
"...I am shielded in my armor.
Hiding in my room.
Safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock.
I am an island."
Sounds of Silence, Simon and Garfunkel, 1966
Probably one of the most popular songs from my era had these memorable lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel in 1966. They underscored the principle we hear so much from President Donald Trump today---'Nationalism---me, me. As long as it is me, then we can have you. I'm better than you and I am in charge.' I remember hearing that talk for the first time in the school yard, as a kid. We just heard him make this demand to leaders in Southeast Asia, just when we are in a position to lead historic international trade. This is a golden opportunity lost.
Perhaps the conservative Wall Street Journal said it best of all today:
""Things were going well. Then he returned to his worst subject [Nationalism]...
As the U. S. is left behind, the biggest American losers will be the President's supporters in the Midwest and farm states."
I don't know about you, but I just don't know how much much of this American getting great again I can stand.
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