Donald, Melania go to White House
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By Kim Mi-kyoung
I have been staying in Washington, D.C. for the past two weeks witnessing the U.S. presidential election. It has been a totally and unequivocally mind-boggling experience. Hillary Clinton was leading in the majority of polls. Then the FBI made an unprecedented move to intervene in the election incriminating Hillary. That happened just 10 days before Election Day. All the charges were abruptly cleared three days prior to D-Day. Hillary won the majority votes, and yet lost in the Electoral College system. Iconoclastic Donald Trump will be the 45th U.S. President.
Ever since Hillary Clinton conceded early Tuesday morning, I have been in a state of shock and disbelief. Why did Americans vote for Trump despite all his belligerent, xenophobic, sexist, racist and protectionist messages? What is happening to the U.S., the world hegemon and torchbearer of democratic values? And what does his ascendance to the world’s top leadership mean to the global community?
I began talking to people. While choosing whom to talk to, I find myself unusually guarded because I can no longer tell whom I should and shouldn’t trust. Are they really what they say they are? What happens if the person is a closet racist, sexist and jingoist who secretly abhors someone like me? I never knew how many Americans were hiding skeletons in their closets until I saw the red-colored map of American politics. This anxiety must come from the divisive power of Trump. Very sinister, indeed.
Ruby, a Filipina working at a neighborhood bagel store, told me she is so scared of Trump that she cannot sleep at night. She is afraid of getting expelled from her home of 18 years and leaving her daughter behind. Ruby is one of the 11.4 million illegal immigrants who account for 3.5 percent of the total U.S. population. Ruby and I laughed at and cried over Trump, the wall builder and bully of the vulnerable.
Grace, an Ethiopian restaurant server, was flabbergasted at American voters’ decision. She thinks Trump supporters are not necessarily bad people, but are simply stupid. She asks, “how come they could not see all the horrible things in Trump that I could see?” The pundits might say “the media took Trump literally, but not seriously. The supporters, on the other hand, took him seriously, but not literally.” The chasm between his facade and substance will soon reveal itself.
What is done cannot be undone. Trump with many character flaws has won the election, and the process was democratic. Like Hillary, the rest of the world should accept the results as is. And we should ask ourselves: “Where to from here?”
There are many scenarios concerning his presidency. Trump might pass away before his first term ends given his advancing age. He can also be impeached for potential wrongdoings such as using political influence to fatten his wallet. He might fail in the re-election limiting his reign to only four years as well.
All this hypothetical wishful thinking does not exempt us from confronting the pressing issues. The content and nature of the ROK-U.S. alliance will change under Trump. Northeast Asia will restart a Cold War-like arms race. And human rights will lose its currency for its idealism.
Trump will open totally different and unchartered waters for the world. Hold your breath and fasten your seatbelt.
Kim Mi-kyoung is associate professor at Hiroshima City University. She can be reached at mkkim_33@hotmail.com.