THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary-January 23, 2017- Topic 2

America’s era of anger

Despite the belligerence and rhetoric of his campaign, some had hoped that Donald Trump, in his inaugural address, would seek to heal the wounds created by a divisive campaign. But the 45th President of the U.S. trumped those expectations with a speech that was resonant of campaign rhetoric rather than one that should have been a vision statement for a united future under his leadership. Certain omissions in the speech were stark. 

The humility that American Presidents usually embrace in their first address was missing. So was the historical emphasis on American values. No word of thanks for the work of his predecessor, Barack Obama. Instead, Mr. Trump continued his attacks on the Washington establishment, vowing to end the “American carnage”, put “America First” in all policy decisions and eradicate “radical Islamic terror” from the “face of the earth”. These remarks, along with his first set of decisions in the White House, offer an indication of the priorities. Mr. Trump has already issued an executive order to roll back certain aspects of Obamacare, a health-care programme which the former President fought long and hard to get passed in Congress. Pages on LGBT rights, climate change and Obamacare are already removed from the White House website. The administration is also planning a missile defence system that could trigger a nuclear arms race. Put together, the Trump team is likely to pursue a hardline social conservative agenda buttressed by economic protectionism and passionate nationalism.

This poses a new set of challenges, for the U.S. and the rest of the world. First, American liberalism faces a major crisis. The hundreds of thousands of women who thronged several cities in the U.S. on Saturday to protest against him show how divided the country is. Second, if the world’s largest economy, the main pillar of the global economic order, turns protectionist, it would have far-reaching impact on other major economies. This means the current crisis in globalisation, which in a way helped Mr. Trump’s rise, is likely to deepen. Third, Mr. Trump’s foreign policy direction, especially his disdain towards multilateralism and unfriendly approach towards China, is confrontational. He has repeatedly said he is a deal-maker and will get the “best deals” for the U.S. But in international diplomacy, his business logic may not work. Finally, how Mr. Trump is going to meet the tall promises he has made to rally supporters, largely the anxious, angered, anti-establishment white working class. He has unleashed forces of extreme nationalism which many hoped belonged to a bygone era.

Vocabulary

Belligerence: aggressive or warlike behavior.

Example: The reaction ranged from wild enthusiasm to outright belligerence

Rhetoric: the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.

Example: Born into a rich provincial family, he studied philosophy as well as rhetoric and law.

Synonyms: oratory, eloquence, command of language, way with words

Divisive: tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people.

Example: The highly divisive issue of abortion

Synonyms: alienating, estranging, isolating, schismatic

Stark: severe or bare in appearance or outline.

Example: The ridge formed a stark silhouette against the sky

Synonyms: sharp, sharply defined, well-focused, crisp, distinct, obvious

Embrace: an act of holding someone closely in one's arms.

Example: They were locked in an embrace

Synonyms: hug, cuddle, squeeze, clinch, caress, clasp, bear hug

Carnage: the killing of a large number of people.

Example: For this day of carnage and tears there can be no justification or excuse.

Synonyms: slaughter, massacre, mass murder, butchery, bloodbath

Pursue: follow someone or something in order to catch or attack them.

Example: The officer pursued the van

Synonyms: follow, run after, chase, hunt, stalk, track, trail, shadow

Thronged: fill or be present in a place or area.

Example: A crowd thronged the station

Synonyms: crowd, cluster, mill, swarm, surge, congregate, gather

Disdain: consider to be unworthy of one's consideration.

Example: Gamblers disdain four-horse races

Synonyms: scorn, deride, pour scorn on, regard with contempt

Unleash: release from a leash or restraint.

Example: We unleashed the dog and carried it down to our car

Synonyms: let loose, release, (set) free, unloose, untie, unchain

Bygone: belonging to an earlier time.

Example: Relics of a bygone society

Synonyms: past, former, olden, earlier, previous, one-time, long-ago