As many of you probably heard, Trump made some vile comments that have recently been released to the press as of late. Naturally, there have been complaints and defenses that have taken over the media that have forced the public to endure long hours of uncomfortable reality. It’s unfortunate, however, that this has become commonplace during this year’s election. It’s become such a regular status quo that even during my visit home this weekend, it was the subject of round-table talk.
After church, my mom and I decided to go visit grandma. As my mom walked my grandma’s dog Sophie down the driveway, I sat with my grandma as she attempted to wrap her head around the new controversy. She was grossed out and disappointed just like any sane person in this country. Yet, at the same time, she was like me: not surprised. My grandma looked at me for a while, asking me what we should do and how we should vote. To be honest, I didn’t really know what to tell her other than to look at other candidates since we don’t agree with Hillary either. But of course that conversation didn’t last, because once my mom walked in with Sophie, CNN began playing back Trump’s audio clips.
For a solid 20 minutes, my mother, grandmother and I endured some of the lewdest and skin-crawling words we’ve ever heard a presidential candidate say emitting from the TV. My mom then proceeded to say how she’s heard comments like this from other men before, and my grandma nodded her head in agreement. I too have heard these comments from other men I’ve met, but that didn’t stop me from being horrified that my mother and grandmother have faced this too.
Is this really the kind of world we have to live in? Where men and women must stomach these kinds of conversations, simply because someone in power has no decorum? For me, I wish the answer was a solid no. Yet, because both Hillary and Trump have different kinds of rumors and controversies around them and their own connections to the media, it’s pretty safe to say we’ve all basically gotten used to this…and that’s what horrifies me the most.
You see, while the comments enraged me and I think no person in their right mind should say such crude things, I was not shocked to hear it be said from Trump. To be frank, I’ve heard way worse from cat callers on the street whenever they’ve attempted to grab my attention. But comments that degrade anyone, regardless of their gender, should not be something we as a society should have to stomach. It creates a culture of dysfunction and in return creates a culture that lacks love of the person.
At the end of it all, I don't particularly care how long ago these comments were made. Simply put, if you are a public figure, it should be common sense that you are setting the precedent for how other public figures should act in this country. So, if you say something lewd and degrading to strangers, be prepared for the consequences. For the time being, my faith in humanity and the political system is a little, and I despise that so much. But, that’s what our political system does nowadays…it gives us the thick skin we never asked for.
