Donald Trump's embarrassing isolationism

Dangerous isolationism! Echo opinion letter published in the Richmond Times Dispatch, Virginia.

"Donald Trump spoke in the tired and exhausted banalities of the past." (He was an embarrassment!)

There could not have been a more diametrically opposing sharing of ideas than those displayed at the recent U.N. General Assembly session.

United Nations- New York City
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres communicated like a visionary leader of hope, with respect for others and dignity. As quoted in The Times-Dispatch article, “At U.N., two leaders offer differing views of global risk,” Guterres spoke of maintaining “a universal economy with universal respect for international law; a multipolar world with strong multilateral institutions.”

In speaking about the Middle East, Guterres said, “In a context where a minor miscalculation can lead to a major confrontation, we must do everything possible to push for reason and restraint.”

Contrast that with Donald Trump, who spoke in the tired and exhausted banalities of the past. “Love of our nations makes the world better for all nations,” he said. “The future does not belong to globalists. The future belongs to patriots,” Trump added. Instead of using the U.N. as a platform to express to the world the values — rule of law, mutual respect, equality and justice — that have served our country so well, Trump resorted to his usual isolationist rhetoric while turning his back on the growing environmental threat looming larger and larger each day.

I suspect Trump had no intention of acting in the statesmanlike manner of Guterres. I imagine he was fronting his tough guy image to the world for the benefit of his base. The few concerns Trump brought up are real — China, Iran and Venezuela — but should be handled in diplomatic negotiations, not in a tirade on the world stage. America once had presidents with the skill, knowledge and compassion to lead the world — but not today.

William P. Cawley, West Point, Virginia