Trump-free Friday politics: August 18

BARCELONA, SPAIN – AUGUST 18: Police officers patrol on Las Ramblas following yesterday’s terrorist attack, on August 18, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. Thirteen people were killed and dozens injured when a van hit crowds in the Las Ramblas area of Barcelona on Thursday. Spanish police have also killed five suspected terrorists in the town of Cambrils to stop a second terrorist attack. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

North Korea steps back and Hong Kong comes down on protesters, while worldwide attacks prompt us to be painfully realistic in this week’s politics roundup

North Korea reconsiders

Thankfully, it now appears that concerns about imminent nuclear destruction at the hands of North Korea and the United States were exaggerated. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reportedly wishes to “watch a little more the foolish and stupid conduct of the Yankees” before making a decision.

This isn’t to say that North Korea isn’t an international concern, what with its aggressive moves against other countries and Kim Jong-un’s particular focus on developing a nuclear arsenal. Still, even the most devoted members of Kim’s regime must understand that military confrontation with the United States would be disastrous.

That appears to be the case within the U.S. government as well. Many analysts have concluded that there is no ideal course of action regarding North Korea and its nascent nuclear program. Certainly, military solutions like preemptive strikes and sabotage would, at best, delay North Korea’s progress. At worst, such aggressive action could create a humanitarian crisis of massive proportions. It might also leave the former North Korean state with a dangerous power vacuum.

Of course, the blustering of the president is excepted. Also, it is deeply unsettling to agree with just-booted-from-the-White-House Steve Bannon on something for once.

White supremacy still horrifying, still happening

No matter how much your uncle/friend/ill-informed roommate wants to claim that we’re “beyond race”, this past week has been painfully showing us that we are most certainly not. We’re mired in racism and fear, to the point where neo-Nazi terrorists are springing up out of our own soil.

This isn’t to say that hate groups are a new thing. Unfortunately, they are an indelible part of American history, though many would like to forget our ugly past and present. Indeed, that history became frighteningly obvious during a white supremacist rally and counter-protest in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The “Unite the Right” rally took place on Saturday. During a counter-protest against the rally, a white nationalist drove a Dodge Challenger through the crowd. One woman, Heather Heyer, was killed. At least 19 others were injured.

Wherein we break the “Trump-free” rule for a moment

While this next part does violate the “Trump-free” spirit of this feature, it’s worth including here nevertheless.

The president himself drew considerable ire after refusing to unequivocally condemn the white supremacists that advocated for such violence and particularly the driver of the Challenger. He eventually went on to criticize “alt-left” groups for their part in… exercising their right to protest? Or perhaps he was angry about them defacing monuments, though that is not at all one the same level as murdering a fellow human being.

He also lamented that “the history and culture of our great country [are] being ripped apart with the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments.” Protesters, meanwhile, have been busy vandalizing other monuments that memorialize the Confederacy (and a few that don’t, including a bust of Abraham Lincoln).

Attorney General Jeff Sessions, meanwhile, strongly condemned the violence and racism in Charlottesville. This was a surprising move for some, given the poor record the current Justice Department has already built with regard to civil rights.

Terror attacks in Barcelona

Violence was not limited to the United States this week. On Thursday, 13 people died and at least 50 were injured as a van drove through Las Ramblas, a pedestrian mall at the center of Barcelona.  U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson confirmed that at least one American was killed in the attack. Early on Friday, in the town of Cambrils, five attackers drove through another group of pedestrians, killing one.

Spanish police have since arrested multiple suspects and uncovered further evidence of terrorism. They have also found evidence that the terrorists were planning to use explosives. ISIS has since claimed responsibility for the Barcelona attack, though the extent of its involvement is not clear.

In response to the attacks, the U.S. president perpetuated a historically inaccurate analysis of General John J. Pershing, who executed Muslim rebels in the early 20th century Philippines.

Saudi Arabia opens its borders

Saudi Arabia has recently re-opened its land border with Qatar after a months-long diplomatic conflict. Along with the Saudis, the UAE, Egypt, and Bahrain cut relations with Qatar over the nation’s alleged terrorist ties. Qatar, meanwhile, denies that it supports terrorists.

Saudi King Salman has offered to pay the expenses of Qatari pilgrims on the Hajj, an annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in western Saudi Arabia. The concession came about after negotiations between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani of Qatar.

Hong Kong’s tenuous relationship with democracy

Years after the student-led “Umbrella Movement” engendered the largest pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, three of its leaders have been sentenced to jail time. Joshua Wong, 20, was sentenced to eight months in prison this Thursday for his role in the movement. It has since been reduced to six months to account for Wong’s community service.

Nathan Law, 24, was sentenced to 10 months, which was reduced to eight. Alex Chow, 26, was sentenced to eight months, then reduced to seven. All three had previously completed community service assigned after their participation in the 2014 protests. However, prosecutors in this most recent case argued that such punishments were not sufficiently harsh.

The previously British-controlled territory was ceded to China in 1997. Since then, critics have argued that democratic freedoms have slipped away under Chinese rule. Though Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China with a high degree of autonomy, it nevertheless remains linked to Chinese government.

Let’s get realistic about the political process

While nothing especially dramatic happened within the United States government this week, plenty of smaller moments have occurred. The White House is still in a state of apparently constant upheaval and uncertainty (chief strategist Steve Bannon’s departure from the White House was announced Friday afternoon), while Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation is ongoing.

However, it’s worth remembering that the U.S. government is a complicated and often slow-moving mechanism, like that of many other nations. It’s unlikely that we’ll see sudden thunderbolts of action, where a deus ex machina appears to save us all from ourselves.

Mueller’s investigation may not be the magic cure that some are hoping will materialize. Neither is it likely that the president will step down soon, despite all of his ill-informed statements, low approval ratings, and the predictions of his former ghostwriter.

This isn’t meant to inspire despair. Rather, it’s far healthier to face our challenges as a nation with a realistic grasp of both our political conventions and the people embroiled within them. It’s certainly nice to speculate on the chances of impeachment, for instance. However, fantasy will only get you so far within the realm of political activism and your own mental well-being.

And, finally, your palate cleanser

For all that the world seems to be against disadvantaged people, there is still good. Take Malala Yousafzai. She advocated for women’s education with such fervor and power that Taliban terrorists attempted to murder her. Despite being shot in the head and neck, Malala survived and continued her advocacy work. She gained international recognition and won the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts.

Because of threats in her native Pakistan, Yousafzai and her family moved to the United Kingdom. After completing high school in Birmingham, she has since been accepted to study at the prestigious Oxford University. She will study, philosophy, politics, and economics, sometimes known as “the Oxford degree that runs Britain.”

Next: Trump-free Friday politics: August 11

Yes, there is something in the Western media’s embrace of her story that uncomfortably sidles up alongside colonialist attitudes. However, it’s hard to fault Malala and her desire for education, both for herself and other girls. She has faced serious danger for wanting something that many take for granted—the right to go to school.

So, with that in mind, let’s applaud Yousafzai for all she will continue to accomplish at one of the best universities in the world.