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Observer
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Observer
Brazil's brave stand against Trump
For decades, the United States was the champion of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. Of course, there were glaring discrepancies between rhetoric and reality: during the Cold War, the US overturned democratically elected governments in Greece, Iran, Chile, and elsewhere in the name of defeating Communism. At home, the US was in a battle to uphold African-Americans' civil rights a century after slavery's end. More recently, the US Supreme Court has acted aggressively to restrict efforts to rectify the legacies of the long history of racial discrimination. But while the US has often failed to practice what it preached, now it does neither. President Donald Trump and the Republican Party have seen to that. In his first term, Trump's contempt for the rule of law culminated in his attempt to overturn democracy's most important principle: the peaceful transition of power. He claimed – and still insists – that he won the 2020 election, even though Joe Biden received some seven million more votes, and even though dozens of courts ruled that there had been no significant electoral irregularities. Anyone familiar with Trump may not have been surprised; the big surprise was that some 70 per cent of Republicans believe that the election was rigged. Many Americans – including a majority of one of the two major parties – have gone down the rabbit hole of outlandish conspiracy theories and disinformation. For many Trump supporters, democracy and the rule of law are less important than preserving the American way of life, which in practice means ensuring domination by white males at the expense of everyone else. For better and for worse, America has long provided a model for others to follow. And unfortunately, there are demagogues around the world more than willing to adapt Trump's formula of trampling on democratic institutions and repudiating the values that underpin them. A prominent example is Brazil's former president, Jair Bolsonaro, who went so far as to try to emulate the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol to prevent Biden's election. That attempted coup on January 8, 2023, in Brasília was larger than the attack on the US Capitol, but Brazil's institutions held firm – and now they are demanding that Bolsonaro be held accountable. Meanwhile, the US has been moving in the opposite direction since Trump's return to the White House in January. Once again, Trump has made it clear that he loves tariffs and abhors the rule of law – even violating the trade agreement he made with Mexico and Canada in his first term. And now, ignoring the US Constitution, which gives Congress the sole authority to impose taxes – and tariffs are just a particular tax on imports of goods and services – he has threatened to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Brazil unless it stops the prosecution of Bolsonaro. Here was Trump violating the rule of law to insist that Brazil, which has adhered to all the strictures of due process in prosecuting Bolsonaro, do the same. Congress has never enacted tariffs as an instrument for inducing countries to obey a president's political dictates, and Trump could cite no law that gave him even a fig leaf for his unconstitutional actions. What Brazil is doing stands in marked contrast to what has happened in the US. While the legal process had moved slowly but judiciously to hold to account those who had participated in the January 6 insurrection, immediately after his second inauguration, Trump used the president's pardon power to forgive all who had been duly convicted – even the most violent. Complicity in an attack that left five people dead and more than 100 police officers injured was no crime. Like China, Brazil has refused to submit to America's bullying. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silvacalled Trump's threat 'unacceptable blackmail,' adding, 'No foreigner is going to give orders to this president.' Lula has defended his country's sovereignty not only in the domain of trade, but also in regulating US-controlled tech platforms. America's tech oligarchs use their money and influence worldwide to try to force countries to give them free reign to pursue their profit-maximising strategies, which inevitably cause enormous harms, including by serving as a channel of misinformation and disinformation. As in recent elections in Canada and Australia, Lula got a 'Trump bump' in national support as Brazilians recoiled from the US administration and rallied around him. But that wasn't what motivated Lula to take his stance. It was a genuine belief in Brazil's right to pursue its own policies without foreign meddling. Under Lula's leadership, Brazil has chosen to reaffirm its commitment to the rule of law and democracy, even as America seems to be renouncing its own Constitution. It must be hoped that other leaders of countries large and small will demonstrate similar bravery in the face of bullying by the world's most powerful country. Trump has undermined democracy and the rule of law in the US – perhaps irreparably. He must not be allowed to do so elsewhere. @Project Syndicate, 2025
The Diplomat
a day ago
- Politics
- The Diplomat
Taiwan's Recall Elections Failed – But That Doesn't Signal an Embrace of Beijing
The failure of the recalls does not reflect a re-evaluation of cross-strait policy preferences. But it does send a clear message to both the DPP and the KMT. Taiwanese voters delivered a decisive verdict on July 26: none of the 24 Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers targeted in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-backed recall campaigns were unseated. Seven more KMT legislators will face recall votes on August 23, but the failure of this first wave has already reshaped the political conversation. The DPP explicitly framed the recall as a test of loyalty to Taiwan, promoting slogans such as '罷免投同意，反共更有利' ('vote yes to recall, oppose Communism more effectively') and portraying figures like Fu Kun-chi as symbols of 'pro-CCP' politics. Yet voters rejected the recalls decisively. So does this result signal a Taiwanese embrace of Beijing and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), or a clear shift toward endorsing some KMT politicians' approach to cross-strait relations? There is little evidence for either assumption. The failure of the recalls does not reflect a re-evaluation of cross-strait policy preferences. Instead, it highlights voter fatigue with partisan manipulation, a desire for stability and competent governance, and growing skepticism toward political actors who treat national security as a tool for short-term electoral gain. A Taiwan-Centered Identity, But Not a Blank Check Taiwan's identity and civic nationalism have evolved over decades of de facto separation from the mainland. Across party lines, most Taiwanese now see their future as distinct from mainland China, and cross-strait debates increasingly revolve around how best to manage that reality, although many inputs from the mainland still outright reject its validity. This Taiwan-first identity is not confined to one political camp. The KMT, knowingly or not, has adopted Taiwan-centric messaging as well. The KMT's public messaging increasingly places Taiwan, rather than party ideology or the Republic of China (ROC) framework, at the center of its political language. Its public branding now reflects this shift, including its official Instagram handle: During the 2024 presidential campaign, when I served as foreign press secretary to Hou Yu-ih, the KMT's second-ever Hokkien, Taiwan-born presidential candidate, I observed a noticeable increase in the use of Hokkien in campaign communications. While the KMT continues to emphasize the ROC, its rhetoric and public symbols are often closely associated with Taiwan. However, this identity convergence is not a partisan loyalty test. Ahead of the recalls, some argued that a newfound unity of voters supporting the ROC framework and Taiwan independence was forming in the face of the CCP threat. The assumption was that voters would punish any politician perceived as too close to Beijing, but the recall results suggest otherwise. If voters were motivated primarily by anti-CCP sentiment, the DPP's campaigns, which explicitly branded KMT lawmakers as 'pro-CCP,' would have succeeded. Instead, voters demonstrated a more complicated, nuanced outlook. They can hold strong Taiwan-centric views while rejecting partisan efforts to weaponize the CCP threat. At the same time, their rejection of the recalls should not be misread as approval of every KMT figure's conduct. Many Taiwanese remain wary of gestures, such as Fu Kun-chi's high-profile trip to Beijing, that risk undermining Taiwan's deterrence or handing Beijing propaganda victories. Taiwan's identity convergence is real, but voters are not willing to let it be exploited for domestic point-scoring. The DPP's 'Boy Who Cried Wolf' Problem The CCP threat is existential. Political warfare, disinformation, and gray-zone military pressure are daily realities for Taiwan. Yet by overusing the CCP threat as a partisan tool, the DPP risks undermining the very resilience it claims to protect. My written testimony before the United States' Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) last week warned that 'over-politicizing the CCP threat, labeling domestic political rivals as 'pro-Communist,' plays directly into Beijing's hands. It risks exhausting and paralyzing concerned citizens, precisely the psychological effect Beijing intends to create.' That warning feels prescient now. Voter fatigue is setting in. When every policy debate is cast as a loyalty test, public sensitivity to genuine CCP threats dulls over time. The DPP is beginning to look like the proverbial boy who cried wolf. The more it invokes the CCP threat for partisan gain, the less seriously voters may take real dangers. This is not just a political misstep. It is a strategic liability. Taiwan's greatest defense against the CCP's cognitive warfare is public trust in democratic processes. If voters begin to tune out security messaging because they perceive it as partisan theater, Taiwan's whole-of-society resilience will suffer. As Khedroob Thondup, a former member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, noted, the DPP also made a tactical mistake: 'Recall elections are meant to be a safeguard against misconduct, not a shortcut to power. The DPP's strategy blurred that line, turning a constitutional tool into a partisan weapon.' Their strategic and tactical mistakes, however, should not embolden the KMT to repeat its own. The KMT Must Not Misread the Results The recall failure does not mean Taiwan's voters approve of every cross-strait overture. It only means they disapprove of overt, politicized attempts to weaponize such overtures. If KMT leaders interpret this result as a green light to double down on careless engagement, they risk squandering the very trust voters just extended to them. Reckless gestures, such as former President Ma Ying-jeou's remark urging Taiwanese to 'believe in Xi Jinping's goodwill,' have already handed Beijing propaganda victories and undermined Taiwan's deterrence posture. My written testimony before the CECC also cautioned that 'responsible engagement requires careful messaging, timing, and coordination. Anything less risks feeding into Beijing's cognitive warfare and undermining our domestic unity, deterrence posture, and social cohesion.' That warning applies just as much now. The KMT cannot afford to confuse rejection of partisan manipulation of a genuine concern with a mandate for complacency. This is not an invitation to return to old habits of poorly messaged cross-strait engagement. It is an opportunity to show that the KMT can act as a responsible governing party, not just an opposition force. A Chance for Leadership, Not Complacency If the KMT is serious about earning long-term public trust, it should seize this moment to lead on national security, not just block DPP initiatives. First, it should take the lead on the defense special budget. The KMT has been vocal in demanding oversight of major defense appropriations, including the national defense special budget expected to be requested by the Ministry of National Defense in the next legislative session. Now is the time to move beyond criticism and explain, in detail, what changes it proposes, why they matter, and how they will strengthen deterrence and resilience. The KMT should also outline a clear plan to meet its own previously stated goal of raising defense spending to 3 percent of GDP. Voters deserve to know whether the KMT is prepared to invest in Taiwan's defense rather than simply using defense funding as a political bargaining chip. Second, the KMT should launch a transparent public campaign outlining its cross-strait priorities. That means clearly communicating what forms of dialogue with Beijing it considers acceptable, how it will ensure transparency and avoid being taken advantage of by the CCP's United Front work, and what red lines it will not cross, particularly in preserving Taiwan's democratic resilience. By being transparent and disciplined, the KMT can demonstrate that cross-strait engagement is not a retreat but a risk-management tool that is consistent with Taiwan's security and democratic values. If the KMT succeeds, it will position itself as a credible steward of Taiwan's national security, showing voters it is capable of balancing dialogue with deterrence. The Quest for Unity Facing the CCP threat, Taiwan does not have the luxury of remaining divided. However, it would be unrealistic to expect that, after the DPP just attempted to unseat KMT legislators en masse, the KMT legislative caucus will suddenly become 'cooperative,' especially after DPP caucus leader Ker Chien-ming's remark that those voting against the recalls were 'not Taiwanese.' Emotional remarks like Ker's only deepened partisan wounds, escalating political disagreements into questions of identity and loyalty. Such rhetoric makes legislative cooperation difficult at a time when unity is Taiwan's strongest defense. Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the German Marshall Fund, was absolutely right to point out that 'the deep polarization in Taiwan's politics is harmful to national security… Taiwan's ruling and opposition parties need to strike compromises that strengthen governance and deliver better outcomes for the people.' The failure of the recall elections does not signal an embrace of Beijing. Taiwanese voters are neither pro-Beijing nor reflexively anti-KMT. They are pro-stability, pro-democracy, and increasingly tired of being treated as pawns in partisan battles. The message to both major parties is clear. To the DPP: stop crying wolf. The CCP threat is real, but cheapening it as a constant partisan bludgeon risks dulling public vigilance when it matters most. To the KMT: do not mistake voter fatigue for a blank check. You now have the public's cautious trust. Use it to lead responsibly, including showing that you are willing to invest in Taiwan's security and fulfill your own pledge to raise defense spending to 3 percent of GDP. Otherwise, that trust will quickly erode. Taiwan's greatest strength against Beijing's coercion is a united and confident public that trusts its democratic institutions. That unity will not be won through fearmongering or careless gestures. It will be achieved through transparency, discipline, and serious governance. Both parties owe Taiwan nothing less.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Karl Marx's grave gets a Labubu toy, Internet says, ‘just as God intended'
Karl Marx, the man who spent his life critiquing capitalism's ability to turn everything into a commodity, from labour and art to identity itself, probably never imagined that one day, he would be part of that very spectacle. Yet, that's exactly what happened this week at London's Highgate Cemetery, where visitors were stunned to see a Labubu plush toy perched on Marx's grave. Labubu is a mass-produced collectible doll, a wide-eyed, gremlin-like figure that's become something of a cult obsession. It's the kind of object that thrives on late-stage capitalism: marketed endlessly, bought compulsively, and quickly turned into social media content. The image of the toy sitting on the tombstone of the 'Father of Communism' quickly went viral, racking up over 10 million views online. the concept of knowing there is currently a labubu on karl marx's grave — helen (@helen) July 22, 2025 Comments poured in, with many pointing out the bizarre irony of it all. One user said, 'Late-stage capitalism really said: Labubu x Karl Marx collab.' Another wrote, 'Wait until you know that it cost you £10 to enter the graveyard… but that's fine for me to manage the site, they have such amazing tour too to explain about the graveyard.' The contradiction wasn't lost on anyone. 'There's something deeply poetic — and unhinged — about a collectible capitalist gremlin sitting on the grave of the man who critiqued capitalism itself. Peak irony,' one person wrote, while another offered a harsher take: 'The Labubu: perfectly symbolic of unthinking people with infantile tendencies, wasteful and trendy. Just like Marxism.' Amid the plastic mascot of consumerism, there were also traditional tributes: fresh flowers, handwritten notes, and quiet tokens of respect. Labubu belongs to the Pop Mart universe, a line of vinyl collectible figures sold in blind boxes, meaning buyers have no idea which version they're getting until they open it. This element of surprise, paired with limited availability, is designed to stoke desire and create a sense of urgency. In today's Gen Z consumer culture, these toys have become status symbols, with rare editions often fetching hundreds or even thousands of dollars on resale markets.
News18
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Labubu At Karl Marx's Grave? Internet Can't Handle The Ironic Crossover
The Internet couldn't ignore the irony of a Labubu doll placed on Karl Marx's grave, who famously stood against capitalism. Karl Marx, the political theorist and revolutionary socialist, devoted his entire life to fighting against capitalism and warning people about its consequences. What he probably never thought was that he could become a part of the very thing he opposed. But that's exactly what happened recently at his grave in London's Highgate Cemetery. In a photo going viral on the Internet, people noticed that a Labubu doll was kept on Karl Marx's grave along with flower bouquets and a letter. These plush dolls are all about limited editions, surprise boxes and hype, basically the kind of consumer culture the Father of Communism was against and criticised throughout his life. So, when people on the Internet came across the picture, it went viral, with many reacting to the irony of it. 'Placing a Labubu there is actually akin to performing voodoo on Marx," wrote one user. Another astonishingly asked, 'Is that a f—-g labubu?" A different user said, 'Labubu could be one of the most anti-Marx things I have ever seen." Someone else penned, 'The concept of knowing there is currently a Labubu on Karl Marx's grave." What Is A Labubu Doll? The trendy Labubu doll is part of the Pop Mart collection, which is sold in blind boxes, and customers would not know anything about the colour or type of the doll they will be receiving. Sometimes, these plush toys are sold for hundreds of dollars because of their limited manufacturing. Currently, a Labubu has become a Gen Z status symbol, an example of the kind of artificial desire and consumer frenzy that Karl Marx once warned us against. Karl Marx's Grave Also Had A Letter From A Chinese Student Besides the Labubu, there was something far more personal that stood out to the public: a handwritten letter by a Chinese student by the name of Liu Yuhae. With honest admiration, she reflected on how Karl Marx's writing shaped her view of the world. 'I have always wanted to write you a letter. But when it came to actually writing, I found myself at a loss for words because there was so much I wanted to say," she began her letter. Through the letter, she also described her journey of reading his works, from The Communist Manifesto to The Critique of the Gotha Programme. 'I hope that at the end of my life, I will receive an invitation from you. It has always been my long-cherished wish to cook potatoes for you every day in the afterlife. I already look like a potato now," she mentioned. Towards the end of the letter, she wrote, 'There are so many things to say that I can't possibly express them all. So I'll stop here. If I can meet you in my dreams, I will talk to you in more detail. I believe that you can see me. I won't bother you any more. That's all for now." About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Viral Labubu Doll Spotted At Karl Marx's Grave, Internet Erupts
Karl Marx wrote volumes warning the world about capitalism's ability to commodify everything: thought, art, labour, even identity. What the 'Father of Communism' likely never imagined was that one day, he himself would become part of the spectacle. This week, visitors to London's Highgate Cemetery spotted a Labubu plush toy placed on Marx's grave. Mass-produced, obsessively collected, and heavily marketed, Labubu is a product that represents late-stage consumerism. The 19th-century thinker who dreamed of a world without private property or profit now shared his grave with a wide-eyed doll, made by the same system he tried to fight all his life. — ladidai (@ladidaix) ???? see linkinbyeo (@ladidaix) July 22, 2025 The internet had a field day. A user on X exclaimed, "is that a f***ing labubu?" is that a fucking labubu — siggi ✡︎? (@SignsOfSiggi) July 22, 2025 "Who put a labubu there," a comment read. Who put a labubu there ???? — eri ♡ (@MeLlamoEri) July 22, 2025 A comment read, "Labubu could be one of the most anti-Marx things." Labubu could be one of the most anti-Marx things — Eleventeen Onety 1th (@11teen_onety1th) July 22, 2025 Someone wrote, "the concept of knowing there is currently a Labubu on Karl Marx's grave." the concept of knowing there is currently a labubu on karl marx's grave — helen (@helen) July 22, 2025 "Icon of modern consumerism on his grave he would have hated you," a user wrote. Icon of modern consumerism on his grave he would have hated you mfs — ray! (@stinkytotoro) July 22, 2025 Labubu is part of the Pop Mart universe, a collection of vinyl figures sold in blind boxes, where customers don't know what variant they will receive until they open it. Designed to manufacture desire through artificial scarcity, the toys have become status symbols in the world of Gen Z consumerism. Limited editions resell for hundreds, even thousands of dollars. The Labubu wasn't the only offering on Marx's grave. Alongside it were flowers, handwritten letters, and other tributes. One letter stood out. Written by a Chinese university student named Liu Yuhae, it showed deep gratitude for Karl Marx's work and its influence on contemporary socialist theory in China. "I have always wanted to write you a letter," Ms Yuhae began. "But when it came to actually writing, I found myself at a loss for words because there was so much I wanted to say." Ms Yuhae detailed her efforts to study Marx's works, from 'The Communist Manifesto' to 'The Critique of the Gotha Programme', expressing both awe and humility. "My study of both the principles and the original works of your theories is very limited and superficial... I hope that as my understanding continues to develop and deepen, I can get closer to you," she wrote. "I hope that at the end of my life, I will receive an invitation from you. It has always been my bong-cherished wish to cook potatoes for you everyday in the after life. I already look like a potato now," Ms Yuhae wrote. "In today's society, I still can't avoid being obsequious and senile. I hope that by the time we pass away our society will enable everyone to get rid of such flaws." She ended the letter saying, "There are so many things to say that I can't possibly express them all. So I'll stop here. If I can meet you in my dreams, I will talk to you in more detail. I believe that you can see me. I won't bother you any more. That's all for now."
