Challenges to Our Freedoms Under President Trump
The accounts of Cuba under Castro remind us that Cubans left Cuba and the US put sanctions on Cuba because of its Communist government and lack of basic freedoms. This includes freedom of speech, freedom of the press, due process under the law, and a right to privacy. These are rights that Donald Trump has not only threatened to reduce during his campaign, but actually has reduced during his campaign. There can be no allowance to do such things during a campaign under a guise that that is politics, or that campaigns are just salesmanship, and granted some leeway. A candidate is setting an example of how he or she will be if elected to our highest and ultimate leadership office of President. These freedoms are now absent in Russia under Trump’s idol of leadership, Putin.
Other freedoms violated by Castro, and still Cuba’s government, are the freedom of association, and the related freedom to form political parties. Banning the Washington Post’s reporter from even attending a rally as a member of the public violated freedom of association. Trump has promised many violations of the freedom of religion in his restrictions on Muslims.
Trump has given no indication of softening on any of these restrictions, and we can, unfortunately, expect much more serious violations when he assumes the office, and with Steve Bannon as chief strategist.