Introduction
The destruction is also a form of revenge. MAGA (Make America Great Again) attempts to destroy the American Dream by colonizing universities. Ironically, it was the American Dream that made America great.
Political Developments in Mexico and Israel
In Mexico, AMLO has decided to destroy Mexican democracy through popular elections that would trigger an explosion in the judicial power. Those who vote on Sunday will be signing the death certificate of democracy.
In Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu is dismantling the fundamental principles of any democracy: respect for human rights. Bezalel Smotrich, Israel Katz, and Netanyahu himself have all declared to the world that they want the Gaza Strip, regardless of the means.
The Scarcity of Freedom
Freedom was once an American export product. Many countries produced and exported it, but now, in the 21st century, freedom has become a scarce commodity.
Evo Morales violated the constitution he himself drafted, and many applauded him; the Ortega family has lost touch with reality, and many still support them. The Cuban dictatorship has blamed the embargo for decades and never even sent a signal of change during Obama’s presidency, which reactivated diplomatic relations.
The world has turned into a QAnon-like cult.
Donald Trump and the Uniqueness of Thought in American Universities
Donald Trump promotes a single line of thought in American universities. This is a brutal paradox.
There are over a million international students in the US annually, injecting billions of dollars into the economy and driving the scientific and technological sector. Many have become suspects, potential enemies of the Trump administration.
According to NAFSA, international students contributed nearly $44 billion to the US economy during the 2023-2024 academic year (The New York Times). Stuart Anderson, CEO of the National Foundation for American Policy, notes that most international students in the US are from India and China, with many specializing in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
Trump justifies his decisions as part of a supposed battle against the Chinese Communist Party and anti-Semitism (while Netanyahu publicly orders the Gaza Strip’s evacuation).
If we don’t revisit Hannah Arendt’s work, one might mistakenly believe that these events are an amusing reality show.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue discussed? The article addresses how political movements, like MAGA and actions in Mexico and Israel, threaten the American Dream and global democracy.
- Who are the international students in the US, and why are they significant? There are over a million international students in the US annually, contributing nearly $44 billion to the economy and driving scientific and technological progress. However, they have become suspects due to Trump’s policies.
- What is the paradox presented in the article? The paradox lies in how Donald Trump’s administration attempts to destroy the American Dream by targeting universities, while the American Dream itself has historically contributed to America’s greatness.
- What is the significance of Hannah Arendt’s work? The article suggests that revisiting Hannah Arendt’s ideas is crucial to understanding the gravity of the political situations described, rather than viewing them as mere reality show entertainment.
