The world is watching
by digby
And like most Americans, they are appalled by what they see:
As transfixed as Americans were Thursday by the testimonies of Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh before the Senate Judiciary Committee, so too was the world.
Readers from South Africa to Scotland told us that they watched, with equal amounts of fascination and repulsion, the hearing in which Dr. Blasey accused Judge Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in high school, and he vehemently denied doing so.
Many expressed despair for America’s future and shock over the public airing of the allegations. Others decried the spectacle of the hearing as unsubstantial and frivolous.
Their statements have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
‘I hope she really understands the impact she has’I don’t think people in the U.S. know how closely we are watching this, and I didn’t know, until now, how deeply this testimony would affect me personally. We have been watching the downfall of the American democracy for a while now. We have been watching the #MeToo movement for a while now, not knowing what to think of it.
Well, I didn’t know until now, and there I stand watching this testimony, feeling really stupid, dragged into reality. I’ve been there. It happened to me. I only told one person. It was 28 years ago. I thought it was my fault, my responsibility. I was 13 years old. I just realized that it wasn’t.
I hope she really understands the impact she has on all of us, around the world. And I hope she knows she’s making history. Whatever the outcome may be.
— P., Belgium
‘Should a judge on the Supreme Court not be independent?’I am an outsider, and as I was watching — with great interest, I must say — the proceedings yesterday, I was wondering after listening to Judge Kavanaugh’s opening statement and the very harsh words he said about the senators from the Democratic Party whether he would be ever in a position to rule impartially in any matter involving the Democratic Party.
Should a judge on the Supreme Court not be independent? Kavanaugh behaved like a member of the Republican Party.
Nobody will ever know for sure what happened in that bedroom, but we all saw what happened in the hearing room. And only on that basis Kavanaugh is totally disqualified to be a judge — at any level, let alone the Supreme Court.
A very bad week for America on the world stage.
Her trauma is real and so is his anger. And if the highly emotional testimonies leave us back to the starting point regarding this specific allegation, the rational side of me turns to the only objective question at hand — does his behavior, temperament, tone and clear antipathy toward Democrats make him a suitable candidate for a lifetime appointment to a body that is supposed to be an impartial branch of government?
— American Abroad, Dubai
‘There are nothing close to facts’Clearly there must be a better way of dealing with accusations of this sort, be they true, have foundation or simply malicious. This is just as true in the wider world as it is in this particular arena.
I don’t disbelieve either party, but then there are nothing close to facts.
America truly is the laughingstock of the world.
Regardless of whether Kavanaugh really did what he is accused of (and how is this going to be decided with no evidence?), this is ridiculous. What is to stop anyone from making such unsubstantiated claims about anyone else in the future? What it does show is just how far towards insanity and away from common sense American society has gone. Trial by believability on TV.
With all the problems and issues in the world today, the United States is fussing about something a middle-aged man may or may not have done 36 years ago when he was in high school.
— Garth Stevenson, Grimsby, Ontario
‘Your country has lost the plot’I simply cannot imagine any country in Europe carrying out such a bizarre hearing, least of all one for all the world to see. It showed the U.S. in a very poor light.
Some might say that it was at least transparent, but what it showed was a country massively at odds with itself and in no way fit to lead in the world.
Your country has lost the plot. It’s not about power and my seat in Congress, it’s about inequality and disenfranchisement. Shame on the Democrats, too. Archaic political system.
If this is the best America can do to fill one of nine seats on the highest court in the land, America is a country in serious decline.
— John Townsend, Mexico
‘I watch in despair as America slides back’I have visited America more times than I can count and always loved the country, and most of the people I met were friendly, welcoming and open. I watch in despair as America slides back into the Dark Ages and loses its reputation on the international stage. It is really very sad seeing America implode.
This is not good for America. Trump & Co. may bulldoze and taste temporary success in trade wars.
But the genuine cries of women may not be that easy to ignore! Times are changing.
This story has obviously touched a raw nerve in so many men and women in the U.S. and around the world. Perhaps it is a turning point (one can only hope) in men finally getting it.
Women need to be heard and respected as they have not been up until now.
— Greg Hodges, Truro, Nova Scotia
The United States is burning through unbelievable amounts of good will. You can do better.
We deserve this, I suppose. America has been hubristic and arrogant for a very long time. But the fact remains that most people didn’t vote for this freak show and it’s falls upon that majority to do what it takes to turn this around.
America is a laughing stock, which isn’t really the end of the world. But we are still the most economically and militarily powerful nation on earth. It’s dangerous for everyone including ourselves for this behmoth to be seen this way:
Trump opened his speech the same way he opens his campaign rallies, TV interviews, and probably conversations with every visitor he meets: “In less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country.”
The response from the leaders assembled in the room? Laughter. The entire world literally laughed at the US president – and they weren’t laughing with him.
Even Trump himself was taken aback: “I did not expect that reaction …”
And while reporters and foreign policy experts could not recall another leader ever before drawing derisive laughter at a UN speech, it did not end there. When Trump made another claim – “Germany will become totally dependent on Russian energy …” – the cameras revealed the German delegation laughing and snickering to one another.
With Trump’s own behavior and policies as a backdrop, the substance of Trump’s speech merited laughter – it was an incomprehensible joke.
The main theme of Trump’s speech was protecting US “sovereignty” and he said that all countries should do likewise. He claimed: “The United States will not tell you how to live, work or worship. We only ask that you honor our sovereignty in return.” But shortly thereafter Trump spent portions of his speech telling Iran and Venezuela what to do at home.
In the Middle East, Trump claims his “new approach is yielding great strides and very historic change” as he announced that the United States is working with Gulf countries, Jordan and Egypt to establish a strategic alliance. Moments later, Trump reversed course and launched a broadside against Opec (of which the Gulf states are the key members) for “ripping off the rest of the world”.
Unfortunately, the consequences of the policies embedded within Trump’s speech are no joke. They can inflict lasting damage.
They already have. We just don’t yet know the scope of it.
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