I don't know about you, but I am sick and tired of mainstream media's constant negative reporting on anything to do with Trump. When you combine mainstream media's reporting with fake news that seems to have grown into monster proportions, it is almost impossible to discern what is true and what is just plain lies. The media has always sided with the liberal camp, that dates back many years. But in the past, there was at least an attempt to be somewhat partial by some of the mainstream media. That partiality seems to have gone by the way side somewhere along the line around the Vietnam War era.
There are many things that have happened with Trump administration that I do not agree with and am even disturbed about in some cases. But such is the nature of our system and politics. Each administration always has negative aspects with its share of scandals and poorly hatched policies, especially when it first gets it's feet wet in running the country. Trump has been in the office less than a month, and it seems no one in the mainstream media is willing to wait and see, but rather pounces on every move that they see as a misstep. The media appears to be so eager to portray Trump and his administration in a negative light that they will even take something positive and twist it around to make it negative! For the most part they will take something that is not necessarily unusual and make it sound as if it is unusual, in a negative way. I have never seen such mean spirited, downright vile attacks directed at anyone before. It seems that even his family, something that was always considered a taboo to target the President's family, is not safe! Can you imagine if such attacks were directed at Obama's family how the liberal media would have reacted? I won't even go into that.
Currently there is much talk in the sports pages of news media of how at least four identified New England Patriot football players have announced that they would not attend the traditional White House ceremony, supposedly in protest. The media speculates that perhaps the total will grow to over half a dozen or so protesters. They are making it sound as if it is an important message conveyed by civic minded NFL players protesting Trump's presidency, an embarrassment for Trump, a slap in the face! They fail to mention that in every White House ceremony that has been held for the Super Bowl victors, since the tradition started, there were always members of the victorious team who did not attend for one reason or another! When they talk about the players that will not attend this year's ceremony, do they mention that Tom Brady, the quarterback of the Patriots did not attend the ceremony in 2015? Of course not, how could they mention that Brady, the star of the team did not attend, that would lessen the effect of the other players not attending this year!
In a more serious matter, the media made much of Trump's 19 second handshake with Abe of Japan. They point out that Abe was very uncomfortable and that Trump's handshake "hug," that of using both hands was somehow inappropriate. It seems that every U.S. media report went on to criticize Trump's handshaking style and how it made Abe uncomfortable, etc. Indeed, Abe's brief grimace-like expression at the end of the long handshake seem to support the media contention. Curiously, none of the U.S. media reporters mention the fact that two handed handshake, i.e., clasping the person's hand with both hands is a sign of sincerity and offer of friendship. In fact, in many instances, that is how a subordinate clasps a superior's hand. I think our mainstream media reporters need to watch some Japanese and Korean TV dramas, they could learn something from those soaps, especially the handshaking practices. However, I think many of our reporters are very well aware of the Asian practice of clasping with both hands. They just chose to leave that part out and spin their story in the opposite direction!
It seems that while our media saw the Abe meeting in a negative light, the Japanese media saw it otherwise. All the Japanese media felt that Trump had really solidified U.S. - Japan relations, that he has calmed the fears of some Japanese that Trump was going to do things to damage the long standing close ties. If anything, everyone thought that Trump had proved his "sincerity" to maintain a solid partnership with Japan. Curious, how differently the Japanese media saw the meeting. Of course there were critics on the Japanese side as well. The Japanese leftist groups did not like what they saw and like the U.S. media, predicted that all sorts of bad things will follow. But the Japanese leftist are doing simply what they always do, criticize anything to do with U.S. government.
As I said in the beginning of this blog, there are many things that have happened that I don't particularly like. But I feel that it is still very early and, whether we like it or not, each new administration does have to go through some adjustment period. However, one thing is for certain. Trump has made no bones about his thoughts and stand on North Korea, something that several of our past presidents have been guilty of ignoring. He seems to be completely on the opposite end of Obama's approach to foreign policy. Obama's "wait and see" approach has gotten us into the situation that we are in with North Korea, as well as the mess in the Middle East. Trump has gone on record, not only with words, but by sending his Secretary of Defense to Japan and Korea in the first week of his administration, and with his recent meeting with Abe, that he will not tolerate North Korea's antics. Kim Jong Un is going to have to come up with a different strategy. This business of rattling sabers, firing off test missiles towards Japan isn't going to work.
China may be north Korea's biggest ally, but China is currently on shaky grounds with Trump over not only its trade policy but the issue over the disputed islands with Japan. Trump has just made "nice" with China by saying that we will adhere to "one China" policy, but I am sure China knows that there is a trade off, that they will have to pay for that concession that Trump made. I am sure China's payment will be in the form of perhaps easing restrictions on U.S. imports, lowering import duty, etc. But it could also be in the form of backing off supporting North Korea. After all, North Korea gets 100% of its economic and military support from China. Without China's support, with the stiff sanctions that it is facing, North Korea would collapse in a very short time. China does not want North Korea to collapse and be absorbed by South Korea, that is why it is still stubbornly supports North Korea.
No comments:
Post a Comment