Trump’s Break with Culture

232

July 9, 2019

Published in Frankfurter Rundschau
(Germany) on 4 July 2019
by Matthias Koch (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Sandra Alexander. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.

Until now, there has never been such a demonstration of force on Independence Day in the U.S. The Americans have never applauded any authority, not even their own.

Tanks were supposed to rattle; the troops were supposed to prance – all for the pleasure of their leader. Up to now, such demonstrations have never gone to such a brazen extent on Independence Day in the U.S. The Americans never applauded any authority, not even their own. It would also not be fitting for the history of this day. On July 4, 1776, the founders of the U.S. dared to break away from the British colonial power. Their boldly announced Declaration of Independence begins with the statement that all people have the inalienable right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Therefore, with good reason, U.S. citizens always toasted themselves – and the idea of freedom, one of the best inventions in the history of mankind. But Donald Trump wanted to be the central focus of a mega-show that would benefit him. Even more than the plethora of his politically wrong decisions, this cultural misstep demonstrates how completely pitiful and dangerous this president is.

Solche Machtdemonstrationen hat es bislang am US-amerikanischen Unabhängigkeitstag nie gegeben. Nie applaudierten die Amerikaner am 4. Juli irgendeiner Obrigkeit, nicht mal der eigenen.

Panzer sollten rasseln, die Truppen sollten tanzen, alles zum Vergnügen des Herrschers. Solche ins Metallische gehenden Machtdemonstrationen hat es bislang am US-amerikanischen Unabhängigkeitstag nie gegeben. Nie applaudierten die Amerikaner am 4. Juli irgendeiner Obrigkeit, nicht mal der eigenen. Es hätte auch zur Geschichte dieses Datums nicht gepasst. Am 4. Juli 1776 wagten es die Gründer der USA, sich abzuwenden von der britischen Kolonialmacht. Ihre frech verkündete Unabhängigkeitserklärung beginnt mit der Feststellung, alle Menschen hätten das gleiche unveräußerliche Recht auf „Leben, Freiheit und das Streben nach Glück“.

Aus gutem Grund also haben die US-Bürger am 4. Juli stets auf sich selbst angestoßen – und auf die Idee der Freiheit, eine der besten Erfindungen in der Geschichte der Menschheit. Aber Trump wollte eine für ihn nützliche Mega-Show, mit sich selbst im Mittelpunkt. Mehr noch als die Fülle seiner politischen Fehlentscheidungen zeigt dieser kulturelle Fehltritt die ganze Jämmerlichkeit – und Gefährlichkeit – dieses US-Präsidenten.

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