President Trump has signed an executive order to begin dismantling the US Department of Education, aiming to fulfill a campaign promise but raising new questions https://t.co/9qVP9bSmg6

— CNN (@CNN) March 20, 2025

*Editor’s Note: Elephant Journal articles represent the personal views of the authors, and can not possibly reflect Elephant Journal as a whole. Disagree with an Op-Ed or opinion? We’re happy to share your experience here.

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I know, I know, this is a bold statement. Before you get offended please hear me out.

What’s happening in America is important, and yes it affects the whole world, but there is more to this great world than America.

There are 195 countries in the world, by most accounts, yet dominated daily in the news around the world is America. To be honest, it’s a little exhausting. In a country as powerful as America, they have managed to get themselves into, what quite frankly, the rest of the world sees as a clusterf*ck.

And if not affecting the rest of the world, they are doing a wonderful job at potentially starting a civil war on their own shores. Social media is alight with people fighting over politics. Even on an article that is non-political, people will turn it political, like it’s an insult to be called either a Democrat or Republican. Imagine being so consumed by politics, everything comes down to which side of the fence you sit on. How bloody sad.

I do not wish to disparage the good people of America because I know plenty of amazing ones, however, what the world is seeing, as far away viewers of this sh*tshow, is a country that is so insular and ignorant to the rest of the world, it’s embarrassingly heartbreaking. It’s like nobody else exists. And when we, the rest of the world, come into some sort of focus, the understanding or knowledge around our country or our issues are far from the reality.

When the rest of us want to talk about, write about, or listen to something other than what’s happening in America, there’s no space. We are being drowned in the daily dramas of an unstable man with a God complex and the resultant daily fallout and his obsessed followers.

Catchphrases like “America is the greatest country in the world” or “We are making America great again” are simply words. They are positive thinking. They are deluded thoughts. They are cheerleader chants. They are words spoken to convince the masses that all is well.

But all is not well. America is at war with itself and in turn that is causing discontent around the world. We are all dealing with the aftermath of the U.S. election. Every day, and I mean…Every. Single. Day…the news is suffocating us in Trump. In American politics. In the anger. The confusion. The fear. The fighting. The bullying. I don’t watch the news, but I cannot bloody escape America and Trump. I don’t want to see him, and I don’t want to hear about the next lot of f*ckery he has caused. I’m tired of seeing people argue. I’m tired from seeing so much hate and vitriol being spewed all over the place.

America is far from the greatest country in the world and nothing, absolutely nothing, that is happening right now is making America great again. And the only ones who believe this nonsense are those who sadly don’t know any better, or refuse to acknowledge the reality.

I know I will be massacred for this article because too many people cannot understand a differing point of view. Will not tolerate a different perspective. Do not care if a non-American has something to say. So deeply entrenched in their opinions and so isolated from what’s happening outside America, there’s no space for someone who might criticise America. Who might actually want to talk about something else instead of Trump and America.

The many beautiful American souls who are as fed up and bewildered at this mess as me, this is not about you. This is about a country that’s so ingrained in its patriarchy, religion, and deluded beliefs that America is this magnificent country where everyone wants to live and is the land of opportunities. It’s like a cult. It’s like a large part of the population has been indoctrinated into this cult, and I have to say from the other side of the world, it’s terrifying. Educated, self-aware, open-minded people with the ability to think critically are not being heard over the noisy masses. Image having such tunnel vision, you cannot see, hear, or process anything outside your cognitive bias.

I’m sorry America, it’s not all about you.

I’m not here to discuss the ins and outs of American politics or involve myself in the fighting between Democrats and Republicans, because quite frankly, I don’t give a f*ck who you vote for. And I wish to whatever God, Universe, Higher Power you believe in, that we could have a f*cking rest from the daily dramas of it all. I know there’s a lot of heat over there right now. And a lot of fear and anger. But stop turning on each other. Stop turning on the rest of the world. Stop thinking you’re the only country in the world that matters.

You are on the world stage every day, and every day I don’t know whether I’m watching a comedy, a sci-fi horror flick, a documentary of a cult, or a nonsensical toddler show, where the main characters are simple and one-dimensional, so as to retain the attention of a 2-year-old. Is this the America you want to be? Is this how you want to be portrayed?

I’ve visited America a few times over the last 30 years, travelling from the West Coast to the East Coast. Exploring some great places and meeting some lovely people along the way. Most Americans seem to love Australians and our accents, but there’s a lot of ignorance and a lack of awareness of my country, as there seems to be for the many other countries outside of America. Expanding one’s mind and views is an incredible thing. America may be a huge country with a large population, but interesting fact: Australia is also a hugely vast country, with amazing diversity and history.

Like many other parts of this spectacular world, I feel sad that many American’s don’t see that or know that. Aren’t you curious about other cultures? I’ve seen some really beautiful parts of the world and I do try and keep abreast of what’s happening around the world. But this is too much.

What’s being played out on the “what’s happened in America today” is too much.

From where I’m sitting there is clear cult like behaviour. There’s no discernment. For some, no matter what happens, or what Trump does, they will not sway. The cognitive dissonance is astounding.

Like lambs to a slaughter, some people will follow blindly, no matter what happens, and they’ll still defend him and his actions.

I may be just a girl from Down Under. And you may snicker and say “what would she know.” And you’re right. I don’t profess to know the intricacies of your political landscape, nor do I want to, given the daily f*ckery we already have to endure.

But this is what I see and what most of the world sees:

>> A country so indoctrinated in their right to bear arms and their misguided belief that this is not only right but necessary that they can’t offer a safe space for their kids to attend school and college. So righteous are some that the continued school shooting massacres are less important than their right to carry a damn gun. So instead, they teach their little children what to do should there be a shooter in the school. Nothing like creating fear in little kids, just so you can all have a gun.

>> The religious zealots in politics removing autonomy of women’s right to choose, are such hypocrites. They babble on about pro-life, yet they do nothing to save the 400,000-plus children in the American foster care system. Nor do they provide support for the pregnant mother or newborn child to make having a child easier (you must keep your baby, but we couldn’t care less what happens after you give birth). And lastly, this one infuriates me: their pro-life stance means f*ck-all when they hand out guns and allow children to get shot and killed in their schools. It’s vile and it has absolutely nothing to do with pro-life and everything to do with controlling women.

>> A first world country with a poor health system, unless of course you are lucky enough to have health insurance or money. A health system where diabetics cannot afford insulin and are dying. Where insulin costs 10 times more in America than in Australia. I cannot fathom a country that thinks they are the greatest country in the world, yet they let people die. It’s horrifying.

>> A country who voted in a President with a less than stellar history. A man who seems to love the limelight and controversy more than actually “making America great again.” A man who has surrounded himself with less than desirable male advisors. A wealthy man, who let’s be honest, is far too removed and privileged to really care about the average person. It’s quite frightening to watch someone like this have so much power, who could not only destroy his country but has potential to destroy the rest of the world.

There is much more one could add, but you get my drift. I’m a big believer that there is no place for religion in politics. Your beliefs are yours and nobody else should be subjected to them. However, what we are seeing is the religious beliefs of some being pushed onto others. Be it through the pro-life stance. Or words and verses from the bible being thrown around to justify policies or actions. It’s plain wrong and again cult-like.

And I’m going to throw one more grenade out there before I leave you to digest the words I have written. White men, especially middle-aged white men, those who are steeped in the patriarchy, will never understand, recognise, or admit their privilege. And this makes them incredibly dangerous people. This puts us all at risk.

So from the girl Down Under, I’m sorry if my article offends some people, but I’m not sorry for speaking my truth. The American bubble needs to burst, so some of you can actually see the bigger picture. Can actually see there’s a whole world outside your country. Can actually see there’s not only a different way, but sometimes there’s a better way.

Patriotism is a beautiful thing, but don’t let it blindly lead you to insanity. Belief in your country is important but belief without question is a hazardous path. Faith in your leader is nice, but wearing your rose-tinted glasses is ignorant at best and catastrophic at worst. And hate, which seems to be consuming too many of you, will eat you alive.

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedom, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

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