The United States of America appears to have reached a new low this week, which is saying something considering the problems it has faced in recent years.
Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old boy, is accused of arming himself with an AR-15 assault rifle, opening fire and killing two Blacks Lives Matters protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, while the rest of the US simmers with barely concealed hatred.
But whoever pulled the trigger, there is no doubt as to who inspired this youngster to raise arms and take to the streets.
That man is Donald J Trump.
Since becoming US president, Trump has stoked racial division in order to present himself as the guardian of white Americans.
His rhetoric at this week’s Repubican National Convention has continued the theme – pitting himself as the voice of “law and order” against rioting and chaos.
At no point does he recognise the deep-seated prejudice that means black people are treated like second-class citizens in their own country.
It is easy to conclude that Trump takes this view because he is simply a lazy, racist buffoon.
That would be wrong.
He is now engaged in a deliberate and cynical political ploy to stoke racial division across the United States.
Because when societies are divided, it is easier to play one side off against the other and cling on to power.
There are signs of hope, however.
The fact NBA stars boycotted their play-off games in response shows there is a will to tackle the US racism problem.
This is the biggest intervention by sportsmen and women since the likes of Muhammad Ali gave voice to a generation of black Americans in the 60s.
Let us hope these voices are the ones that are listened to and that Americans reject the hatred, division and cynicism of men like Donald Trump.
And may racist killers be ignored, forgotten and relegated to the dustbin or American history.
Scotland's exam fiasco is a life lesson..
Scotland’s exam fiasco would never have happened if anyone in power had listened to the warnings.
Teachers were among those sounding the alarm about the SQA grading system.
Opposition leaders also cried foul. But the SNP Government thought it knew best and let the whole sorry saga unfold in slow motion before everyone’s eyes.
Pupils were unfairly marked down, teachers were furious, and eventually the Government apologised.
The EIS union has had an opportunity to scrutinise the shambles and they have a warning for the Government.
It’s one that all politicians should have remembered from their school days – pay attention in class and listen to the teacher.
