Humans have been dreaming of perfect places (e.g., Heaven, Jannah, Nirvana) and their opposites (Hell, Jahannam, Samsara) for centuries. Thomas More gave us “Utopia” in 1516 and its opposite, dystopia, entered the language about 300 years later. It describes a society or movement which involves great suffering, injustice, fear, and a government which dehumanizes individuals.
Orwell’s “1984,” the classic dystopian novel, describes a totalitarian government bombarding citizens with slogans: “Freedom is Slavery,” “Ignorance is Strength,” and “War is Peace.” It’s now clear that we live in a similar world: President Donald Trump created a Board of Peace just before invading several countries and executing hundreds of civilians in international waters and sovereign states. It appears, for this administration, “Peace is War.”
When people oppose invasions of countries led by dictators, it doesn’t mean they support those dictators (Maduro, Khameini) or their methods. But the U.S. should not be pursuing regime change, no matter what our military attacks are called. In another of his long succession of lies, Trump previously emphasized that America has plenty of problems at home without spending billions of dollars and killing thousands of civilians and combatants abroad.
Some suggest that Donald Trump creates chaos when he gets bored. I believe he is a pathologically disturbed man who damages and degrades all he touches. Recently, he turned a moment of unified American celebration into one darkened by his misogyny and desire for conflict.
Since 1896, the Olympics have been an expression of Utopian dreams: friendly, sporting competition sparks or deepens friendships among disparate countries and individuals. They allow athletes to suspend their learned dislike, even hatred, for other countries and their citizens, and lets them experience the saving grace of sports: bringing people from diverse backgrounds, religions, and ethnicities together so they can appreciate and respect their teammates and competitors. Sports, like music, is an international language that doesn’t need interpreters.
The gold-medal wins by the U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams against Canada’s best had storybook endings. Twenty-four-year-old Jack Hughes, who scored the “Golden Goal” in overtime, grew up with two brothers in a family headed by a husband and wife who both played hockey. His photo with a missing tooth and bloody mouth (from a Canadian high stick) wrapped in the Stars and Stripes couldn’t be topped by any fiction writer. It was the thrill of victory heightened by the agony of near-defeat.
As joy united Americans afterwards, President Trump managed to sully the moment by promoting divisions between the men’s and women’s teams, and their fans. In a celebratory call, he chose to throw shade on the women’s team, implying he didn’t want to invite them to the White House, but had to for political reasons.
In the adrenaline- and alcohol-filled locker room, none of the men immediately questioned the president’s remarks, although some did later. Hughes’ mother and others noted that the men’s and women’s teams rooted for each throughout the games and were still as close as ever.
So Trump’s best efforts to provoke antagonism failed. I believe we will see the same sentiment washing across the country in coming elections: people are rejecting the constant conflict and disrespectful behavior of the Trump administration.
His boorish attempt to advance cultural warfare at the Olympics is dwarfed by the damage he is doing in wars of choice around the world. War’s price tag is incalculable, with current and future generations infected with hatred over losses that can’t be diluted or diminished: fathers, brothers, sons, daughters, mothers, and entire families are destroyed along with their dreams of living a productive and rewarding life while worshiping as they choose.
Over 60 years ago, Bob Dylan expressed the rage we feel towards Trump, Hegseth, and others who promote and benefit from war. “Masters of War” targets weapons manufacturers and the political machinery that supports them: they only “build to destroy,” and their lies make people fear bringing “children into the world.” His song isn’t vague or symbolic: he wishes the death of the masters of war will “come soon” and pledges to “stand over your grave ‘til I’m sure that you’re dead.”
Currently, our democracy is still alive, resembling war’s victims in Ukraine, Gaza, Venezuela, and Iran: it is deeply injured but surviving, while the constitutional processes of free elections and judicial oversight provide light in the darkness. I believe a broad range of Americans have now seen the dark side of MAGA and are ready for change through impeachment or congressional elections.
Allen Woods is a freelance writer, author of the Revolutionary-era historical fiction novel “The Sword and Scabbard,” and Greenfield resident. His column appears regularly on a Saturday. Comments are welcome here or at awoods2846@gmail.com.