
WHEN I saw United States First Lady Melania Trump walking through the White House accompanied by a robot, I thought maybe the robots, powered by artificial intelligence, had taken over while President Donald Trump was distracted by his “war” in Iran that was a distraction from the Epstein files.
It could be an improvement as the robot was well presented, didn’t say anything offensive’ and didn’t seem to have any nasty ex-friends.
There will, however, never be a Robot President Trump as duplicating that hair is beyond the capability of modern science.
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The pen is mightier than the sword
The saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” – a playground taunt – seems sensible and yet too many people that have used their words have then been attacked, imprisoned, and in many cases (including Jamal Khashoggi), killed.
Poetry has also on the hit list poet Duannis Taboada being imprisoned for protesting in Cuba. He is still writing his poems during his 14-year sentence but much of his prison time involves facing ongoing ill treatment.
Why does any government think punishing people who speak up, or write down, in protest will stop their message from getting out? This situation is getting worse and even America is now involved with your social media being examined at the airport. And you could face deportation or “further questioning”.
Cuba would be advised to release Duannis Taboada and thus take some attention off their use of prisons to silence people.
Poetry written by private citizens will get far less attention than poetry written by a political prisoner so let Duannis Taboada go free. It is the right thing to do.
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‘Protect me from those protecting me’
Like most travellers I am often a little nervous going through Customs at the airport but now I will be utterly terrified of going through the US customs.
There are less Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents available due to government funding issues and illnesses and President Trump intends to solve that with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
All I see of ICE agents is heavily armed, masked people, shooting American citizens, breaking into houses and even scaring a young boy whose father is taken away.
I know President Trump has an obsession with immigration but this is going too far. I, and probably millions of others, won’t be going to the US in the near future, or until there is a change of government.
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Snake oil?
Although we all should head to electric vehicles rather than oil guzzling cars it simply isn’t happening, so we do need oil.
The petrol I buy has gone from $1.49 a litre to $2.39 a liter in less than two weeks and why? Because President Trump and one friend Israel are trying to destroy Iran who have responded in a similar manner.
This is probably going to get worse given President Trump is threatening to “blow up” the world’s largest gas field. This is vandalism against Iran and the whole world really. All we see is more deaths, violence and destruction, hardly fitting for the possessor, although not a winner, of a Nobel Peace Prize.
Maybe I read the wrong papers, watch the wrong TV and listen to the wrong podcasts but this and so many sources suggest these actions and others are designed to improve his “leader” image, unsuccessful, or to distract from the Epstein files, slightly successful as they aren’t front page news at the moment.
Why not try peace and work to convince countries to change the way their government is run by setting such a great example” Look for such an example to follow but definitely not the USA or Iran and a lot of their neighbours.
Maybe it’s time to start digging a bunker./PN






