A media that justifies its failure to cover the world by claiming that Americans are ‘not interested’ in foreign affairs, now mocks Trump supporters for repeating his claim that Covid 19 is a ‘Chinese’ virus, a ‘foreign’ problem they need not worry about. It also criticizes China for having an authoritarian regime, WITHOUT admitting its superiority when it comes to meeting a nation-wide challenge — or acknowledging that Xi’s government has sent dozens of doctors abroad to share their experience. (Some readers may remember that the practice of sending doctors and teachers to underdeveloped countries has been one of the Cuban Revolution’s hallmarks. Those who would dismiss this as simply good PR ignore that solidarity toward ‘the Other’ is a basic socialist principle, as spelled out in Cuba’s decision to allow a British cruise ship carrying Corona victims to dock, after it was turned away everywhere, including, upon Trump’s orders, in the US, with the following statement:
“These are times of solidarity, of understanding health as a human right, of reinforcing international cooperation to face our common challenges, values that are inherent in the humanistic practice of the Revolution and of our people.”
(Cuba also reports that its drug INTERFERON, is effective in combatting Corona 19, but the US media has ignored that as well.)
Meanwhile, as Phil Butler wrote recently in this journal, the Russian people appear to be fine with being led by Vladimir Putin until 2024, no doubt recognizing that great leaders from George Washington to Lee Kuan Yew (who in three decades, transformed Singapore from a backwater to an international financial powerhouse), invariably demand time to realize their plans for their country. And yet, notwithstanding the evidence in front of their eyes, Americans continue to believe that Russian election ‘interference’ is the only thing they need worry about when it comes to their democracy. They have been conditioned to believe that elections guarantee that a country will be well led, the ‘will of the people’ being immune to propaganda — or money.
The Supreme Court is still being criticized for declaring, in 2010, that money is a form of speech, clearing the way for the 1% — including companies — to contribute unlimited amounts to political campaigns. But ten years later, my inbox overflows with urgent demands for money from individuals candidates for political office and from every imaginable progressive ‘cause’. Demands for true local democracy are growing, however current grass-roots initiatives feel no obligation to report how they spend contributions, claiming that without them they would cease to exist.
Finally, the US media claimed that the great number of Corona virus fatalities in Italy proves that ‘government-run health care’ doesn’t work, rather than admit that no system is built to confront mass infections. Meanwhile, France 24 ended an interview with the former Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi showing Italians singing in front of their open windows that things would get better. And the next day it showed Parisians, who only a short time ago were donning yellow vests, raucously applauding the Macron government for its handling of the scourge from their windows.
In the ultimate irony, the American President, apparently oblivious to the dire situation in Asia and Europe, is insisting that he will reopen the American economy to celebrate Easter, stating, in his ultimate wisdom: “This country is not built to be shut down.”
Deena Stryker is a US-born international expert, author and journalist that lived in Eastern and Western Europe and has been writing about the big picture for 50 years. Over the years she penned a number of books, including Russia’s Americans. Her essays can also be found at Otherjones. Especially for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”.