Two world views

The 2024 US election, held on November 5, 2024, was a pivotal moment in American history, marking a clash between two fundamentally different ideologies. On one side was Donald Trump, who campaigned on traditional American values rooted in biblical principles, advocating to make America great again, meaning American-centric and in a way isolationism. On the other side was Kamala Harris, representing a concept that has been perceived as opposed to the foundational American ideals of God and country. This election encapsulated the ongoing debate within American society, reflecting the gradual shift in values and ideals that have been unfolding over several decades. American liberalism has experienced significant growth, gradually replacing many traditional ideals with more progressive stances. This shift is evident in various aspects of American life, including culture, education, and social movements. Hollywood, often seen as a reflection of American societal values, has been criticized for promoting amoral and licentious content, contributing to the perceived erosion of traditional values. Furthermore, the influence of rights movements and activism has spread across almost every level of society, including universities, which some argue have become bastions of progressive ideology, sometimes at the expense of traditional American values. The United States, once known as the leader of the free world during the height of the cold war, has become a melting pot of cultures and religions, embracing a more laissez-faire attitude towards personal freedom. This shift has led to a society where freedom is often interpreted as the liberty to pursue any lifestyle or belief without constraint as against traditional American values that were once considered foundational. Donald Trump’s victory in the election, despite being largely unexpected, can be seen as a response of voters for his unwavering stance on traditional American values and conservatism. Voters appeared to overlook or even sympathize with the legal challenges Trump faced, interpreting them as part of a broader narrative where the traditional American way of life was under siege. Trump’s campaign stood in stark contrast to that of Kamala Harris, who represented liberal, progressive, social democratic, and left-wing politics, ideologies often seen as antithetical to traditional American values. Trump faced a formidable alliance of organizations opposed to his stance on traditional American values. This included the mainstream media, corporate houses, powerful Washington lobbyists who play a significant role in American politics by representing special interest groups and advocating for their interests to lawmakers and government officials; Human Rights Campaign (HRC), The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and proponents of Woke-ism. These entities, particularly the BDS movement, advocate for policies that are critical of Israel and, by extension, the traditional American stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The presence of Woke-ism, with its fervent critique of traditional American values and institutions, further highlighted the ideological divide in the election. The outcome of the election, with Trump’s victory, suggests that a significant portion of the American public still identifies with and wishes to preserve the traditional values that have historically defined the nation. However, the ongoing influence of liberal and progressive ideologies, coupled with the cultural shifts in American society, indicates that the debate over American values is far from resolved. As the country moves forward, meandering through these complexities will be essential for understanding the future trajectory of American society and politics.