A Birthday Reflection on Island Life and Global Politics

Small boats, a few bigger sailing ships, and the gentle lapping of waves against the harbor walls provided an unexpected backdrop for my birthday yesterday. I hadn't announced it on social media, but many kind messages from readers arrived. It shows the growing sense of community among us.

Instead of my usual evening writing routine, I sat in a small harbor on a neighboring island, meeting friends who had sailed in for the occasion during a long boating holiday. This morning, I enjoyed an eight-kilometer run. The route took me through the beautiful dunes, where running is challenging on the soft sandy hills, and into the heart of the village.

I saw two deer running away in the woods, geese flying in formation, and Shetland ponies grazing happily on lush grass. Their patient presence was a stark contrast to the feverish energy of the wildlife. I paused to take a photo of the ponies. It shows how the unusually wet summer has transformed the dune landscape into a green pasture.

Life on this island is idyllic, but I know that life is a challenge in many places elsewhere on this planet. Power-hungry leaders pop up everywhere like mushrooms in this island's dunes. I wonder why so few of these leaders seem to care about the plight of their people.

For most classic dictator types, ignoring their people's needs seems to come with the job description, independent of their presumed political banner. The worst communist and fascist dictators may have hated and fought each other. Still, they are brotherly mentioned next to each other in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest mass murderers ever, and that includes millions of their own citizens.

Even in established democracies, we're witnessing the rise of figures who openly challenge the very foundations of democratic governance. The upcoming US presidential race has evolved into a pivotal moment in American history, a choice between adherence to democratic norms and a path to autocracy.

Trump has made alarming statements suggesting that, if re-elected, it could mark the end of free elections in America; you won't have to vote anymore since Trump has it all fixed. Such rhetoric is career-ending for regular politicians, but Trump's base accepts everything from their leader. This weekend, he spoke at a rally in Atlanta on the prisoner exchange, where he congratulated "Vladimir Putin for having made yet another great deal."

The media's handling of Trump's provocations has evolved over the years. It often struggles to find an appropriate balance between reporting newsworthy statements and avoiding amplifying dangerous rhetoric. This careful balancing act starkly contrasts the scrutiny of more conventional candidates like Vice President Kamala Harris.

Mary Trump, a clinical psychologist and the former president's niece, offered today on X/Twitter a stark assessment of her uncle and the media's portrayal of him.

"After eight years of covering Donald, too many journalists have gotten into the habit of seeing strategy in his crude and instinctive behavior. The truth is quite simple--Donald can't help himself. When it comes to him, we shouldn't overthink it. He is exactly what he seems: a racist, a misogynist, a liar. He is a bully who has no business getting anywhere near the White House. His pulling out of the debate should remind us that he is also a monumental coward."

Reflecting on a Sunday evening on these global issues from my island retreat, I'm struck by the contrast between the serenity of my surroundings and the turbulent state of world affairs. While I don't intend to focus solely on US politics, the gravity of the current situation and its potential global ramifications deserve continued attention.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. Should we delve deeper into these political developments, or would you prefer a broader range of topics in future posts? Your feedback, as always, is invaluable in shaping our ongoing dialogue.

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