Obama’s Message to America: Don’t Compete So Hard (Editor’s Rant!)

In a speech last week, at the opening of the Fourth Congress of the Indonesian Diaspora in Jakarta, Obama lamented Trumps withdrawal from the Paris Accords, and of course tried to impress the Indonesians with a rousing speech of Obama era philosophies.

But there was an interesting message contained in this speech, an implied criticism of the “Make America Great” strategy that has already taken hold and, in this author’s opinion, has put us back on the road to greatness.

Obama’s speech, in part:

“We start seeing a rise in sectarian politics, we start seeing a rise in an aggressive kind of nationalism, we start seeing both in developed and developing countries an increased resentment about minority groups and the bad treatment of people who don’t look like us or practice the same faith as us.”

The media has keyed on the term “aggressive nationalism” and perhaps rightfully so. 

Obama’s message is clear, Trump’s ‘Ameria first’ strategy is wrong. America should not be agressive in its negotiations, America should be “fair” and give advantages to weaker nations, or nations that hate us (in the hopes they will change their minds). We should use the wealth of America to benefit other nations, even if it is to our detriment.

And this is how Obama used his presidency. He signed possibly the worst agreement in history with Iran. He went on an “apology tour,” humbling himself, and by extension America, to the rest of the world. He allowed illegal immigrants into the country and then allowed them access to expensive social services, at the expense of American citizens.

During Obama’s term, radical Islam grew in over a dozen nations, America, Europe were brutally attacked. A relatively stable Iraq, became unstable, and large parts fell to ISIS, a terrorist group that did not exist befor the Obama years.

This is what Obama’s lack of strength, lack of agressiveness, and lack of pride cost America.  

Trump is a different beast. Love him or hate him, he does put America first, he prides himself in aggressively negotiating on behalf of America, and he realizes when other nations try to take advantage of our good will.

One can never say about Trump he is playing small. Trump is larger than life, he is the epitome of the successful American.  

If you haven’t seen the quote below, its worth reading (one of my favorites), but read it while thinking of the contrast between Obama and Trump. I think you will enjoy it more that way.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Marianne Williamson

If we want other countries to rise to new heights and become competitors on the global stage, we have to stop treating them like they are crippled, stupid and weak. This bigotry of low expectations does not server the world.

But I’m sure Michelle Obama is ashamed of America once again.