In many of my columns, I discussed foreign issues and highlighted what the United States should do in response. For this column, however, I wish for us to be introspective yet look to other countries as examples to guide our priorities.
There are plenty of things to be proud of when it comes to American culture and liberties. If we looked at American history during the past century, one would see we were a net force for good on the world stage. The United States promoted freedoms and rights that are now considered to be global objectives, all while simultaneously improving its own ability to provide freedoms and rights to marginalized peoples.
However, our pride in America’s progress should never occlude our ability to recognize our country’s faults and fix them. That includes domestic issues, such as establishing rights for the LGBTQ+ community and better supporting America’s lower-income communities and individuals, as well as global issues, such as promoting a human rights-based, rather than American interests-based, view of the world.
However, the “patriotism” of some individuals has blinded them to deeply troubling issues. There is no clearer example of this than with the MAGA movement led by Donald Trump, a man who spouts blatantly fascist and racist statements. If anyone doubts this, I encourage them to look up his recent comments on dictatorships and immigrant genes.
Fascism and racism both have deep tendrils in American history, but we all used to agree those two things were the opposite of what America should stand for. We agreed we should move away from them, even if we disagreed on how. We do not anymore. Now, patriotism is being redefined as loyalty to an individual who explicitly supports both fascism and racism.
Some believe such rhetoric should be shrugged off, since racism and fascism probably do not feature in Trump’s actual agenda. However, the willingness of people around the world to fight and die for democracy and human rights – the opposites of fascism and racism – should show us how dangerous Trump’s values are. Therefore, I would argue even a verbal threat to democracy and human rights should be automatically disqualifying since their value is so tremendous.
You can see the value of these things when, in 2011, Syrian teenagers graffitied pro-democracy slogans on the walls of Damascus shortly before being arrested, tortured, castrated and murdered by the Syrian government. You could see that two years ago in Iran, with the wave of protests that followed the arrest and death of Mahsa Amini for not wearing a headscarf. You can see that now in Ukraine, with normal people sacrificing their livelihoods, and even their lives, to hold the line against an onslaught of Russian troops.
From El Salvador to Myanmar, Eswatini to Belarus, and many places in between, the people of the world have shown us how important democracy, freedom and human rights are. The fact Trump threatens to restrict these things in America should be a massive cause for alarm, both because democracy and human rights mean a lot, and because once they are gone, the cost to get them back is often astronomical.
Therefore, remember threats to our democracy and basic rights are not to be brushed aside. If these things are so important people are dying for them abroad, we should take care to secure these things at home. Therefore, a true patriot would not pay mindless lip service to a billionaire wannabe authoritarian simply because he promises to only help people like them. A true patriot would selflessly support a candidate because they offer to help as many Americans as possible while not damaging the safety, health, well-being or freedom of even the most vulnerable ones.
Janagan Ramanathan is a Sartell High School alum, former U.S. Naval Academy midshipman and current aerospace engineering major at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
