Hate: The Shadow of Authoritarianism and Populism
PARK Jin [Secretary General, National Commission for the Investigation of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster]
During the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign, on a TV debate, candidate Trump said that immigrants were eating dogs and cats. The unverified remark did not end as a mere episode. After the comment, the small town mentioned faced bomb threats, its city hall was closed, and immigrants were plunged into real fear. Since taking office, President Trump has been turning that fear into policy with immigration measures pledging to expel anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving the country.
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The crisis we face today is not merely a political conflict; it is a crisis that structurally dismantles democracy. It represents a crisis that leads to the demise of universal human rights, manifesting itself through war, poverty, environmental destruction, and displacement. Unfortunately, replacing a single leader does not seem to bring an end to this crisis. Authoritarian leaders who wear different faces can continue to emerge. Therefore, we must restore the broken system of checks and balances and reestablish the universal human rights principles that protect the rights of the vulnerable. We need to resist the divisive tactics of power that thrive on anxiety and, through solidarity with counter-logic, working to eliminate hatred.
Hate: The Shadow of Authoritarianism and Populism
PARK Jin [Secretary General, National Commission for the Investigation of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster]
During the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign, on a TV debate, candidate Trump said that immigrants were eating dogs and cats. The unverified remark did not end as a mere episode. After the comment, the small town mentioned faced bomb threats, its city hall was closed, and immigrants were plunged into real fear. Since taking office, President Trump has been turning that fear into policy with immigration measures pledging to expel anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving the country.
.
.
.
The crisis we face today is not merely a political conflict; it is a crisis that structurally dismantles democracy. It represents a crisis that leads to the demise of universal human rights, manifesting itself through war, poverty, environmental destruction, and displacement. Unfortunately, replacing a single leader does not seem to bring an end to this crisis. Authoritarian leaders who wear different faces can continue to emerge. Therefore, we must restore the broken system of checks and balances and reestablish the universal human rights principles that protect the rights of the vulnerable. We need to resist the divisive tactics of power that thrive on anxiety and, through solidarity with counter-logic, working to eliminate hatred.