Full speed in reverse

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And so, it begins. Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. He’s already pulling out of the Paris climate accord so that he can do more drilling. According to AFP, he has declared a “national energy emergency” to expand drilling, and he’s cutting what he calls an “electric vehicle mandate.” NBC News reported that Trump will sign a dozen executive orders (at least) immediately after being sworn in. Those orders include another “national emergency” at the U.S. border with Mexico, which includes resumption of building his precious border wall, and terminating diversity programs in federal agencies. None of this comes as a surprise, and we know what it all means. So much for the longevity of our planet. In fact, AFP believes that Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris accord may well embolden China and India to weaken their commitments to fossil fuel reduction. Global temperatures have surpassed the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming over the past two years, showing just how urgent it is that we change the way we do things. Trump will have us going backward in several ways.

One of the executive orders Trump plans to sign gives permission to drill in Alaska. Trump claims that drilling in Alaska will ease energy prices for U.S. citizens and further claims that it will “produce wealth for American citizens.” Yeah, gas and oil company owners. It is not clear how this could possibly produce wealth for the average citizen, not that Trump cares anyway. If he did, he wouldn’t be so gung-ho drilling in a national wildlife refuge. It is frightening what our world might look like in four years. But that’s not all Trump is undoing.

Another unpopular move from Trump is his plan to end birthright citizenship. This citizenship is the law under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.” Of course, Trump cares nothing about the Constitution, so it’s not surprising that he wants to go against it. It will be interesting to see what happens with this, but no one can stop an executive order other than the courts.

Finally, one of Trump’s other executive orders will address diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, as well as declaring that the federal government will recognize only two sexes, male and female. This is hate, plain and simple. How are these people damaging others? This order will include the elimination of environmental justice grants and diversity training initiatives. Ironically, this horrible announcement came on the King Holiday. It’s like a slap in our faces while we honor a great man who helped to bring equality to all. During her speech at Ebenezer, Reverend Bernice King said: “We are living in a time when anti-woke rhetoric has become a weapon to divide us and distract us from the real issues of injustice. To be woke is to be aware of oppression and commitment to justice.” The King Holiday exists to remind us of these teachings, and no one-including Donald Trump-is going to take us back without a fight.

This is the fight of our lives. Trump and his unelected henchmen are actively to destroy our government, our democracy, and our way of life. We only have one choice, and that's to fight back as loudly and aggressively as possible.
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