The atmosphere there and the recent general elections in our country have one thing in common – and that is fear.
….The US elections are as divisive as the Indian elections held last summer.
If you have been keeping an eye on the American elections, you must have felt that the atmosphere there and the recent general elections in our country have one thing in common – and that is fear.
No doubt, fear can get votes, power, glamor and glitz – but fear does not solve problems. Fear will force many American citizens to leave their homes and cast their votes. And this fear will also force many Americans to stay away from voting.
It is evident that the American, British and European media are enthusiastically supporting Kamala Harris. The famous people you see on TV, the singers you listen to and the writers you read – they’re all excited about Harris’ potential victory. You must have also seen that there is a lot of enthusiasm among the people at Tim Walz’s rallies.
But fear gives you strength to fight. When we think of Trump’s four-year rule and the subsequent violence in the capital on January 6, the mere thought of Donald Trump coming to power for four more years gives rise to shudder. The thrill disappears and the scared people start trying to avoid being scared further.
There is fear in the other camp also. Trump has created fear among the public by talking about the dire situations that could arise if Kamala Harris becomes President. They are saying that deranged criminals aka illegal immigrants aka bestial people have ruined America and will never let America become great again. Crime and violence will increase in the country, America will become victim of racial conflict and white supremacy will end.
One side is talking violence, vengeance and hate and the other side is promising inclusivity, balance and harmony. On one side there is autocracy and on the other side there is protection of democracy. But there is fear on both sides.
Both candidates – like candidates across our country – are using this polarization to polarize even more. His loudness has also increased due to two failed attempts to assassinate Trump. His position in the elections has also improved. Three-quarters of Americans are concerned about the potential threat of post-election violence, according to an AP/NORC poll. According to reports, traders, shopkeepers and institutions are secretly preparing to face the problems arising after the election results. Average Americans are also doing so in relatively less expensive ways. Some are hoarding toilet paper, some are buying Taser guns (which paralyze the person for some time by electric shock). Some are even stocking up on antibiotics for their pet fish! In view of possible unrest, some media organizations have withdrawn their representatives from war-torn areas and deployed them at other places.
Seen from a distance, this appears not to be a scene of change but of destruction. We know that the US elections are as divisive as the Indian elections last summer. We have been hearing terms like polarization, communal violence, minority, intolerance, civil war etc. again and again during every election for the last ten years. Same thing is happening in America also. We were also worried during the last elections. Heartbeats were fast and anxiety was at its peak. Everyone was worried about what would happen next. Politics can be dangerous and polarization can be harmful. But India faced all this successfully. I think America will also do this. Fears of civil war are baseless. There may be a tough fight between Harris and Trump, but when fear is dominant and emotions are strong, then there can be a mistake in gauging the mood of the public.
Fear creates more fear. People are prepared due to fear of the possibility of political violence breaking out. Local authorities in America have made full preparations to face the situation. Barbed fences have been installed in sensitive areas in areas such as Michigan and Philadelphia, and election workers have been given special phone numbers to contact law enforcement if they feel threatened. The police is also fully prepared. Panic buttons have been fitted and drones are deployed. Election authorities have also taken several measures, including live broadcast of ballot boxes, to increase public confidence in the electoral process.
The US elections being held this autumn are similar to the Indian elections held last summer. Fear seems to be testing democracy. It’s natural to have some chaos and confusion, but history doesn’t repeat itself very often. There is a strong possibility that American democracy too – like Indian democracy – will not suffer any harm. Everything will be normal! (Copy: Amrish Hardenia)