December 07, 2015

Will everyone please just chill?

editor:	Gurmeet Singh

It’s the end of the world as we know it. At least according to every Republican in America. We’re headed into a nuclear/ Biblical disaster zone, and the president of the world’s only superpower is too dull-witted to know what to do.

There is a striking parallel which no one seems to have mentioned: remember when George W. Bush was president, and he went to war, and everyone thought he was not only making a poor decision, but that he was unfit to lead? Well, the same is being said about President Obama – the only difference being that with Bush, at least, the case is easier to make. Do I need to remind you about his buffoonish public image? No, with Obama, it’s like high-school maths: you have to show your working. You can’t just say he’s unfit to lead. Nevertheless, that’s what’s happening, because he’s not going to war with Daesh/ ISIS.

Candidates like Rand Paul, Donald Trump, Marco Rubio and Carly Fiorina have all signaled they think the best option would be to engage directly with Daesh, using that unlovely phrase so often heard in our times, ‘boots on the ground’. Fiorina even went so far as discussing which forces she would arm in the region, and with whom she would partner; as though nothing has been learnt from 1980s American foreign policy.

To be fair, Obama’s address to the nation after a tumultuous week which included yet another shooting in the States, and an attempted murder in Leytonstone, both of which have been linked to terrorism and ISIS in one way or another – was fairly non-committal. As it should have been – America should be thankful they have a leader in charge who isn’t swayed by national fervor to simply invade another country and ignite what would be a bonfire the whole world would feel.

No, he’s right to stick to his word, listen to the advice of his military and security personnel and not simply leap into Syria, boots first. That’s something we should all feel thankful for. But we should be prepared too – this piece of good news isn’t entirely heartening, especially in such a depressing environment. The right-wing is rising again in Europe – not just in France, but all over the place.

Muslims, refugees, people of colour – things are turning against all of them. So what do we do? As always, speak out, be brave and do what you can to build community trust again where you are. And also, keep calm. Chill. Relax. Everyone will tell you the apocalypse is coming in the next few weeks, months and years – but here’s the truth: it’s not. There will be no big bang this week or next that commences the epic conflict between Islam and the West. The only reality is that we diminish our own lives with fear, hate and suspicion. Now, stop taking Donald Trump seriously and have a chat with stranger – it might not be amazing, but it won’t be the end of the world.