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Trump and the Constitution!

Robert Clements Robert Clements
27 Jan 2025

Within a few hours of his swearing-in, the new American president signed a slew of executive orders that shocked the world. One of them was that those born in the US could not assume they were American citizens.

Within a day, a federal judge, John Coughenour, stayed the executive order, saying it was 'blatantly unconstitutional!'

Just imagine what this means: that the most powerful man on earth is still bound by the law, by the Constitution.

Today is our own Republic Day. A day when we celebrate the implementation of our own Constitution, and today we need to celebrate it with fireworks and fanfare.

It is not a strong president or powerful prime minister who can safeguard you; it is that book of laws written by our founding fathers, which is the checks and balances of power-hungry politicians carried away by their voter support.

This mental picture of the most powerful man in the world, having to yield to the Constitution of his country should be implanted not just in the minds of the weak and meek, but in the minds of our so-called powerful leaders, who get carried away by the size of their vote-banks.

What they fail to realise is that people vote according to their present situations, whether they lack jobs, food, or housing, and will change a government when those basic needs of one particular time are not met. But the Constitution is not based on pressing immediate solutions that govern voting but on deep-rooted, thought-out truths on which the very structure of our country is based.

The American people of today's generation might want to close the borders, and a President comes to power on that emotion, but their Constitution says that America was not founded on a 'shutting off' action but on an 'open and embracing the people of the world' action.

And today, on our Republic Day, the same is true for us.

The Constitution of India does not allow the idea of 'us and others' to exist but very clearly expresses that every Indian is equal, irrespective of how wealthy he or she is, how educated they are, and in whichever way they decide to worship.

Just as the people of America were fooled into thinking that one man could work selfish miracles for them, many in India think the same.

But the Constitution stands firm like the Rock of Gibraltar.

But hush, even as selfish decisions are thrown out, it also whispers into our ears to reflect on why such a law was made. It whispers to each of us to think deeper than our present situation and realise the Constitution will one day safeguard even us when someone uses brute force and some bullies ill-treat you because they are a majority.

Trump's stonewalling by a judge shows our Constitution should also be safeguarded to stonewall falsehoods and bullies...!

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