Politicians like to pretend their words don’t influence others’ actions, but if that’s so, why utter them?
In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump has said he’ll cut taxes for the middle class and bring the price of medicines down. He’s stated he’ll remove birthright citizenship and that refugee caravans include killers and other ne’er-do-wells.
It’s this last that has got him in even more hot water than usual, fuelling claims that, by normalising xenophobia, he is indirectly responsible for the actions of Robert Bowers, the man arrested for killing 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.
The shootings came on top of a series of pipe bombs sent to prominent Trump opponents, including Hillary Clinton, allegedly by Floridian Cesar Sayoc, a bloke who claims native American heritage and has a van festooned with symbols referencing the Ku Klux Klan.
Nope, Trump says, his inflammatory shouts of “lock her [Hillary] up” and “fake news” have nothing to do with these actions.
この記事は New Zealand Listener の November 17 - 23 2018 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は New Zealand Listener の November 17 - 23 2018 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
