A Defining Moment: Which Path Will We Choose?
Watching Donald Trump and J.D. Vance berate, bully, and humiliate President Zelensky at the White House last Friday was shocking and shameful—though, sadly, not surprising. The display was not just undiplomatic; it was a calculated show of dominance, a signal to the world that the new U.S. administration has chosen a path of isolationism and authoritarian posturing over leadership and integrity. The two men came across less as statesmen and more like a pair of "goodfellas," unpredictable and prone to wielding power through intimidation rather than principle.
Many of us, watching from this side of the front line created by Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, understand that the Ukrainian people represent the best of us. They are fighting not just for their homeland but for the values that underpin European democracies—values that now seem increasingly under threat from both the East and, alarmingly, the West. Trump’s actions, his rhetoric, and the attitude of those surrounding him send a chilling message. If the United States withdraws its commitment to defending democracy abroad, what does that mean for the rest of us? The fear is real.
Yet, despite these dark moments, we must hold onto the belief that humanity is still capable of goodness. As Joseph Campbell told Bill Moyers in The Power of Myth, “The influence of a vital person vitalizes the world.” Change doesn’t begin with grand political gestures; it starts with individuals making choices—choosing courage over fear, action over apathy, hope over despair. Most importantly, it's about conscious action.
We are at a crossroads, teetering between chaos and life’s creative potential. The question is: Which way will we go?