The United States has ‘long-since lost its way’, with the ongoing culture wars and political division in the country making it “quite an ugly society”, according to Shane Coleman.
He was speaking as Newstalk Breakfast celebrated July 4th by asking listeners if Ireland’s relationship with America has changed in recent years.
Shane said the US is still full of “decent people living good lives” – but said his view of the country has certainly changed.
'I wonder are we in danger of thinking that Donald Trump is America?' On this #4thofJuly, Ciara and Shane are asking if we still revere the USA? @NTBreakfast pic.twitter.com/rtIdLo6TXp
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) July 4, 2023
“I mean, America is still probably the leader of the free world in a military sense but in a morality and in an ethics sense, I don’t think it is anymore,” he said.
“I think America has long-since lost its way.
“It’s not a country that holds any particular appeal for me; it is not a country I would want to live in.
“The EU and the values of the EU to me would be much closer to what I would believe in and the kind of society that I want.”
Culture wars
He said the country’s political division has been particularly damaging.
“You know, I’m talking about things like the culture wars and that left/right division that is so marked and makes it, I think, quite an ugly society,” he said.
“Its system of justice, again, a lot of us would have problems with.
“And look, there but for the grace of God could go any country – but any country that could elect Donald Trump as president - and after everything he is still second favourite to be the next president - I think there are huge question marks about.”
Ciara Kelly in the Newstalk studio. Image: NewstalkFellow presenter Ciara Kelly said her own view of the country has also changed – but warned that a lot of the America we see nowadays is on the news or social media.
“Bear in mind, our relationship with America, what we see of America, is the news,” she said.
“We see shootings, we see Trump and all of that – that isn’t the only America,” she said.
“If somebody watched Irish news and saw us bickering here about all the political stuff, would they think that we were a fractured country? Would they think we were a corrupt country?
“The media narrative isn’t necessarily the people and I do still think there are a lot of people who do believe in America as an ideal; as the land of the free, home of the brave – all of that kind of thing.
“I wonder sometimes, are we a bit in danger of thinking that Donald Trump is America, when America is much bigger than that.”
Shane topped off his point by saying: “Let me put it this way, if somebody said to me, you can never, ever go to America again, it wouldn’t particularly bother me.”
