It might appear that the USA's role has been renounced by the new President, Donald Trump. Already he caused waves of outrage around the world by his words and his actions.
I was very discouraged by the events in Britain in June 2016, and then in the USA when I was there for the election. A new mean spiritness; a new disregard for truth and our common humanity seemed to have triumphed.
Yet there are still Americans prepared to stand up for the values that have caused the USA to be revered in the past. As I write this, Democrats in the Senate are staging a 24 hour 'talkathon' to protest the nomination - and oppose the confirmation of Betsy DeVos to be Education Secretary. We've seen thousands of people across the USA march to protest the attitudes and the actions of Trump's administration. I was thrilled - and proud - when I learned how many of my friends had participated in the protests.
That people are prepared to speak out; to condemn what is wrong - shows that the spirit to be a positive ' shining city upon a hill' still remains in many American hearts. I was pleased also to see that the Speaker of the House of Commons was prepared to risk the ire of a MINORITY in the House of Commons who are comfortable with a Trump administration. That so many people filled Whitehall (and other streets around the UK) to voice our opposition to Trump's actions and show solidarity with those in the USA who deeply resent being represented by such a character who is truly 'anti-American' in his rejection of the legacy of the founding fathers.
While the populist right has been seeking to divide - I am encouraged that their actions are uniting so many people both within the USA and outside.
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