The Nation That Died of Shame (Or If It Hasn't, It Should)

You know, I was somewhat disappointed to wake up this morning and find that 'The Rapture' hadn't taken place (as it was predicted to by American - where else - religious loons).  I was rather looking forward to all those holier-than-thou religious types who seem to thank that they will be God's chosen ascending and leaving the rest of us in peace.  But then I saw that Trump was addressing the UN with one of his rambling, ill-informed senile rants and it occurred to me that 'The Rapture' had taken place, but years ago and we hadn't noticed.  Perhaps all the truly good people have already been taken and all that we're left with now are evil scumbags.  It would certainly explain why all these right-wing extremists and crypto fascists are seizing power all over the world, destroying economies and  communities wherever they are.  How else can we explain the rise of someone as unprepossessing and utterly lacking in charisma, intellect and ability as Nigel Farage other than that we are now living through the post-rapture End Times?  Which brings us back to Trump and that UN address.  Many years ago there was a film titled The Ship That Died of Shame, about a one time Royal Navy torpedo boat which, after service in World War Two, was sold into civilian service and eventually ends up being used by smugglers.  After that UN address, hot on the heels of Trump's rambling address to the nation about how taking Paracetamol causes autism, which flies in the face of scientific opinion, the US must surely now be the 'Nation That Died of Shame'.  Because, how couldn't you squirm with humiliation seeing that lard ass (who you elected) humiliating America in front of the world?

I remember vividly the shame I felt when Boris Johnson was our Prime Minister.  I mean, Jesus, it was just an embarrassment every time that gross slob opened his mouth.  Particularly on the international stage, because, like it or not, the rest of the world saw that fat git as the face of Britain.  They would assume that because he had been elected PM, (or rather the party that he led was given a parliamentary majority by voters), he must somehow represent us.  We had chosen him and his idiotic policies, graft, venality, sexual misconduct and law breaking.  It didn't matter that I hadn't voted for him, the fact remained that the country had and that meant that he legitimately represented our political will.  So, I ask myself, how much more ashamed must Americans feel about the dishonour and ridicule that Trump is bringing down on their country?  I mean, it's just humiliation after humiliation, as he bullies his way around the world, doing his best to coerce the civilised world into descending to his level.  How can anyone be happy with their country - and by extension them - being represented by an adjudicated rapist, convicted felon and cowardly bully who is so nakedly interested only in exploiting the presidency for his own, personal, gain?  It's no good saying 'But I didn't vote for him' - sometimes that alone isn't enough.  During those fourteen years of Tory governments, which we thought had reached its nadir with Johnson, but then we had the insanity of Truss and the leaden mediocrity of Sunak, I used to say 'Well, I didn't vote for them', while, deep inside, knowing that it wasn't enough.  Always, I had to ask myself, did I do enough to support the opposition, did I argue the case against the Tories when given opportunities?  Or did I sit back and complacently assume that 'it couldn't happen here'?  That there was no way that people were stupid enough to let wreckers like Johnson take power?  Was my complacency (and that of millions like me) at least in part the reason that we're now living in such dangerous (not to mention shameful) times?