Two peoples divided by one common language

Nov 08, 2024 Letters

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Dear Editor,

Was it a war of words against the VP, Kamala Harris, or, a war of warnings on the American people, or, a war of the writing on the wall for the world to be wary of? Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali and VP, Bharrat Jagdeo joined many world leaders to immediately congratulate Donald Trump as he triumphed with a fighting victory to trounce a dejected Harris, as America voted to reject an Indian/Afro woman from becoming America’s 47th President.

50.91 % of the votes went against Harris while 47.57 % went against Trump. Jill Stein from the Green Party and Robert Kennedy from the Independent, both gained some 600,000 votes each representing 0.4 % respectively. The USA, like Guyana, is not ready for a Third Party.

Vice President Kamala Harris Race to the White House, ended in an anti-climax when she conceded defeat to President elect, Donald Trump, who made history in a political comeback to clinch the US presidency by an electoral landslide and winning the popular vote.

Is it a question of, did Trump win, or, did Harris lose? At the time of writing, the Democrats will not only not control the Senate (44 to 52), but the Republicans (predicted) will also control the House (208 to 192). Did the people really regain control of America again? The Democrats gained 226 electoral votes (68,713,751 Americans voted for Harris) while, the Republicans gained 295 electoral votes (73,541,319 Americans voted for Trump). The American people have spoken and Democrats will govern 23 states while the Republicans will govern 27 states.

The just concluded US 2024 election brings a lot of firsts to the table. It is the first time a ‘colored’ woman ran for presidency. It is the first time in over 50 years that a major party nominee was selected outside of the democratic process of primaries and caucuses. J. D. Vance will be the next vice president and also the first Jewish person in that role. His wife, Usha Vance, who is the daughter of Indian immigrants, is set to be the first Indian American second lady in the White House. She will also be the first Hindu second lady.

Trump is the first convicted felon elected to the nation’s highest office. He is the only president in American history to get elected after being convicted of falsified business records. He’s also the first former president since Grover Cleveland to return to the White House after being voted out of the job. The 78-year-old is the oldest person in U.S. history to be elected president. His journey is the longest general-election campaigns ever, which included two assassination attempts and two impeachments.

Donald Trump second time around, though not consecutive, said that when you make promises, you have to keep them and don’t break them. He did promise some 40 odd sweeping changes to be institutionalized from day one when he takes office on 20th January, 2025. Nancy Pelosi, former House Speaker, asked that Americans ‘pray’ for America’s next chapter. Trump has promised to implement hardline immigration policies, including a massive deportation operation, when he takes office.

Some 11 million undocumented illegal immigrants will be on the run. He will reduce corporate taxes to make it less cumbersome for the business sector. He will end taxes on tips. Already, the stock market made significant gains on Wall Street. “We’re going to drill, baby, drill. And I will terminate the Green New Scam and will cut your energy prices in half, 50%, within one year from January 20th,” Trump said last month in New York. This will be would be a major blow to companies working on clean energy projects, including electric vehicles.

Trump, citing claims that AI has been used to censor political speech, said last December, “When I’m reelected, I will cancel Biden’s artificial intelligence executive order and ban the use of AI to censor the speech of American citizens on day one.” He will also put tariffs on all imported goods, including those from China. Critics say that would lead to higher prices for American consumers and global economic instability.

Trump said he will again pull the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accords. Trump has been critical of U.S. support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, said he could end the conflict in 24 hours. Trump has also said the war between Israel and Hamas should end quickly. He has said he would fire Special Counsel Jack Smith, the federal prosecutor leading the criminal probes against him. He will consider pardoning all of those who have been convicted of crimes in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Americans and the rest of the world will anxiously hold their breath as they nervously await Trump’s accension to the Oval seat next year. Many are hoping that, at least a one-day dictator, will not remain a fascist, but a realist who will overcome any trait of a racist. To make America great again, tax deductions and trade tariffs will integrate economic policies to affect the cost of living and foreign policies to influence relations. Home land security will strengthen border issues and Elon Musk’s presence will possibly translate science in a transformative status. President Joe Biden has already invited Trump to the White House and so there will be a peaceful transition of passing the baton and no déjà vu of a repetition of the 6th January’ 2021 attack on the US Capitol. The US Constitution which is the glue to cement the people together has been respected and so, democracy prevails.

God bless America.

Yours respectfully,

Jai Lall

(Two peoples divided by one common language)

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• Donald Trump, Independent, Republicans, Robert Kennedy, Third Party

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