Most of us who are parents strive to instill moral values in our children through our words and by our actions. We want our kids to grow up to become people of integrity who are honest, compassionate, humble and kind. If we catch them lying, we call them out. If they bully others, we stop them. We do not allow our sons to treat women as objects. Yesterday, at the United Nations General Assembly, our president’s worst behavior was on full display: arrogance (about individually ending “unendable” wars), lying (about inflation and climate change), racism (uncontrolled migration from “undesirable” countries), hypocrisy (denouncing rape yet himself being convicted of sexual assault), and bullying (forcing other countries like El Salvador to become complicit in our sins). I was ashamed and embarrassed by our president’s words.
Then, Trump had a side conversation with Ukraine’s President Zelensky. He later made some pronouncements that were shocking, a complete about face regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine. After being “broken” during his speech to the UN, Trump’s moral clock was on time and accurate for a few fleeting moments. In a media post on Truth Social, Mr. Trump said that he now believed that Ukraine could, with financial support from NATO and the European Union, regain all of the territory it had lost to Russia, including Crimea! This comment by Trump was a radical change considering that only a month ago the president had endorsed a plan that would force Ukraine to give up parts of their territory in exchange for peace. Then Trump added that Putin’s Russia was a “paper tiger” (Putin responded last night that his Russia was not a paper tiger, but a real bear.) It seems that Trump is slowly waking up to the terrible truth that Putin has been “playing” him with his “on again, off again” agreement/refusal ta meet for peace talks with Ukraine’s Zelensky.
I wish Mr. Trump well in his role of international mediator. Although he did not bring about peace on Day One as he had campaigned, he still has time to help end this war. He needs to grow some backbone and, together with our European allies, apply economic sanctions against Russia. Mr. President, there is still a bit of time to make the right moral decision. Do it!
Lindy Scott 