Terror in every form and format must be rejected in totality. Geographies notwithstanding, violence and acts against humanity have no place among global communities. Evangelists, jihadists, left extremists, and private armies have raised their ugly heads. They must be put down decisively, even if the United Nations has been too slow to act on terrorism.
Ideological extremists, individuals, and groups wedded to a dreaded gun culture that has spread rapidly in Europe and the United States have added a fresh dimension to terrorism, terrorists, and their tactics. The life bid on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Pennsylvania is just a speck on the global terror map, irrespective of the motive. Ideological intolerance and political one-upmanship manifested in the United States during its campaign mode must be rejected once and for all. There is no place for such violence and terrorism in a democratic debate to elect the next President of the USA, whether the victor is a Democrat or a Republican.
The prevailing gun culture in the US may have had its origins in taking on the European settlers and later transformed into the ‘frontier spirit’ in the eighteenth century. It is rather illogical for developed countries that boast of a ‘free spirit’ to encourage gun culture in any form, whether within or outside their own territories.
The spread of terrorism and violence of different hues and colours has its roots in this very Western culture. Encouraging the migration of jihadis in the guise of freedom has taken its toll. Most of Western Europe is going through a churn owing to these jihadi elements that have gained a firm foothold in the region, leading to incessant violent incidents. Similarly, evangelical extremists enrolled as either Democrats or Republicans have enhanced their footprint and tightened their grip on the socio-economic landscape of the United States, its polity, institutions and organisations.
Self-proclaimed Left-liberals, often disguised as ‘urban Naxals’ in Bharat and the eastern hemisphere, have significant foundations in Europe and the US, thereby influencing these regions’ policies on migration, citizenship rights, and employment. This group has unleashed violence and terror among academia, intellectuals, scientists, technologists, and policymakers, breeding ‘intolerance’ of extreme variety. Additionally, the culture of private armies and gangs promoting Left extremist ideologies and annihilation persists, despite being rejected by global communities.
How else can one explain the continued attacks on peace-loving Hindus in several Western countries? Why are ‘coloured people’ and Asians not allowed to live honourably in these territories, whether in America, Canada, Europe, or the UK? There’s no plausible explanation for the significant number of Muslim jihadists entering the United Kingdom’s Parliament. The Left gaining credence in French politics is also unimaginable.
It’s only the Americans who need to elect their leader in the November 2024 Presidential elections. Global communities can only support and complement the efforts made by the US to ensure that political violence, evangelical extremists, jihadists, left extremists, or gun-toting individuals or groups do not subvert the democratic process.
Just as foreign powers made desperate attempts to torpedo elections in Bharat earlier this year, it’s entirely possible that foreign entities will meddle with the US elections. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently stated that there was evidence of China trying to influence the US elections, as in the past, i.e., 2016 and 2020. These inimical forces may attempt to do so again this time. President Xi Jinping’s Chinese Communist Party would never admit to having done it in the past or attempting intervention this time. However, Federal Election Commission reports suggest otherwise.
Apart from China, several other entities may be in the process of spending hundreds of millions of dollars to influence the outcome of the US elections. Coupled with such foreign interference, jihadists, evangelical extremists, gun-toting groups, and left extremists may have a field day. The failure of governance structures in the United States to stop these forces is glaringly exemplified by the latest attack on Donald Trump. There is no place for such machinations in democratic dialogue, elections, and sane debate sans intolerance.
Restoring the credibility and relevance of governance structures in the US should become a priority for both Democrats and Republicans. Holding smooth and fair elections is imperative. Being one of the oldest democracies may not be enough; sustaining these credentials should be a top priority for Americans in general and the leadership in particular.
The author is Director & Chief Executive, non-partisan think-tank, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies based in New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.