Ethical Modernity

Tag: history

  • An attack on Ukrainian children

    During the most critical war of the 21st century, the Ukraine-Russia war, once again, the Trump administration disappoints. The Trump administration has repeatedly shown whose side they’ve chosen. This time, they have decided to attack the children of Ukraine by defunding Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab, which has been working on establishing the crime against humanity of the deportation of children from the territory of Ukraine to the enemy’s territory. This research is aimed at locating the stolen children and finding evidence to hold the enemy accountable. And the evidence shows a crime against humanity.

    This is a genocide of a people; children have been displaced from their homes and families, and are forced to integrate into the enemy’s culture, which is aimed at erasing the future and culture of the Ukrainian nation. The Russian Federation is committing a crime against an ethnic group of people – the Ukrainian people.

    These despicable men keep showing their lack of humanity, their immorality, and their absolute wickedness – a hatred towards all people.

    Children have been stolen from their land and homes and are now…somewhere. This somewhere needs to be found, and Yale’s research lab has been doing this since the beginning of the war. No matter what, we must continue searching for these children and return them to their families and homes.

    These children are currently living in hostile environments that do not welcome them or accept them. They will never consider their forced immigration as home because their captors will never accept them. Stolen children are not welcomed by a nation that hates them for existing. Instead, they are abused and used as scapegoats for the weak-minded, tortured into submission and blind obedience. Truly, only evil can attack a child. This evil is the Russian Federation. And now the Trump administration has begun assisting this evil to fester and ruin the lives of our children.

    This decision deeply concerns and saddens me. I hope we will come to our senses one day.

  • Executive Order 14287: “Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens”

    Executive Order 14287: “Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens”

    Executive Order 14287: “Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens,” made my mind blank.

    I blanked as I began to read the purpose of the Executive Order. The violent wording of the document, the terminology used to describe people, and the ‘purpose’ of such violence. I finally began to acknowledge the deep mistake Americans made in this election. How a candidate of hope lost to a man of hate.

    The executive order is plastered with white supremacy and its political ideologies. Making it an excellent example of the violence and suffering that this administration is willing to inflict.

    I am deeply concerned about the consequences of the elected Trump administration and its role in our global community. We are globally experiencing a modern-day fascist regime in its second term, two nuclear superpowers with fascist rule,  and European Union member states leaning right-wing. This should concern anyone who values liberties. History has shown us previously how a fascist regime, or the regime of white supremacy, ultimately destroys the achievements of nations, as its energy source is hate. My mind jumps to the consequences of our actions and our role in history. How did such hate succeed in power?

    This executive order is an attack on the human race. It is a violation of human rights from its very wording to its actions. The protection of human rights and liberty is what the United States has stood by internationally and domestically, and now they have chosen fascism as its route of governing. Everything that transpires in the United States is a repeat of history. A forced expulsion of people to ‘cleanse’ a state. This is fascism.

     Section 1 . Purpose and Policy. Federal supremacy with respect to immigration, national security, and foreign policy is axiomatic. The Constitution provides the Federal Government with plenary authority regarding immigration to protect the sovereignty of our Nation and to conduct relations with other nations, who must be able to deal with one national Government on such matters. This power is sometimes contained in specific constitutional provisions: Article II of the Constitution vests the power to protect national security and conduct foreign policy in the President of the United States, and Article IV, Section 4, requires the Federal Government to “protect each of [the States] against Invasion.” This Federal power over immigration is also an inherent element of national sovereignty.

    Federal Register :: Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens

                   Federal supremacy. The beginning of this statement already sends chills down my spine. A democracy, none other than the United States, where liberty is their people’s God-given right and the right their fathers died for. The history of the United States is that of a government that has shown, by example, how the union of states can communicate through diplomacy and trade to safeguard their liberties and freedoms. The center of technological and scientific advancements and a global influence for democracy has removed itself from its roots and chosen fascist rule.

    The wording of this document matters, and the beginning of the purpose is horrifying. Federal supremacy cannot and should never occur in democratic states. None other than the U.S.; The federal government should never be supreme. The federal government should know its place and role in the Union. This is why we elect and choose senators and representatives to give us many voices in the federal government. Not one supreme ruler. This is how democracy works, and it has been functioning in this manner, although not perfectly; they have maintained a certain standard. These are the standards that most democratic states aspire to. A supreme federal government contradicts the idea of the United States and, thus, its constitution.

                   ‘We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.’

    U.S. Constitution | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

    I argue that this appalling executive order goes against the Constitution of the United States. The preamble of the Constitution of the United States says that the people of the United States form a more perfect Union, progressing forward in history, by establishing Justice and ensuring domestic Tranquility. None of which this executive order does. Justice for the people can not be established when there is an attack on the people. The people this executive order attacks are those you and I meet at the grocery stores or in public transit. We are all of the people, since fascism has no other goal but to destroy the sanctity of liberty, and if one’s liberty is persecuted, the rest of us will be next.

    Tranquility is the government’s responsibility to maintain peace, stability, and order within the country. This executive order does none of this. Stability and peace are being disrupted, there is a penalty faced by states that do not comply, and there are violent attacks on civilians in the country. This is not tranquility this is terror.

    “The Constitution provides the Federal Government with plenary authority regarding immigration to protect the sovereignty of our Nation and to conduct relations with other nations, who must be able to deal with one national Government on such matters.”

    Federal Register :: Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens

    The plenary authority. Once again, the wording suggests supremacy over other branches of government, which disturbs the institution of democracy.

    The Constitution, in Article II, does provide the president with authority over foreign policy and national security, but how the government has chosen to deal with its domestic issues is a crime against humanity. This needs to be taken seriously. The administration is committing crimes against humanity.

    Article IV, Section 4, requires the Federal Government to “protect each of [the States] against Invasion.”

    U.S. Constitution | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

    Invasion by immigration. The Trump administration has decided to attack ethnic minorities by expelling them from the state. An expulsion of a population is considered a crime against humanity. Methods chosen to solve immigration are the same as those of Nazi Germany—a segregation of individuals from their homes, families, and communities.

    What must be understood in the conversation of immigration is that there will always be an ethnic minority in any given state, and the higher the quality of life this state provides, the greater the influx of those who are searching for better lives. If this is seen as a positive for a community, then the melting pot metaphor can be achieved. But if they are seen as an enemy to the state, then these minorities will be unsafe and suffer the consequences of our bigotry. By accepting these communities and providing inclusivity in our lives, we allow others to truly integrate into our communities and become the melting pot we aspire to. Hate breeds hate, and the administration legally bound hate into their governance.

    The ethical solution to immigration lies in the global effort to combat the disproportional distribution of global resources that the southern hemisphere faces. Organizations such as USAID have created these opportunities for countries; in return, these countries become more democratic. The attack on USAID will now cause more people to migrate from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere. What awaits them could be disastrous if the American people do not begin to protect minorities. This is a horrifying repeat of history.      

    Yet some State and local officials nevertheless continue to use their authority to violate, obstruct, and defy the enforcement of Federal immigration laws. This is a lawless insurrection against the supremacy of Federal law and the Federal Government’s obligation to defend the territorial sovereignty of the United States. Beyond the intolerable national security risks, such nullification efforts often violate Federal criminal laws, including those prohibiting obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.), unlawfully harboring or hiring illegal aliens (8 U.S.C. 1324), conspiracy against the United States (18 U.S.C. 371), and conspiracy to impede Federal law enforcement (18 U.S.C. 372). Assisting aliens in violating Federal immigration law could also violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (18 U.S.C. 1961 et seq.). Some measures to assist illegal aliens also necessarily violate Federal laws prohibiting discrimination against Americans in favor of illegal aliens and protecting Americans’ civil rights.

    It is imperative that the Federal Government restore the enforcement of United States law.

    Federal Register :: Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens

    The icing on the cake: a threat against the Union itself. State officials will be punished if they do not comply with these outrageous executive orders. The crimes that will be used to persecute state officials are severe, making the defiance of these executive orders dangerous. Forcing states to comply with executive orders in a way that threatens the Union. The federal government can not enforce such restrictions and implement the justice system in a way that can only be described as domestic terrorism.

    Executive Order #14287 has changed the United States’ global image from a nation of order to a nation of accepted domestic terrorism.

    May God bless America.

  • Ukraine and Russia: The Fascist Dynamics in Modern Conflict

    When creating this blog, I decided to focus on two distinct ideas: politics and healthcare. Although my professional knowledge is in healthcare, I cannot help but find the similarities between patient management and discussions of politics and their role in human lives. Politics has become a staple in our lives, and its effect is noticeable.

    At the beginning of this blog, I tried to keep it focused on North America, and the pressing issue is tariffs, but when researching the Executive Order, I noticed the trend of fascism in documents. This trend was found in the documents provided by the government of the United States. I had predicted that a fascist state in America would form, and then said, “I now consider it such”. This is the trajectory they have chosen, and I will continue referring to the administration as fascists until further notice.

    With a new focus on fascism in government, geopolitical discourse has, with a regrettable heart, gotten my attention. The recent war developments in the Ukrainian-Russian war and my ability to focus on them have led me to an astonishing realization of how fascism has been at our front door for the past three decades. I am referring to Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty. During this period, the influence of the Russian Federation created enough tension within the population that war began. Through the test of time and the exhaustion that war brings, the lasting effects of such experiences will only be revealed eventually. However, what has transpired during this period has led to a profound understanding of the wounds that a nation carries from the beginning of the Ukrainian nation. Fascism has been and always been rooted in the relationship between the Ukrainian and Russian nations. They were never brothers, in my opinion, but propaganda tools influenced them during the USSR to establish widespread complacency among the two peoples. This was to create a facade of trust between opposing nations. This facade has created a sense of false hope in the Ukrainian people that the Russians could be trusted as brothers.

     While hostility is common among neighboring states, the hostilities experienced in Ukraine by the Russian people continue to affect people’s lives. Their manipulation tactics, constant inconsistencies, and the lie they offer that there will be decent diplomacy among decent human beings continue to affect people’s lives. During Putin’s presidency, he has yet to show consistency in stories, reasoning, and purpose. Inconsistencies do not occur where truth resides, as truth requires a foundation of morality. Morality stems from a position of truth-telling.

    Fascism is a political ideology that needs immorality to exist. Unfortunately, immorality can come from a multitude of sources. Whether we acknowledge our immorality or not, the fascist regime exists while immoral governance is accepted. This type of governance should not exist in the 21st century. In my argument, the immorality of spirit causes anchored mindsets that contribute to the whole regime. Responsibility for the regime lies with the oppressor, but the survivor must not become a victim.

    Fascism oppresses the people by manipulating their day-to-day lives. It is easiest to manipulate people when they do not notice. Those who do not see – uphold and those who see them for what they are become victims of their brutality.

    The oppressor does so because of their hatred towards humanity. This hatred is usually undetectable at first and hard to notice, as it does not cause much offense. However, as the oppressor becomes emboldened, they increase their influence, and the minor inconveniences become bigger as they begin attacking liberty. One who tries to live a moral life would find it irrational to release anger demonstratively, so it either manifests into passive aggressiveness towards generalized people that supposedly are the problem of the misfortunes, or into denial. Denial is the worst case scenario; Denial causes the individual to begin doubting their minds and thus become susceptible to propaganda. Depending on what you find interesting, there is fascist propaganda for you. From housewives to C.E.O., we are all susceptible to their manipulation tactics.

    Although fascism is the minority, and most are not fascists, our psychological barriers keep us from seeing it for what it is. Under these conditions, one becomes complacent about the fascist regime. In this regime, the population either denies the existence of fascists or their grievances consume them to the point that they stop noticing the degradation of a system.

    As for fascism as a conscious choice, this is the minority. The fascists themselves.

    There is no doubt that Russia is a fascist state. The evidence is stacked against them. I state this boldly and unapologetically because I personally have experienced this terror.

    While the U.S. only hints at its trajectory, Russia embodies the modern-day fascist state. We are now again in the midst of a war with them. As of February 24, 2022, Russia had openly begun its Nazi-terror against the Ukrainian people. Making this the most critical war of the 21st century. The outcome of this war will determine the outcomes of every individual on this planet. Geopolitical outcome and the ripple effect of Nazi’s winning a war would be devastating.

    Taking the last three years of war into account and the multitude of evidence that we have acquired tells us exactly what governance Putin’s regime has planned for Russia. His inner mind is that of a psychopathic fascist, and there will be no ceasefire or truce of any kind until they are accordingly dealt with. This state should not exist on our planet since it disrupts every aspect of the economy and has made everyone’s lives increasingly complex. Given this reason alone, the West should have done more for the Ukrainian people during this war.

     Since then, Russian propaganda has affected political systems in Europe, which are beginning to lean right-wing. This political shift has already started destabilizing the European Union leadership, with the possibility of the EU’s values shifting toward authoritarianism. The internal political struggles within the EU have caused many people to forget that a war is continuing on the continent of Europe—a devastating war, with crimes against humanity and the extermination of a people…

    Since fascism is an ideology of a certain fixed mindset, a solution to it can be found. I propose that moral reasoning is the solution against an extremist ideology.  Something as simple as having a good intention towards yourself and others can counteract the effects of propaganda. As said previously, they are a minority; they hold less weight than you and I combined. So, if most people apply moral reasoning to their political discourse, we can finally achieve a middle ground.

    Moral reasoning is the backbone of our humanity. It uses a person’s moral compass. If an interaction’s intention is grounded in good intentions, then that can be considered moral reasoning. To counteract fascism, our humanity must be engaged. Everyday interactions hold the greatest significance in the battle against a prevailing ideology.

    Odesa, Ukraine

  • Addressing Fascism in Modern America

    In a world where politics has become the number one issue in most households, it is difficult to ignore the effect that unethical management has created globally. Families have separated over political ideologies and suffered immensely over those in power; it is time to become aware of moral reasoning. With this comes my responsibility to contribute to the discussion, which has led to the creation of this blog and its accompanying themes. I will apply my moral reasoning to political discourse.

    Politics is a pressing issue in our modern world. It has become common for households to engage in conversations surrounding politics. These conversations have brought incredible pain in families, causing many to lose touch with members of their own family over disagreements in political views. Understanding politics and its effect on our lives is vital for a thriving democracy and institutions that uphold ethical standards. This is why politics and ethical discussions go side-by-side.

    In our global economy, we face the existential threat of being affected by a minority — the fascists. They have recently become emboldened, giving hints of their plans and chosen trajectory. Yet, they are still the minority—a minority now in power of the strongest economy on the planet.

    I want to begin by reflecting on what each executive order means to me as an independent individual in a democratic nation. As I anticipated in my analysis of these documents, executive orders issued by President Trump will reflect ‘Project 2025’, which the extremists in America have proposed.

    I used the following sources when researching: Federal Register: Executive Orders, Federal Register : Addressing Certain Tariffs on Imported Articles, and Proclamation 10908—Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts Into the United States | The American Presidency Project

    Executive Order 14289: Addressing Certain Tariffs on Imported Articles

    When I begin reading legal documents, such as an executive order, it is good to remember what you are looking for, and in the case of legal documents, the wording matters. So, as I read the purpose of EO 14289, I can not help but scratch my head. The purpose of these tariffs, which have affected many lives, is that they pose a threat to national security, allegedly, an unusual and extraordinary threat. This wording is a red flag for an unethical purpose, reflecting malicious intent. Wording that suggests something unrealistic has threatened national security.   

    ‘The United States has imposed tariffs under various statutory authorities and through a number of Executive Orders and proclamations to protect national security and address unusual and extraordinary threats to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.’ [Section 1, EO 14289]

    It is undoubtedly only an unusual or extraordinary threat that would allow such reasoning behind the implementation of this executive order. I found the wording for this reason offensive to my individuality and disrespectful to my dignity.

    Further down, I began to search for these unusual and extraordinary threats. These threats had been provided in Proclamation 10908 and are as follows:

    1. Supply chain vulnerabilities [section 5]
    2. Foreign industrial policies [section 6]
    3. Material and labor shortages [section 5]

    Supply chain vulnerabilities: In section 5, the national security threats to the U.S.A. are those that every sovereign state currently faces. The global pandemic has certainly stalled lives and revealed vulnerabilities in traditional institutions. During this time, workers encountered significant unemployment and endured isolation. Marginalized communities were severely impacted, leading to increased poverty rates worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed flaws in global supply chains, but Mr. Trump’s solution does not reflect solution’s associated with democratic values. We know from experience that isolation is a recipe for disaster in times of crisis. By imposing tariffs, the government has chosen to isolate itself from the global economy, resulting in more supply chain disruption. Making his course of action seem counterintuitive.

    Foreign industrial policies: In section 6, the Proclamation states that economic allies in the automobile industry have become a threat to national security. Stating that Korea, Mexico, and Canada have aggressively expanded their automobile industries by benefiting from subsidies for these countries as part of trade agreements. Trade agreements that benefited the economies of each sovereign state involved.

    Material and labor shortages: Section 5 of the proclamation states that American-owned automotive manufacturers have experienced numerous supply chain challenges, including material and parts input shortages, labor shortages and strikes, and electrical-component shortages. I do not doubt that these shortages are actual, due to the pandemic, but as previously mentioned, the course of action the Trump administration has chosen will create more shortages. As for labor strikes and shortages, these domestic policy issues could have been addressed instead of using hostile tactics against sovereign states.

     ‘Based on the facts considered in that investigation, the Secretary found and advised me of his opinion that automobiles and certain automobile parts are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States.” [Section 1, Proclamation 10908]

    The purpose of Executive Order 14289 is to reflect the findings of the Secretary of Commerce’s investigation into the automobile industry. He had found that there are such quantities and under such circumstances that threaten national security.

    Under such circumstances, I will assume that these are the previously mentioned unusual circumstances. But the quantities of the industry cannot be unusual or extraordinary. As these quantities can and should be quantified, we can find them and analyze them with previous years to see how those quantities were, in actuality, good for the American economy. Wording in legal documents, such as ‘Such quantities’, suggests malicious intent and disregard for principles of ethics, where an autonomous individual can determine whether the information provided is of beneficence and is non-maleficent.

    The Trade Representative’s negotiations did not lead to any agreements of the type contemplated by section 232. [Section 3, Proclamation 10908]

    Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 [Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress] grants the President of the United States the authority to adjust imports if they threaten national security. But as section 3 states, the trade representative’s negotiations did not see the findings of the investigation of the Secretary of Commerce as fit for implementing section 232, leading me to question the legitimacy of the tariffs.

    In my opinion, these tariffs are maliciously intended against a sovereign neighbouring state such as Canada.

    These actions can only be viewed as a fascist government influencing geopolitical stability by proceeding with further isolation and vicious attacks on marginalized communities. Before they move forward, we must see that a fascist state begins by disrespecting all principles of ethics, and when the judicial system begins to be affected, this is when they have gained power. History repeats itself, and neo-fascists have taken the time to learn from their forefathers. Creating a more vicious campaign against humanity.

    I now consider the U.S.A. a fascist state and wish it were seen as such. Their domestic policies suggest such, and the wording in these legal documents indicates a degradation of their judicial system. The fascists have begun demolishing the sanctity of the judicial system. The fight to keep it intact is not against the institution itself, but against the men and women who undermine the foundations of democracy and liberty. These individuals are neo-fascists.

    President Donald Trump may either be a neo-Nazi or be influenced by psychopaths and sociopaths who lack remorse, empathy, and any sense of human decency. These individuals are the descendants of the men and women who executed millions of people worldwide. In every nation, they have had their version of the genocide caused by fascism. In contemporary America, Latinos and Black Americans have now been targeted.