Trump captured a bit of America’s bold frontier spirit

Yet again the US polls were badly wrong — but this time for a different reason. An unmerited political significance was assigned to the President’s alleged mismanagement of the pandemic; most crucially, there was a failure to grasp that Donald Trump’s almost contemptuous dismissal of what he insisted on calling “the Chinese virus” actually resonated with many Americans. In short, the analysts confused Americans (who instinctively disdain mask wearing, social distancing and lockdowns as signs of weakness) with Europeans — memorably characterised by P.J. O’Rourke as effete “Euro-weenies”.

US national philosophy has long been typified (not for the liberal left, of course) by the order supposedly given by Admiral David Farragut at the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864: “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.” And whether the story is apocryphal or not is entirely beside the point. This election represents a “last hurrah” of sorts of a distinctively American spirit, which I for one will miss.

Terry Birchley, Bundaberg, Qld

I wince every time I hear the President must “stop division” and “bring the country together”. A laudable idea but difficult to implement. Today’s societies can be categorised as those that support authoritarians and those who resist being told how to live.

Authoritarians will stop division when everyone agrees to think, speak and act like they do. Those who want to live freely will tolerate authoritarians airing their views in a debate. They may also give ground when they are bullied or ostracised. However, after this happens a few times, it becomes obvious their way of life is being threatened and they will resist this intimidation. This resistance is then labelled “division” by the authoritarians.

This is where we are today, with both sides throwing labels at one another, using words such as division, inclusiveness, tolerance, harmony and bigotry as weapons with their meaning so twisted that the words are no longer useful.

N. J. Ford, Kambah, ACT

Looking at photos of mask-wearing Americans queuing in long lines in the middle of a pandemic to exercise their democratic right to vote, I am reminded of the feeling of hope and joy 12 years ago when the country that was founded on slave labour elected its first black president. I am reminded of the America of Hollywood and the space shuttle; of jazz, Bruce Springsteen and Mark Twain; the first man on the Moon; Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I have a dream”; the Marshall Plan and D-Day; Franklin D. Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln; the Bill of Rights. I am reminded of the words of Theodore Parker: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Despite the setbacks of the past four years, America’s noble quest for a more perfect union continues, with or without Trump.

Han Yang, North Turramurra, NSW

Win, lose or draw Donald Trump once again has proven the pundits wrong. Trump is the only conservative leader in the Western world who has had the courage to publicly call out the outrageous behaviour and tactics of the progressive Left, especially in his home country. The Democrats in America are a forlorn lot. They have gone from being the party of the ordinary, honest, hard-working, down-to-earth American to the party of the so-called progressive Left. Anyone who disagrees with their ideology is smeared for life.

They have captured a demographic that believes that it is correct on each and every issue and if people disagree then they are on the wrong side. It is an extremely sad state of affairs when one cannot safely have an opinion, and the same path is being trodden in Australia.

Peter D. Surkitt, Sandringham, Vic

JoeBiden, aged 77, and Donald Trump, aged 74, are an inspiration to all senior citizens. It is remarkable that these two old warriors who have been fighting one another tooth and nail for months are still standing, let alone lining up for the most demanding and important job in the world. Whatever you may think of their politics, you cannot doubt their courage and determination. They are men of sterner stuff than most and make a mockery of those planning retirement at 65 or earlier.

Phil Johnson, Dee Why, NSW

Does Donald Trump’s strong showing in the election indicate we’ve now passed peak woke?

Keith Mackay, Campbell, ACT