Eighty-three years ago, in December of 1941, the headlines were about war: Germany and Italy had declared war on the United States, backing the third member of their Axis — Japan — which had bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, just days earlier. And we, the U.S., jumped into the fray to join the Allied forces of Europe — including Great Britain, France, and even the communist Soviet Union — already fighting the fascist dictators Hitler and Mussolini, as well as Japan’s Hirohito.

That was then, when we — and much of Europe — were under attack.

Are we now, in 2025, about to show a different, completely opposite, face to the rest of the world by becoming the aggressor, threatening to lay claim to countries that do not belong to us simply because we feel the need to do so? Because we say it is “critical” for our “national and economic security”? And despite flying in the face of every existing principle of national sovereignty?

Are we going to see headlines like these again . . . but with the United States on the wrong side?

The U.S. — or, rather, one man who is about to take the sacred oath of office as President of the United States — is seriously talking about seizing Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal because, being a lifelong bully who has always simply taken what he wants, he thinks he can. And he has said he will not rule out the use of military force to accomplish his goals. Does he actually believe the world is his personal playground, and all of the toys on it are his?

Now we are being warned by leading EU members France and Germany to back off of Greenland . . . which belongs to Denmark . . . which is a member of the EU . . . which will unite behind its threatened member. And both Canada and Panama have similarly said, in effect, “No way in hell!”

Well, good for them! Who in hell does Trump think we are, anyway . . . Russia? China? North Korea? What gives the United States — or any country — the right to grab someone else’s territory?

What have we always said to those countries when they’ve made clear their imperialist ambitions?

What will the United Nations and NATO have to say about this?

What have the three years of defending Ukraine against Russia’s illegal invasion been about?

And what in the name of all that’s holy has happened to my country?!!

I am a loyal, proud American. I love my country. But Donald Trump’s vision of America is not what I grew up believing in . . . not my America of peace, and freedom, and democracy.

There is very little chance that his grandiose ideas of expansionism will succeed. But in the meantime, are we to find ourselves isolated, and hated by those who have been our staunchest allies? Are we going to allow the wild ambitions of one narcissistic autocrat to destroy our beautiful nation . . . and with it, the delicate balance of freedom in the world?

Or is Congress finally going to grow a set, and do what’s right?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/9/25