Social media at its worst

[Grandad]

It looks very likely that the Online petition against Donald Trumps state visit will soon reach 2 million. But how many of those who just click a mouse button or touch a smartphone screen really think about what they are supporting.
At the root of this is President Trumps immediate order for some new controls on people arriving in the USA from 7 mainly muslim countries. If he had given, say 2 weeks, notice of the introduction of these 'temporary' arrangements any undesireables would have had time to enter the US before the restrictions came into play. As it is a small number have been detained, most probably perfectly bona fide travellers but, if just one person intent on causing havoc is stopped at the border, then the action has been worthwhile.
On newsnight last night a guest said that around 350,000 people entered the US each day and maybe a hundred or so have been detained.
It is a pity that all those lemings who click their mouses and touch their screens didn't look at the bigger picture. Trump is just buying some time to set out more details of controls at points of entry to the US and I am sure that when the guidelines are more clearly defined things will run smoothly again. And undesirables will stay away.
Obama prepared the list of countries that do not cooperate with information about their nationals but he did nothing about it. At least Trump has the courage to do something and to shrug of criticism.

[Horus]

I could not have put it better Grandad and even if 2 million sign it that still makes over 65 million who didn't, typical lefties who will rail against anything without seeing the bigger picture,

[Mad Dilys]

I feel the petition is stupid and self indulgent.

I think it is unfortunate that the American President himself seems to be addicted to social media in a way that makes him appear stupid and self indulgent.

[Grandad]

I think it is unfortunate that the American President himself seems to be addicted to social media in a way that makes him appear stupid and self indulgent.

I asked a similar question early in January:

Is it appropriate for the next leader of, probably, the most powerful nation on earth to express his views on social media? I am not on Twitter and have no desire to join but is it statesman like to use this form of communication? I think not.

[Ruby Slippers]

I, personally, think that the 'banning' bill that DT has introduced is absolutely disgusting! One must just hope that common sense will start to prevail in the US sooner rather than later.

[Kiya]

I don't usually do politics but I agree with all Grandad has said...............geez! its only been a couple of weeks, give him a chance, you never know he might just come up trumps

[Horus]

I could not have put it better Grandad and even if 2 million sign it that still makes over 65 million who didn't, typical lefties who will rail against anything without seeing the bigger picture,

I notice that the press and TV are not giving as much coverage to an alternative petition to welcome him here, I have already signed it, https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/178844
not because I am a particular fan of his, but because I am sick to the back teeth of all these liberal protesters who appose just about anything that they do not agree with, they are are just as bad as he is.
We have a vote on Brexit, they lose, so they complain about it, Teresa May tries to impliment article 50, they oppose it, an elected American president is invited on a state visit, they want it stopped. He is the elected President of our closest ally, do we really want to insult the majority of Americans by banning their President? We have had worse national leaders here on state visits in the past, the Saudi royal family and the Chinese spring to mind. He was voted in on a promise to make America safe and that is what he is trying to do, unlike Merkel who invites every potential terrorist to invade our shores, maybe if the Muslim world got its act together and stopped being the cause of the majority of the worlds conflict and suppliers of terrorists then they may get a better reception elsewhere. Did I hear any protests when 8 years after Obama saying he would close Gitmo Bay down it was still open? plus all of the countries on Trumps list were originally compiled by Obama as being sponsors of terrorism, Europe wants to punish us for leaving the EU, Obama says we are at the back of the queue, Trump wants to do a trade deal, this country and the rest of Europe should count the graves of dead American soldiers from two wars before deciding to insult our closest ally in the free world.

[Grandad]

Bravo H!

[Mad Dilys]

I totally agree with you Horus on the PC question.

However I do wince when I hear the term The Muslim World as I think it has as much validity as The Christian World, there's no such thing.

I wouldn't dream of accusing the Christian World of anything. Individual Christians like Tony Blair and George W Bush may have been responsible for causing havoc and they are Christian. Quite rightly the finger of responsibility is seldom pointed at their common religion.

People commit atrocities.

[Horus]

Well I use the term Muslim world because that is how I see the religious divide and yes I agree with you that the likes of Blair and bush are indeed Christians in their belief and as such reflected mainly Christian principles in their actions. All religions have been guilty of evil deeds and we have tp be honest about this, it is religion that colours the general behaviour of a population, the Spanish Catholics in South America and the European Christians during the Crusades in the Middle East. I think that is also the case today with the islamic religion driving many of the wars and atrocities commited in its name, so when you think of the number of countries driven by these ideals and religion, then Muslim world is a fair description. Regarding the ban on people travelling from certain countries and all the protest it has raised, I would ask, "just how many Muslim countries will not allow anyone with an Israeli passport to enter their country?" I have not seen any protests in those countries about a similar travel ban.

[Mad Dilys]

Ah, good point Horus "I have not seen any protests in those countries ......"

Here's the thing, we are all victims of the media and tend to speak as if we have personally witnessed, with our own eyes, events reported in the media.

Please do not take this personally, I am intending to discuss and not attack.

News reports get the exposure that will strike a nerve with the reader or viewer and get most response. For example - Shock, Envy, Ambition and Local Interest while at the same time inserting Cuddly Cats and the Absurd to name but a few.

There is no balance, because the whole industry is run by individuals with personal prejudice based mostly on the necessarily minimal information they have gleaned from the most accessible sources.

ISIS is a good example. The scum running amok in the Middle East show no evidence of ever reading the Koran. But they do attract their followers through the media in common with the rest of the world.