Guardian OpEd: How Donald Trump emboldens bigots across the world. Bigotry without borders.

[pampango]

The fact that a Hindu nationalist group is praying for Trump seems strange until you realize that far-right factions across the world gain strength from his success

If there were a United Nations of the global far right, Donald Trump would be its undisputed leader. His message does not just resonate in the forlorn rust-belt towns of rural America: it travels far beyond the country’s shores. It is bigotry without borders.

Despite his unwavering “America First” nationalism, Trump’s message has struck a chord with the Hindu right because they share a common enemy. Long at odds with religious minorities in the country, it is no surprise that some Hindu nationalists approve of Trump’s plan to ban Muslim immigration to the United States. “He’s the only man who can put an end to Islamic terrorism”, said Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta. “He is the savior of mankind.”

They are not the only ones to hold Trump in high esteem. The far-right Greek Golden Dawn party support him. The founder of France’s Front National, Jean-Marie Le Pen, said he would vote for him. The Dutch leader of the Party of Freedom and anti-Islam campaigner, Geert Wilders, now tweets things like “Make The Netherlands Great Again!”. Meanwhile the head of Italy’s anti-immigrant Northern League party, Matteo Salvini, says he considers Trump “heroic” and added “we are on the same wavelength when it comes to many things”.

Before Trump arrived on the scene, Vladimir Putin was the uncrowned leader of the illilberal factions of the western world. A motley crew of European fringe parties leaps to legitimize him at every turn. When Putin annexed Crimea, representatives from 12 European parties flocked there to act as observers during the referendum – giving it the veneer of legitimacy. Now, it appears Putin has competition from across the Atlantic.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/16/donald-trump-hindu-nationalist-far-right-presidential-election

I am often guilty of focusing on what Trump means to the US and our future. His impact - just in winning the republican nomination in the way he did, much less if he is elected president - has spread throughout the far-right internationally.

[malaise]

1. I said that on a thread a few weeks ago

Racists, bigots and fascists are crawling out of their holes everywhere.

Not one can state what they mean by great.