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MAY/JUNE EDITORIAL B Y J O H N C A I N
The Golden Dome Golden Dome
and the Golden Rule Golden Rule
In his March 4, 2025 speech to congress, President Trump
referred to the “Golden Dome” Defense that is in progress.
Lockheed Martin is the creator of this missile defense
system and the description of this project begins, ‘Golden
Dome’ stands as a impenetrable shield, safeguarding the
American homeland with unwavering precision, ensuring the
security and resilience of our nation. The system, as designed,
will even stop attacks launched from space. The system is
similar in concept to the Iron Dome that was implemented to
protect Israel from incoming missiles. Unfortunately, the Iron
Dome did not stop the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.
The Walls of Constantinople protected the city of
Constantinople from the time of its consecration as the
imperial capital of the Roman Empire in 330 AD. As the city
grew, the famous double line of the
Theodosian Walls were built in the 5th
Century. It was a defensive marvel that
withstood many sieges, but finally the
city yielded under the assault of new
weapons of destruction; gun powder and
massive cannons as well as the cunning
tactics of Mehmed the Conquerer,
who had ships transported over land
to circumvent the blockade logs that
prevented entry into the Golden Horn.
Any prize worth protecting is worthy of
another attempt to steal it.
What USAID is doing now for the world after numerous
firings and budget cuts is unclear. What it is not doing is
providing HIV medication to children who desperately need
it. The countries suffering the most from these funding cuts
are ones Trump described as “shit hole” countries. His lack
of compassion for those who he considers beneath him was
initially on display during his first campaign, when he mocked
a disabled man. What is clear is that while we withdraw aid,
Russia, through its Wagner Force, is expanding its power in
Mali and elsewhere in Africa.
President Kennedy advocated helping other countries. The
Peace Corps was a way to spread our democratic values and
develop friendships across the globe. President Trump’s State of
the Union speech to Congress was a masterpiece of dreams and
of hope, but for only a selected few. His message to the world is
if you don’t have something we want, we won’t help you.
When the last Byzantine Emperor, Constantine XI, reached
out for help as the final siege was being prepared, he found
no allies willing to come to the city’s aid. Our trade war with
We must not lose sight of
the Golden Rule of doing
unto others as we would
have them do unto us.
current and former allies has not elevated our status in the
world’s eyes. Once trust is lost it is slowly regained. Now that
countries know that American can, at best, be counted on in
four-year increments, long-range planning will be difficult.
The “Golden Dome” Defense will doubtless keep America
safe from some dangers for a while, but it will not keep us safe
from the rising disparity that unchecked greed and lack of
compassion creates within our own borders.
The EPA announced that it will revisit water pollution limits
for coal plants, air quality standards for small particles and
the mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions by large
emitters like oil and gas companies, among other rules. The
President’s aim is to unleash American industry. A 1974
photograph of New York City’s skyline dark with air pollution
at mid-day is a grim reminder of the
consequences of unleashed industry.
The administration’s disdain for Europe
and distancing from NATO will be
long remembered. Our betrayal of
Ukraine will long be associated with
the Munich Agreement of September
30, 1938. Winston Churchill said to his
predecessor, Neville Chamberlain “You
had two options: honor and dishonor.
You chose dishonor.” With Trump we
have become the country of broken
promises.
A selfish man never has enough, and an ungrateful man is
never shown enough gratitude. If we are to survive the greed
and selfishness of the Golden Trump years, we must not lose
sight of the Golden Rule of doing unto others as we would have
them do unto us. If we continue to limit our involvement in
the world by terms of what is in our interest, we will soon be
alone. The “Golden Dome” Defense will not defend us from
this internal rot of greed and selfishness.
John Cain has been in practice
since 1986. He serves on the
Pierce County Lawyer Magazine
Committee and is past editor. He
also served as a TPCBA Trustee for
two years from 2018-2020.
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