixed watching the Supreme Court confirmation process for Judge Brett Cavanaugh featuring lurid tales of underage drinking and sexual assault. The hearing at week’s end saw a performance by the nominee that careened between snarling and sniveling and should have been disqualifying in and of itself, but instead resulted in further investigation into alleged acts from some thirty years ago. Stay tuned for the next episode of team Trump reality television.
In the meantime something else, of equal or greater importance, also happened during the week. The President of the United States was greeted with derisive laughter for his boastful claims before world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly. And, during his turn as Chairman of the U.N. Security Council, the remaining signatories of the so-called Iran Nuclear Deal – France, Germany, 
Russia, China and the United Kingdom – again rebuffed U.S. calls for their withdrawal and reaffirmed their continued support. In fact, in a side meeting, they signed an agreement to devise a “parallel financial system” to bypass upcoming American sanctions on Iranian oil exports. The President of France further proposed that U.N. members should refuse to enter into trade agreements with any countries who are not members of the Paris Climate Accord – of which the U.S. is the only one.
So what does all this mean? In essence, it means that the president’s ‘America First’ doctrine is devolving into ‘America Alone’. From trade, to diplomacy, to security, America is no longer seen as a trusted partner, let alone leader, of the international order constructed from the ashes of World War Two. And while the nomination of a Supreme Court Justice is certainly consequential domestically, the fracturing of our foreign alliances also has far reaching implications for our future security and prosperity.
To be laughed at is worse than being booed. The latter means people disagree with your words or actions, while the former means you are someone not to be taken seriously. After a period of deference, followed by evaluation, world leaders have concluded that the president, for all his bravado, is a blowhard – someone they need not take seriously. Not only that, they have figured out how easily he is played by flattery aimed at his fragile ego. Witness the Saudis early on and the North Koreans of late.
Think about how dangerous this is. In times of crises unquestioned credibility is essential. There is a story about President Kennedy and the President of France, Charles de Gaulle, during the Cuban missile crisis that illustrates this. Kennedy, seeking to galvanize our allies to support his actions to block the Russians from supplying Cuba with more offensive weapons, offered to show de Gaulle satellite photos of missile installations on the island to prove his point. President de Gaulle is reported to have replied, “The word of the President of the United States is all the evidence I need”. Do you think the current occupant of the White House would get the same response?
What we have just seen with the confirmation spectacle for Judge Cavanaugh is but one example of how far we have sunk. The man blatantly lied about his character in high school and college, the legal drinking age in Maryland when he was in high school, the meaning of the reference to the game ‘Devil’s Triangle’ in his yearbook, among other things, and his snarky retort to the question of possible memory loss by a female Senator displayed his open disrespect for her, and contempt for the entire process: how dare they question him! The president, who has always sided with the accused in sexual assault cases – Bill O’Reilly, Harvey Weinstein, Roy Moore – stands accused by more than a dozen women of lewd conduct himself. The Washington Post has documented more than 4,000 lies he has told since in office, starting with the infamous whooper the day after he was sworn in about the size of his inaugural crowd. Now, world leaders have shown their open disdain for his exaggerations if not outright falsehoods.
We are in a time of crisis. Institutions that have served as pillars of our society – government, corporations, the church – have shown themselves to be rife with corruption and immorality. The free press is under assault and derided as ‘the enemy of the people’ and the very idea of “truth” is questioned. If there ever was a time to stand up and speak out, this is it. If there ever was a time to reaffirm what our country is supposed to represent – a haven for the ‘tired, poor and huddled masses’ and a place ‘of liberty and justice for all’ – this is it. In just over one month’s time we’ll have our collective chance to make our voices heard. If you don’t participate, don’t complain. You’re part of the problem. Be part of the solution.
Staff Writer; Harry Sewell
