How to respond in the Trump era

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/01/2025 (248 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

So, the Trump era continues. As Canadians, we should be concerned. And as ordinary citizens, we should plan what we can do in response.

IT’S TRUMP’S WORLD

First, though, why should we Canadians be concerned? Because Trump is reshaping global culture. Many Canadians are inspired by Trump and would like someone like him to be in power here. The chaos, indecency, polarization, conspiracy theories and authoritarian impulses of Trump’s America impact us. As well, there are Trump’s threats of tariffs or other measures. As a panelist on a Canadian public affairs program stated: it’s Donald Trump’s world now and we just happen to live in it.

I approach this as a Trump critic. But I intend the following suggestions to be appropriate for Trump supporters as well. Becoming better people, finding the truth and healing social divisions can be everyone’s goal. So I would ask Trump critics to try to understand the reasons of those who think Trump is a solution. And I would ask Trump supporters to try to understand why others find this alarming.

Here are six ways Canadians can respond to the Trump era.

BE HERE NOW

Let’s start by grounding ourselves. As I have mentioned before, I have found meditation to be valuable. Even a few minutes a day can make a difference. Meditation — or a similar practice — can be a start towards calming down, paying attention and seeing clearly.

Grounding ourselves is to step outside — even briefly — the addictive attention economy. This economy, by the way, has been mastered by Trump.

CONNECT WITH OTHERS

Our loss of face-to-face interactions is having dire effects. Polarization and conspiracy theories fester as we isolate ourselves with our screens. Thinkers like Hannah Arendt have linked loneliness to the rise of totalitarianism.

So let’s put down our phones, get out and connect with other folks in real life. Be involved in hobby groups, recreational activities, coffee klatches, community projects, service clubs or other associations. In such settings, I am pleasantly reminded of how many good people there are. And we can be at our best when we are unhindered by whatever political beliefs we might hold.

WATCH OUR OUTLOOKS

We can easily get locked into biases and restricted information bubbles. Look for ways to get out of these traps. Be mindful of the quantity and quality of media consumed.

Here are three interesting websites that offer perspective. Ground News is a Canadian site that analyzes how right-wing and left-wing sources cover the same item in the news. The differences are eye opening. Real Clear Politics is an American site that collects opinions from across the political spectrum. Looking at even the headlines is illuminating. Fix the News is an Australian site that compiles reports of good news from around the world. Subscribing to their free newsletter makes “your inbox a more hopeful place.”

Go beyond confirmation bias. Be skeptical. Approach the world with epistemological humility. Support journalists asking tough questions and conducting thorough investigations. Champion strong institutions, scientific research and hearty debate. With those you disagree with, be a considerate interlocutor.

READ BOOKS

Reading books can enhance our cognition, our empathy and even our physical health.

American historian Timothy Snyder, who studies fascist and communist dictatorships, notes the societal benefit of books. “The classic novels of totalitarianism,” he points out, “warned of the domination of screens, the suppression of books, the narrowing of vocabularies and the associated difficulties of thought.” In George Orwell’s “1984” and Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451,” the populace is immersed in TV; books are banned and burned.

REMEMBER WHAT’S AT STAKE

What is happening in the U.S. is a wake-up call to Canadians. Our democracy and stability, which is based on loyalty to the Crown, could be vulnerable. We could succumb to a demagogue — from the right or the left — who undermines our institutions. We cannot depend on King Charles III, or the governor general, to save us. We must depend on ourselves. Even if such fears are overblown, we benefit if we become more resilient: better people, better neighbours and better citizens.

AGAIN, BE HERE NOW

These suggestions raise deeper questions. Like how much attention should we pay to ourselves and how much to the larger society?

Again, I find meditating helpful. The associated values of awareness, gratitude and compassion are good in any context. And the hard questions — like finding the right balance between self care and social concern — don’t really have answers anyway. In the end, all we have is the present moment. And doing our best in the moment.

In the Trump era — or any time — the first response is to be here now.