Several days back as November 5 approached I was talking with a friend of mine over there about the whole issue of the presidential elections as despite attempts to read between the lines, because this, so I think, was a campaign which I has much more between the lines, than what is actually said and written. It was one revealing discussion as he allowed me get clearer pictures of many things which were difficult to understand from this part of the world. As we were about to say our goodbyes and hang up I asked him, “Who’ll you vote for?”
I expected a quick, straight answer which never came. After several seconds he said “I’m not sure. Things are so confused that I couldn’t make up my mind. So I’ll wait until Election Day and make up my mind.” Indeed, he did make up his mind and voted for Trump. “Really!” Now, having been there for almost two decades I knew he always voted democrat. He assured me he would give me detailed reasons for his change of heart one of these days. “It was not easy, but I had to do it.”
Speaking to multiple Ethiopian Americans over there you understand this one was a very crucial election too. Look ours is knowledge that has many bumps and gaping holes when it comes to that country’s politics. But the conventional wisdom was that most Ethiopians voted for democratic nominees only they know why. I remember when Obama was elected there were all night parries in Addis. I have to ask what they think about him now following his very shocking (even for us too!) statements about black men! This friends tell me especially in places where the gender affirming thing has made its way into primary schools Ethiopians overwhelmingly vote Donald Trump because they believe he would do away with such legislations and save them their children.
But the other side of the coin is as, this friend who was highly critical of the while republican establishment many don’t see the dangers lying ahead. And what are this dangers?
Well for one despite having been living there even for decades there he says there are probably thousands and thousands of Ethiopians without valid resident permits; meaning they are considered to be there illegally. And if Mr. trump puts his action where his words are many could be in danger of being deported! That’s scary, isn’t it? According to my friend, who I consider to be very well versed not only American politics but in far larger world affairs too, if things go as the winners would like them too, as many as twelve million people could be sent packing to their home countries or wherever, except America.
“Can you tell me some of you worries?”
“For one there is the danger of losing your job if you’re a government worker as republicans would replace existing staffs with thousands of their own followers. This is how things are done many times. The victors usually fill in as many spots as they can with their supporters.” And he says many Ethiopians could find themselves in the firing line. With things being as we are being told they are in America with life becoming harder and harder and many finding it very difficult even to buy their daily needs and necessities loss of one’s job could be nothing less than capital punishment. As an example he tells me those country folks who are truck drivers are in great trouble as more regulations and the hike in gas prices and other factors weigh heavily on the truck driving business.
It is only evident that many regulations the democrats have brought into practice the past four years would be thrown out of the window. “For example take President Biden’s plan to forgive student loans.” I remember reading about the issue and the heated tug-of-war between the country’s two political entities. Of course my friend says Biden’s plan didn’t find it through as the administration would have wanted. “So what they did was we started paying about one fifth or somewhere around that monthly. For example if you used to pay twelve or thirteen hundred dollars a month it would be scaled down to about two hundred dollars.” he tells me since the republicans oppose the idea of forgiving student loans what they would do first would be to reinstate the former payment method where people would be obliged to pay twelve or thirteen hundred dollars a month as they used to. “Imagine the financial burden that would result in times when the economy’s so weak and it’s not easy to find second and third employments!”
“Do you think Mr. Trump would actually do all that he has promised?” (Should I have replaced ‘promised’ with ‘threatened’ on some of the issues?) You know I think some of it might be just political rhetoric to attract certain sections of the society.” Now what the hell do I know about the politics of that place which even most Americans themselves find difficult to decipher? My friend was very careful in choosing words; “Let’s wait and see.”
Look, it is not that things will be any easier for our compatriots over there. The sad part is that many back home fail to realize that fact. Already life in America isn’t what it was supposed to be and many of our compatriots are in dire strait trying to make ends meet and ensure they stayed above the waters until things start getting better. And now with a new admiration at the doors of the White House. It might not be a weekend-picnic transition. From what we’re hearing things will surely get tougher. The only thing here is that we back home should understand that skies aren’t quite clear over there when it comes to the situation of many of our compatriots. As no more like yesterday when we said, “Send me two dollars,” and no sooner have we hung up the money’s on its way. I have heard a couple of stories where very shallow minded members of the societies try to equate the drying up of the dollar pipe to greed on the part of those who have been propping us up all these years. Sad!
Maybe my friend said it more rationally; “Let’s wait and see.”
– What Is Going On!
Still with the American election;
The American elections have taken aback not only the hundreds of millions of Americans but much of the world too. The so-called polls that were coming out giving Mrs. Harris double digit leads over former president in much of the country, floods of mainstream media one-sided narratives and the whole noise seem to have many of for the ride. Thanks to the first African American woman Kamala Harris the republicans and their supporters would be beaten black and blue! It was a done deal! Well, predictions and poll numbers were thrown far and away when the Republican nominee came out on top with the most convincing numbers.
Donald Trump for the people to rally behind him and forget all that happened the last for years. It was very presidential of him to hit the highly conciliatory tone because the nation needed nothing more than that.
Kamala Harris, in her speech said, “We must accept the result of the election. Earlier today I spoke with president elect trump and congratulated him on his victory. I also told him, we will help him and his team in the transition and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power.”
That’s, so we think, what real democracy is made of.
It’s astounding to hear the media people on the various sides of the aisle trying to splash cold water on everything; In fact many believe the media with its false narratives and highly exaggerated polls in favor of Mrs. Harris were a major part of the problem as they tried to install a very twisted and unrealistic sense of overconfidence which led tens of millions of supporters to believe that victory for Kamala was a forgone conclusion. As tens of millions were voting all over the country supporters of Kamal Harris were already singing and making merry in that University stadium. It was heartbreaking to see them so sad, some openly weeping, and broken after hearing that things didn’t go their way.
These were the words of President Joe Biden, “On January 20, we will have a peaceful transfer of power. We have 74 days to go. Let’s make every day count. Setbacks are unavoidable. But giving up is unforgivable. In a democracy, the will of the people always prevails…We accept the choice the country made. I’ve said many times – you can’t love your country only when you win. You can’t love your neighbor only when you agree.
Now those probably are the very words Americans who are in all kinds of problems wanted to hear. But quite significant portions of the media, unfortunately, don’t seem to making things any easier. The fact is Americans have given Mr. Trump a resounding, “OK!” and that should have been it! NO! In fact some are beating the racial and sexism drums and trying to blame entire sections of society for Kamala’s defeat.
One host of The View says, “While 91 percent of Black women voted for Kamala Harris, 53 percent of white women overall voted for Trump, despite the open disrespect and demonization hurled by JD Vance and the Supreme Court stripping women’s bodily autonomy, courtesy of Donald Trump.” She goes on; “Latino men, who, despite the utter disrespect shown by Trump and his promise to deport some of your mixed-status families, most of them voted in a 55% majority to make the deportations happen. You all voted against your own sisters, who chose Kamala Harris with 60% of their votes. So, you own everything that happens to your mixed-status families and to your wives, sisters.”
That didn’t go well with Latinos and as between the lines they were being accused of racism. One commentator reminded people that Latinos overwhelmingly voted for Obama. How about that!
Former vice president Mike Pence who endorsed Kamal and was subject to some hail of Republican rage wrote; “The American people have spoken and Karen and I send our sincere congratulations to President-Elect Donald Trump and his family on his election as 47th President of the United States… We will continue to pray for all those in authority and urge every American to join us in praying for our incoming President, Vice President and elected officials at every level.”
He simply and clearly puts it when says, “The American people have spoken.” But then the blame game against entire sections of the society seem to continue.
One host of The View says, “Black women tried to save this country again, last night … what we do not have is white women, who voted about 52% for Donald Trump — uneducated white women, is my understanding. You have Latino men actually voting more for him,” Another one adds, “I don’t think white women like being called uneducated white women.” I mean maybe someone should have asked her on what research she based such a claim which concerns millions. But it’s politics and they’re not talking in conciliatory tones while the main actors the politicians were doing so.
And here are some comments from supporters of president-elect Donald Trump;
“This election season showed just how much we all care about where this country’s headed.”
“Feels like Christmas Morning.”
“Christ is king. Trump is president. Goodnight.”
“A testament to your resilience, mental strength & never-give-up mentality as your enemies tried to kill you, jail you & brand you the new Hitler.”
Truly present day USA is a country which greatly needs to work on unity as the present campaign has laid bare the fact that is becoming a highly polarized society, politically, racially, gender-wise other issues. The media and the so-called celebrities seem to be upping their friend/enemy narratives and this might contaminate the conciliatory spirit among the politicians. Of course, nice words don’t mean nice intentions. But after months and perhaps years of the most furious, many times than not mean-spirited political wrangling I think Americans need to time to unwind.
One fact is that in many ways there can’t be a peaceful world without a peaceful America. (Look who’s speaking!)
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 10 NOVEMBER 2024