Respect for the office, the democratic process and the constitution is precious thing to hold on to. I’m also a big fan of good manners ( ‘manners maketh man’ )- ask my kids. When I see MP’s shouting and balling at each other in the House of Commons, I despair - they are running the bloody country ! What's wrong with a bit of common respect for each other. Of course, in place like Russia they is no opposition, no real debate, so the will of the people is lost. Trumps USA has become a fascinating place to people watch. To some extent far more interesting the Biden or Obama eras. But and it’s a big but, at what price. Here are some examples of personal insults. To Trudeau, ‘very dishonest and weak, to Macron ‘low approval rating’, to Merkel, ‘German people are turning against the leadership’;, to Royhani ( Iran),’consequences the likes of which few have ever suffered before’, To journalists, ‘you're ugly, both inside and out’,’ Youri a terrible person’, ‘you’re a quiet piggy’.
These personal attacks are meant to deflect questions, intimidate and undermine credibility. Others say he is being frank and holding the fake news accountable .Most people see it as inciting harassment and undermining the role of a free press in a democracy. Of course there is no free press in some countries. Trump also circumvents the democratic process, with its ‘checks and balances’. In the House of Representatives, the Republicans hold 220 seats to the Democrats 215. In the Senate, the republicans have 53 seats to the Democrats with 45.Trump employs tactics such as changing election rules, weaponizing govt agencies to erode independence and transparency, targeting descent and critics and centralizing funds to control them .This has led to law suits, legal challenges and legislative pushback. Executive orders are used as a tool to govern, to bypass congressional obstruction and fulfill campaign promises.
This is a song about standing up to some of the behaviors I have highlighted. In the USA it probably means your job is at risk ( and your livelihood). In Russia it means jail. In Feb. 2020, Mother Norma Pimental delivered a courageous and powerful sermon at the Saint John Paul Shrine in Washing to DC in front of a world-wide TV audience and the Trump delegation. She talked about the moral treatment of immigrants and refugees, challenging the trump policies, Donald was sitting only a few feet away. She asked, ‘the question will come to us-what did you do? Dis you welcome the stranger ?’It was tense and silent. Most thought she spoke the truth to power ( I love that phrase !). Beforehand she said to herself ‘is anyone going to say anything’ so she did – wow ! So, my song ‘Is anyone going to say anything’. is a tribute to Norma. My song starts ‘ Is anyone going to say anything. What happened to our, humanity. Ignored, due process violations' constitution, prosecution’s .Add them to the deportation list. Arrest police and judges who resist’ Then I bring Norma I to the song ( my hero!), ‘‘A stunning moment, of sudden honesty .A deep breath, she demanded an apology. A plea for mercy, for everyone who’s scared .Why is our faith hidden, no longer declared. A warm and compassionate interaction. A scathing rebuke or a nasty sermon’ I love the phrase , ‘a moment of sudden honesty’. By the way it was Trump who said it was ‘ a nasty sermon’
The song also makes reference to Greg Locke , a Trump supporter and evangelical pastor from Tennessee. In the aftermath of the 2020 election, he spouted various conspiracy theories and what he saw as attacks on freedom via the Democrats. He accouraged his audience to stock up on guns. In my song I quote him, ‘I got a pardon baby, I’m gonna buy more guns by, mail order’ . I wonder if he has ever thought about respectable, well manned pollical debate – maybe he should sit in and listen at Westminster for a
