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In light of Donald Trump's Muslim Ban having its appeal to be re-instated rejected by the the US appeals court in San Francisco, we're reminded of foresight by Sex Pistols' John Lydon, who said in an interview last year: "It doesn't matter how many yes' you've got, they've got as many no's."
On 28 January, the day after the controversial ban was implemented, it was given a 7-day restraining order by the ACLU. It was criticised in a statement by sixteen attorneys generals for being for being "unconstitutional, unlawful and un-American."
On 3 February, the Federal Justice in Washington ordered the ban to be lifted, and on 4 February the Department of Justice filed an appeal to reinstate the ban.
However, the emergency motion was denied by Judge James Robart who suspended Trump's restrictions on refugees, and a panel of judges denied the White House’s emergency appeal to reinstate the ban.
Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 5, 2017
When musicians reacted to the ban last week, their emotional responses held sentiments of shock and horror and in that emotional space none anticipated that it could be revoked as suddenly as it has.
John Lydon, however, in an interview with Drowned In Sound a few weeks before Trump was elected argued: "He won’t be able to inflict much. He doesn’t have campaign strategy or policies to contribute to the nation. He’ll create a deadlock situation that Obama was forced into. The other side will always say no. It doesn’t matter how many yes’ you’ve got, they’ve got as many no’s - that’s the great tragedy of American politics. A two-party divide and it’s 50 vs 50; you can’t create anything, and you can’t get anything done with it."
He added: “The problem for me is there’s an unwillingness to change the political format. I don’t like politicians as usual, but I think replacing a politician with a businessman is definitely a move in the wrong direction. People have to change ancient laws, and have to rewrite the constitution because it’s not valid to the present population.”
However, his views in the interview did lean toward a high nerviness about Trump's position in power and the comments should not be made to think that anyone should be letting their guard down around Trump. “He’s a man incapable of research, he has no forethoughts," he said. "It’s mostly hindsight and impulsive and that’s really risky. He’s someone who doesn’t have the capacity to internalise or intellectualise.”
