Foreword: You are not going to like it…..No more that I do.

Often we will talk about Ethics, normally about someone who is being unethical. We will wield the word as a weapon in a just war, pointing out someone’s most grievous faults and actions, and we feel good about it.
We might, at some stage become involved in a discussion over the nature of Ethics and cite either hypothetical or historical events to support our views and naturally our political opinions.
We are in someway comfortable in these encounters, because there are degrees of separation from the actual daily encounters with Ethics
And then.
One day.
We are called out because of an event, and not a simple one like being critical of a politician or inhabitant of that world because they had said something we don’t agree with. Oh no, we don’t get off that easy, for the event has taken place in the grey and jagged area of Conflicting Beliefs, and Ethics itself has come calling asking very difficult questions of us. We wish it hadn’t.

Right now there is hope that the one conflict situation which has been The Many-Layered Big Global News event of the past two years might be coming to an end. Folk living in the Gaza region may be given a chance to not to fear that they may be killed today or tomorrow. Folk living in Israel might be reunited with their hostaged loved ones. The guns, for the moment may be laid down.
And we may give out with an expression of relief.
It would be so simple to embrace that ideal and feel good, save for one niggling detail.
Not only did it happen on President Donald Trump’s watch, it would seem his personal intervention has played a major role in this Peace Effort. The evidence might indicate that through his personal drive and characteristics he has steam rollered all parties into agreeing.
And Ethics stands at our door, barring our way out of the room and asks ‘Well?’
Don’t we wish Ethics had gone next door to ask that question.

Regular readers and I. We have spent the past nine or so years vilifying Trump. We have castigated his past, torn apart his judgements, pounced on his every word rounded on his appointees, associates, high profile supporters, family members and anyone else who came into our sights. We were justified in that we saw the whole miasma surrounding him has a threat to the basic stability of the USA and a threat to democracy. And when you look back on the past and in more detail the recent record we have a solid case. What good ever came from that collection of fundamentalists, prejudicial Conspiracy junkies and snake oil opportunists.
Right?

I made frequent use of adapting Churchill’s comment on the stance of supporting Communist USSR in 1941 ‘If Hitler invaded Hell, I would make at least a favourable reference of the Devil in the House of Commons.’ changing that to ‘If Trump said the World was round, I would at least do Flat Earth believers the common courtesy of visiting their internet sites,’ (and variations). After all what practical good has Trump ever done for Humanity in general?
Right?

So what is our response to this recent event? Trump linked to an Humanitarian Initiative? Do we start looking for the flaws, seeking some gratification in realising by our exacting standards it is not going to work? Do we go down the common train of thought, what does Trump think is in it for him, maybe it is just a colossal Vanity project enabling him to stamp his name favourably into History? Maybe, perhaps, just this once we’ll go scampering off down a Conspiracy Route? Or is our response a rather sour feeling that Trump should not get credit on the World Stage for anything; never mind what, how and that a ravaged and persecuted population should benefit?  

And while we jump to deny that Trump could never, ever under any circumstance be associated with any good idea, anywhere, anyhow, Ethics is still there, at our door.

Herein lies our problem. The conundrum. The person who is currently at the head of an administration which seems intent on dismantling Democracy and Tolerance in the USA, is associated with a Life Saving measure in The Middle East. Broadly this is nothing new. History has its catalogue of individuals renowned for some positive achievement who also have a weight of questionable if not downright hideous actions to their name: Stalin being a classic case and whatever historical heroes you might have there will be very questionable actions linked to them. This one however is happening right here, right now before our very eyes, when we have invested so much in our one stance.

Therefore, do we, for the sake of thousands of Palestinians give Trump some grudging approval, nay even support? If we care that much for them should we consider it, shift just a smidge? Hope it will work out for the best? Put aside our differences, on this one isolated issue?

Or do we remain knowingly entrenched? Reckoning it will only be a question of time before the whole thing falls apart like some political Ponzi scheme, and it was only a Trump effort to win a Nobel Peace prize, no more than that- we knew it!!……And we heave a secret sigh of relief. Well yes, the continued loss of Palestinian lives would be unfortunate, horrific of course, but at least we were right about Trump.
And is that what matters??
No we say, we have a bigger picture to consider. The quality of lives and wellbeing of millions are at risk here. We can’t let down our guard, we think to ourselves. We say, we cannot celebrate. There are greater issues at stake. This is all a ruse. It’s all you need to know about Trump, we argue. He cannot be trusted.
Ethics is still standing at our doors…..Waiting.  
For our Churchillian moment?   
Don’t expect a definitive answer from me I’ve retreated behind another phrase…
‘Just saying. That’s all’