Jung Tsai
As we approach the onset of a new Trump administration, we sincerely wish for the best as the United States and the free world embark on new frontiers and horizons. While Trump’s personality may have its flaws and idiosyncrasies, many of his policies and visions have proven to be both inspiring and attainable.
Having served as a leading surgeon on a medical mission to Ukraine two years ago, I witnessed firsthand how war can turn a nation upside down, creating chaos among neighbors, shattering families, and ruining lives. The free world desperately needs peace through strength and a restoration of humanity driven by the aspiration for a better tomorrow.
Decades ago, Mikhail Gorbachev’s policy of “Glasnost,” which encouraged openness and truth, played a crucial role in dismantling the USSR without the need for violence. Today, the world requires new movements that foster harmony, MAGA and Trump’s commitment to fair trade could help achieve this goal.
Putin may believe he can reclaim a prominent position on the global stage, but that seat is no longer available; it has been taken by China. In my analysis, Russia’s increasing power can be attributed to three key factors: its adaptation of Christianity and in charge the Eastern Orthodox tradition following the Byzantine Empire’s fall to Muslim domination; its unique geopolitical position shaped by historical invasions, particularly by the Mongols so he claimed not Asia, not Europe but something unique; and the recent effects of global warming that have made Siberia more habitable and rich in resources like gas and oil exploration has leveraged these advantages, oppressing his own people while threatening neighboring countries. In 2014, he blatantly violated international law by annexing Crimea, and in 2022, his military operation invaded Ukraine. Although the world responded with outrage, the response was not forceful enough. He now threatens nuclear war if he feels cornered.
Trump’s assertive rhetoric promises to establish peace within 24 hours of taking office. Ukraine must emerge victorious in its fight against aggression and achieve a dignified peace. If the rebel territories are part of the negotiations, Ukraine should pursue NATO membership for future protection and stability.
Moreover, Trump’s office has announced progress in Gaza peace talks, reaching agreements to address long-standing conflicts related to territory, security, and humanitarian concerns. If years of religious hatred, violence, and the belief that “God is on my side” can yield common ground for peace, then perhaps the Ukraine-Russia conflict, which lacks a religious dimension, could be resolved more easily.
Let us paraphrase Abraham Lincoln’s prayer: It is not about whether God is on our side; rather, we must strive to be on God’s side.