FOR many Malaysians, the American Dream has epitomised what is special for us about the United States.
It is the land of freedom and opportunity. Sadly, we do not feel the same way now. We examine some possible explanations.
From a great distance we can see that in every level of human endeavour, be it education, economics, sciences, human relations, technology and security, the US has led the world.
I was fortunate to have served in the Malaysian diplomatic service from 1970 to 1994.
During a stint in Washington, D.C., and several visits later under generous grants from the Asia Foundation and the Fulbright Scholars Programme, I observed first-hand how a democracy functioned. Most fascinating was the division of responsibilities between the executive, legislature and judiciary.
Policy-wise, I learned how Congress conducted the affairs of state. I could make an opinion on things American in seminars, forums and talks before different audiences on topics that ranged from US foreign policy and diplomacy, security and defence matters, refugees and migrants, trade and finance to cultural diplomacy.
I picked quite a bit about grand alliances, security pacts and trade relations.
I realise now how important issues in these areas have come to seriously affect the country’s international relations. For a long while, many outside the US have been holding on to the promise of the American Dream.
At least for my generation, we placed high hopes that one day we, our children and our children’s children would step foot in the American continent to satisfy their own curiosity.
Talk to Americans nowadays and they will tell you that under President Donald Trump, many things have changed, including the idea of the American Dream.
They say that Trump has gone against the norm of doing things.
He has been promoting himself, preferring not to rely on history and common practices in the government, and pushing aside the norms and regulations of state affairs and assuming a “non-conventional posture” at home and abroad.
There is a visible divide in public opinion on whether he should adopt the characteristics of the “New Game” in America or that of the “Old Game”, which is familiar to us.
Now lecturing in a government-linked training institute, I am adopting a more open attitude towards the change.
America is undergoing a massive change, yet unthinkable in this ever-changing world around us.
DR AZHARI-KARIM
Former ambassador