US not a global role model

Letter to the editor in the NY Times:

Over the course of Wednesday’s[Jan. 6] events, there has been much concern expressed over the world’s eyes being on America. Your country’s status as a “shining city on a hill” and a “beacon of democracy” is being seriously compromised, it seems.

Get over yourself, America.

First of all, you are not the model of democracy at work, because you are not even a democracy. You are a republic slavishly clinging to a broken system that assures you will forever elect presidents and other representatives whose beliefs reflect a minority of the populace. 

Your hypocrisy is laid bare at every turn, such as evangelicals who embrace guns and Donald Trump. There’s your atrocious civil rights record that continues today with voter suppression and the caging of children.

So rest assured, America, your status as a global role model is not at risk, because it was an illusion to begin with.

Brian Smith

Waterloo, Ontario

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Rob's comment:

The hed on the video is pseudo-objectivity at its worst with "appears to mock." Obviously that's exactly what the contemptible Trump is doing.