Trump is using gunboat diplomacy. He says he has sent an armada heading towards North Korea. In truth they went the other direction for several days before they headed for North Korea. Of course Trump also needs to look up the definition of armada. He is trying to do his best impersonation of Teddy Roosevelt who really did parade and armada through the Caribbean Sea. But The Donald is no Teddy. For one thing Teddy who was imperialistic also was a Nobel Peace Prize winner for his art of the Deal brokering peace between Russia and Japan. Roosevelt said ‘speak softly but carry a big stick’. Tweeting Trump has never mastered the art of speaking softly. Roosevelt who glorified war spent, although limited, actual combat time in the Spanish American War. Trump dodged war. Trump has never held a governmental office while Roosevelt was governor of New York, Vice-President, Assistant Secretary to the Navy, and a New York Police Commissioner. Trump has said himself that he does not like to read. Roosevelt was an avid reader and prolific writer of history books. So when Trump attempts to carry a big stick he can only be perceived differently.
Regretfully, he could be seen as a dangerous man without a plan. He has no developed foreign policy but he is choosing to lead from the front. Trump wants to be viewed as a man of action just like Teddy. But Teddy acted from a knowledge and thought out policy base. Trump is using gun boat policy to provoke actions from our enemies while Roosevelt used policies to encourage our enemies to not act badly. His message was Europe stay away from Latin American countries. Roosevelt went seven years without war and brokered peace on several occasions. Trump is taking us to the edge of war and has shown no capacity to bring peace anywhere. Now Teddy was not without his bombast and his America first moments. He forcefully assisted in the Panama Canal land becoming under the control of America. But his America first often appeared to take a broader look at the world. He was an environmentalist and thought it good to preserve land Trump wants to open government land for private use. Teddy worked to bust monopolies while Trump’s policies work to bolster rich corporations. Teddy was charismatic but used his charm to bring America together. Trump’s charisma appears to only divide America. Teddy wanted healthcare for all. Trump wants to kill healthcare for many. These men were both charismatic and Republicans. They both believed in doing things their way. They both came from wealth. But Teddy lost in one day his wife and mother. An incident that caused him to retreat to the Badlands and nurture his soul. Trump has no similar experience. He is just a privileged kid who does not read, write, or has had an earth shattering life experience and he campaigned and governs from this point of view. God bless America because really Trump does not have the soul, mind and spirit to bless us.
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