America's Mission: To Keep Hope Alive
As a Canadian, Watching in Horror at Trump’s “Golden Age” Launch
As Canadians, we have long watched our southern neighbors with admiration. The United States, a nation built on the ideals of liberty and equality, has often stood as a beacon of hope and democracy. But today, we watch in shock and sorrow as the fabric of that once-great republic begins to unravel, and as the vultures who will profit from the carnage cheered it on. The mission before America is clear: to keep hope alive, for without hope, there is no future for democracy—a truth that resonates far beyond its borders.
As Donald Trump was inaugurated as President of the United States, he declared, “The golden age of America starts now.” For many outside the U.S., these words were less a promise and more a harbinger of uncertainty. Just days before taking office, Trump and his wife launched a dubious cryptocurrency scheme—a troubling glimpse into a presidency that has all the hallmarks of prioritizing personal gain over public good. This “golden age” appears destined to serve Trump more than the American people.
In contrast, Senator Amy Klobuchar’s opening remarks at the inauguration offered a reminder of democratic principles: “The power of the people in this room comes from the people.” Her words underscored a truth that Canadians hold dear—that government exists to serve its citizens, not the other way around. Yet, the day’s pomp and ceremony, complete with archbishops and rabbis invoking divine blessings, masked an unsettling reality: a convicted felon and adjudicated sex offender was being sworn into the highest office in the land.
Trump’s inaugural speech unveiled a chilling agenda. His executive order to initiate mass deportations strikes fear into immigrant communities. His cold assertion that there are only two genders, male and female, seeks to erase the identities of countless individuals and attacked the very essence of inclusion. These actions stood in stark opposition to the ideals articulated in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be sacred & undeniable; that all men are created equal & independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent & inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
For Canadians, the irony of Trump invoking Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of equality was glaring. To hear this from a leader who seemed to revel in cruelty and division was nothing short of grotesque. His promises to restore integrity and greatness to America are undercut by his actions, which reveal an undisciplined, vindictive, and self-serving character.
As we watch from across the border, the horrors have begun to unfold. Families are will be torn apart at borders. Marginalized communities will be under siege. Wealthy unelected oligarchs are determining policy that will benefit only themselves. The foundational norms of democracy are being eroded at warp speed. For those of us who care deeply about the future of America, it is a painful and chilling spectacle.
Yet, even in the face of such darkness, hope must endure. It is hope that drove abolitionists to fight against slavery, suffragists to demand the right to vote, and civil rights activists to march for justice. And it is hope that must guide America now, as it grapples with rising authoritarianism and the challenges of defending its democratic principles.
Canada’s greatness is tied to its commitment to fairness, inclusion, and the rule of law—values that we share with our neighbors to the south. We believe that America’s greatness has never been about the wealth or power of its leaders but about the collective determination of its people to strive for a more just and equitable society. To keep hope alive is to resist despair and to believe that democracy can be restored, that equality can be realized, and that the ideals enshrined in the Declaration of Independence still hold meaning.
America’s mission, as we see it from the North, is to challenge cruelty with compassion, counter lies with truth, and confront despair with unwavering hope. While the path forward may be fraught with difficulty, we believe in the resilience of the American spirit. As neighbors and allies, we hold on to hope—for America’s sake and for the sake of democracy everywhere.
And for my Canadian friends - we must stand on guard for our own great country.