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This Trump petition shows UK citizens will not bend a knee to hate This Trump petition shows UK citizens will not bend a knee to hate
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If you had told me a few months back I would be encouraging people to sign a petition to prevent embarrassment being caused to the Queen, I would have laughed. Petitions are so overused these days that they can seem meaningless – and surely there are bigger issues at stake than the feelings of the monarch. But that was before Donald Trump and his decency-shredding goons were in power, before this shameful Muslim ban. These are not normal times – despite our government and much of our press pretending that they are. It is good to see that Trump is being fought on every level from huge marches, to spontaneous demonstrations to legal challenges. This petition is another small front. It is not an attempt to ban Trump, it simply asks that he does not make a state visit, that the red carpet is not rolled out for him. It says a state visit could cause the Queen “embarrassment”.If you had told me a few months back I would be encouraging people to sign a petition to prevent embarrassment being caused to the Queen, I would have laughed. Petitions are so overused these days that they can seem meaningless – and surely there are bigger issues at stake than the feelings of the monarch. But that was before Donald Trump and his decency-shredding goons were in power, before this shameful Muslim ban. These are not normal times – despite our government and much of our press pretending that they are. It is good to see that Trump is being fought on every level from huge marches, to spontaneous demonstrations to legal challenges. This petition is another small front. It is not an attempt to ban Trump, it simply asks that he does not make a state visit, that the red carpet is not rolled out for him. It says a state visit could cause the Queen “embarrassment”.
This is a smart move because Trump does care about pomp, ceremony and hierarchy. Symbolism matters more to him than reality. Never accepted socially in the upper echelons of American society, it matters hugely that he is now seen with those his supporters recognise as important. He kept the menu from his dinner with Theresa May remember, as a reminder that he’d “had lunch with the British prime minister”.This is a smart move because Trump does care about pomp, ceremony and hierarchy. Symbolism matters more to him than reality. Never accepted socially in the upper echelons of American society, it matters hugely that he is now seen with those his supporters recognise as important. He kept the menu from his dinner with Theresa May remember, as a reminder that he’d “had lunch with the British prime minister”.
Embracing him with the royal flummery would signal to his base that this country hold him in high regard, that he is head of a respected government. Both these things are untrue. May’s embarrassing renewal of the vows of the special relationship didn’t even amount to a one-night stand. As soon as she had got the plane he was signing this vile executive orders. The ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries is a domestic policy to play to his racist base. It has nothing to do with terrorism, but some of those who would support it would also enjoy seeing him all puffed up hanging out with the Queen. Embracing him with the royal flummery would signal to his base that this country held him in high regard, that he was head of a respected government. Both these things are untrue. May’s embarrassing renewal of the vows of the special relationship didn’t even amount to a one-night stand. As soon as she had got on the plane he was signing this vile executive order. The ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries is a domestic policy to play to his racist base. It has nothing to do with terrorism, but some of those who would support it would also enjoy seeing him all puffed up hanging out with the Queen.
The Queen and her family may themselves feel differently. We know that Trump and Prince Charles clash on climate change. Just before Christmas, the prince also spoke of having compassion for refugees, warning against populists and those who persecute minority faiths. This was around the time that Trump was making noises about a “Muslim registry”. Princes William and Harry may not be so keen to meet a man who claimed on a radio interview just a few days after their mother’s death that he could have had sex with her. Howard Stern asked him: “You could have got her right? You could’ve nailed her.” Trump replied: “I think I could have”. Nice. The Queen and her family may themselves feel differently. We know that Trump and Prince Charles clash on climate change. Just before Christmas, the prince also spoke of having compassion for refugees, warning against populists and those who persecuted minority faiths. This was around the time that Trump was making noises about a “Muslim registry”. Princes William and Harry may not be so keen to meet a man who claimed on a radio interview just a few days after their mother’s death that he could have had sex with her. Howard Stern asked him: “You could have got her right? You could’ve nailed her.” Trump replied: “I think I could have.” Nice.
Of Kate Middleton, he tweeted: “Who would not take Kate’s picture and make lots of money if she does the nude sunbathing thing.” So this is the man the royals are being asked to show respect to on our country’s behalf.Of Kate Middleton, he tweeted: “Who would not take Kate’s picture and make lots of money if she does the nude sunbathing thing.” So this is the man the royals are being asked to show respect to on our country’s behalf.
Who wouldn't take Kate's picture and make lots of money if she does the nude sunbathing thing. Come on Kate!Who wouldn't take Kate's picture and make lots of money if she does the nude sunbathing thing. Come on Kate!
Politicians from across the spectrum are saying we should not play this charade.Politicians from across the spectrum are saying we should not play this charade.
The demonstrations across America – and the ones that will take place here too – are heartening. The response to Trump is visceral. His ban is pure racism. The unrest it prompts may be what the likes of Stephen Bannon want in order to be even more heavy handed. What we can do may be limited but we can refuse to welcome this man as a revered head of state.The demonstrations across America – and the ones that will take place here too – are heartening. The response to Trump is visceral. His ban is pure racism. The unrest it prompts may be what the likes of Stephen Bannon want in order to be even more heavy handed. What we can do may be limited but we can refuse to welcome this man as a revered head of state.
The British state reserves its pomp and pageantry for those with shared values. To do this for Trump is not simply appeasing his, but legitimising his regime. This is not just embarrassing for the Queen but for every decent citizen. The vicar’s daughter may have lost her moral compass somewhere over the Atlantic, but this petition and the debate it prompts shows more than a million of us are clinging onto ours. It is not in the national interest to bend a knee to hate. The British state reserves its pomp and pageantry for those with shared values. To do this for Trump is not simply appeasing, but legitimising his regime. This is not just embarrassing for the Queen but for every decent citizen. The vicar’s daughter may have lost her moral compass somewhere over the Atlantic, but this petition and the debate it prompts shows more than a million of us are clinging on to ours. It is not in the national interest to bend a knee to hate.