The comments by one presidential candidate in US election describing Kamala Harris as "ugly," "a prostitute," or "a monster" reflect a disturbing level of discourse in the U.S. election, revealing that the current election environment does not reflect the ideals of democracy.
The lack of action from the
U.S. Election Commission or the Supreme Court against Republican candidate
Donald Trump's misogynistic, racist, and vulgar remarks toward his opponents
suggests that racism may be on the rise in America.
But why do regional newspapers
including Odia publish such trivial matters about U.S. elections? It's not just
Odia newspapers; many regional newspapers in India and other countries have
been reporting on the U.S. elections for a long time. Some of these reports
even contain uncivil and offensive comments like Kamala Harris’s personal life.
The regional media's obsession
with U.S. politics has spanned decades. This intense focus is unique to
American elections; it is not something seen for elections in France, England,
Spain, Poland, Australia, or even nearby countries like Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
We are told that news from
America, being a large democracy, holds global importance. But that is not the
whole truth. American leaders are elected democratically, but, they often
exercise force in other countries—overthrowing elected leaders, supporting
armed rebellions, seizing resources, and silencing opposition. These actions
contradict the democratic values they profess.
Republican Party’s
Islamophobia In the United States, governance is primarily led by one
of two major parties: the Democratic and Republican parties. Unlike India, the
U.S. lacks a multi-party system. In the 2024 election, Kamala Harris, of Indian
descent, represents the Democratic Party, while former president Donald Trump
stands for the Republican Party.
Trump is well-known for his
anti-Muslim rhetoric, making opposition to immigration a central theme in his
campaign, especially targeting Muslims and Asians as national security threats.
Instead of focusing on economic growth, social justice, or environmental
issues, Trump’s vision revolves around making America "the greatest"
and "strongest" nation.
Under his administration, the
"War on Terror" intensified. Many Americans were led to believe that
Islam is linked to terrorism, that Muslims in America aim to impose Islamic
law, and that they pose a threat to national security. This sentiment led to
the infamous "Travel Ban" on citizens from predominantly Muslim
countries, including Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen,
reflecting an anti-Islamic, orthodox Christian stance.
Common Ground Between the
Republican Party and the BJP Events like "Howdy
Modi" (2019) during Modi's visit to the U.S. and "Namaste Trump"
(2021) in Ahmedabad underscore the ideological closeness between Trump and
Modi, driven by shared sentiments like anti-Muslim rhetoric, promoting
militarization, and encouraging private sector growth. Just as industrialists
Adani and Ambani support the BJP, corporate giants like Elon Musk, General
Electric, and Boeing back the Republican Party.
Democratic Party's War Policies:
Following Hamas'
attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli
deaths and 240 hostages, the situation escalated. Now due to Israel attack more
than 41,000 unarmed innocent Palestinians have died in the war, including
14,000 children and 9,000 women. In spite of this, Democratic leader Biden has
expressed full support for Israel, framing the conflict as a "war on
extremism" due to the Muslim-majority opposition.
American presidents, including
Barack Obama, have committed international violations, such as the
assassinations of Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. American army entered
Afghanistan and Iraq respectively to do the assassination.
According to international
law, crossing into other nations to cause harm is a crime, yet other world
leaders have rarely condemned these actions, revealing American imperialism as
a force of fear on the global stage.
The
Democratic Party views Israel’s actions in Palestine as part of the broader
“war on terror.” Under this pretext, the Israel-U.S. strategy of occupying
Palestinian land persists without significant restraint. The United States is
increasingly justifying its support of Israel’s tactics as a countermeasure to
the terrorism associated with Hamas.
Islamophobia and State-Sponsored
Extremism: Today, American democracy perpetuates Islamophobic
policies, state-sponsored extremism, corporate interests, and the suppression
of international dissent. Historically, the U.S. shifted its focus from
combating communism to creating a fear of Islam, which enabled American capital
to grow in strength and influence globally.
Historically,
from Roosevelt to Reagan, the U.S. focused its campaigns heavily on opposing
communism, spreading fear that it would strip Americans of their private
property. In reality, these campaigns promoted private capital in every sphere.
Instilling fear among Americans has consistently benefited the ruling class in
elections. This is why, during election periods, we often saw wars in Iraq,
Iran, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. As communism faded as a central threat,
specifically after fall of Soviet Union, new fears, such as Islamophobia,
emerged, especially after the 9/11 attacks.
The Republican Party’s
consolidation could eventually target new threats, potentially painting China
and other Asian powers as adversaries. The way the Republican Party has
insulted Kamala Harris—calling her a "ugly" and a
"demon"—signals that in future, they may similarly vilify entire
regions or racial groups if they win. If Democratic party wins they would adopt
this Asiaticfobia after few years.
Deba Ranjan
Contact: debasar11@yahoo.co.in
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