The person who saves their nation does not break any law.
In February 2025, Donald Trump shared a statement credited to Napoleon Bonaparte on Truth Social, causing concern among legal scholars.
I am Oz, the Magnificent and Fearsome,the Wizard of Oz speaks from behind his curtain.
“In this nation, every individual is required to pay for whatever they receive.” And, “I never provide advantages without expecting something in return.” Is this the president speaking? It’s certainly a type of speech we’ve heard before. No, it’s the Wizard from L. Frank Baum’s novel, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”—which was released in 1900.
Prior to the 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz,” featuring Judy Garland, and before Gregory Maguire authored “Wicked,” which sparked a trend in the theater industry and is now making its way to the big screen, the question arises: was the “Wicked Witch” truly evil? There were Baum’s collection of fourteen books set in Oz.
So, what about this Wizard? What about this President? Are they truly as great and powerful as they say? Or are they both frauds, impressive impostors who pretend to possess unique abilities to lead, to give, and to rule?
Yet—and this is a crucial point—they have been granted this authority by their citizens.
President Trump was re-elected, securing the “swing states” to gain victory in the Electoral College. Meanwhile, the people of Oz, witnessing a miraculous flying balloon land in their city, proclaimed the man inside to be a wizard.
Certainly, there are other characters involved. Oz features witches, Munchkins, and most importantly, Dorothy along with her friends, who eventually confront and reveal the truth about the Wizard.
We have a legislative and judicial branch, and most importantly, our Constitution. In this nation, we are led by a system of checks and balances. It is our responsibility to remind one another, and the world, of this reality.
So, what do the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion desire? And what does Dorothy wish for? They seek the same things that we all want.
The Scarecrow is seeking a brain. We could hope for a more thoughtful one recently, one that doesn’t give in to fear-driven propaganda and gossip.
And the Tin Man desires a heart, likely an “open” one, which includes more than just his limited group. Without this, life in Oz, in the U.S., or anywhere else, turns into a harsh, meaningless contest, lacking genuine purpose.
The Lion requires bravery. Isn’t that true for all of us? Life isn’t meant for those who lack determination, regardless of the era. Bravery makes all the difference in every scenario. Intelligence and a heart are important, but without the courage to apply them, they remain unused.
“Without courage, my life is utterly unbearable,” the Lion states. Such is also true for us.
And naturally, Dorothy’s biggest desire is to return home. It is Glinda, the Good Witch, who finally fulfills her wish. “Your silver shoes will take you… If you had understood their power, you could have gone back on the very first day.” (The “ruby” slippers were initially “silver” slippers in the book, but were changed to ruby to utilize the new color film in the movie adaptation.)
Therefore, Dorothy always had the ability to return home.
We also have the ability to defend and safeguard our values and our home. We might start on the yellow brick road or the incorrect path, and we could face wicked witches or be held captive, but we need to continue with our journey.
Recently, it appears that our politics are shifting dangerously to the right, with some individuals acting like the Winged Monkeys from Oz, ready to “obey any order” they receive. However, the pendulum will swing back, and it always does.
We are all familiar with the concept of rose-colored glasses, and there is reason to criticize the MAGA movement for not taking them off, choosing instead to endorse everything their “leader” does.
In the land of Oz, the Emerald City was never actually green. The Wizard reveals, “I had everyone wear green glasses, so everything they looked at appeared green.”
But we cannot view things through rose-colored or green-tinted lenses. No manipulation of facts, no fanciful stories, will be effective in the long run. We need to imagine our future and carry it out under the bright, clear light of day.
“What a world! What a world!” the Wicked Witch of the West cries in the 1939 movie, following Dorothy’s act of throwing a pail of water on her, causing the witch to dissolve.
Many people might express the same sentiment about the condition of our nation and the global situation. Some could argue that we are finally moving toward fairness and logical thinking.
We need to accept that we may not see eye to eye. However, we do have a strategy that has withstood the test of time, a guide that can lead our way. What we must never do is stay too long in those tempting fields of red poppies. We must not lose ourselves in sleep.
Amy Lockard is an IowaA resident who frequently writes for local newspapers and magazines. She is currently working on the second installment of a four-book fictional series inspired by Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.”
