India Ravenhearst
As a Canadian watching the American election, I had to hold my breath. There is a lot to be said about the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump. Something that always stood out to me was how an individual, who can be described evidentially as a racist, transphobic, and misogynistic human being (among other things) could represent what many consider the most powerful country in the world. As a young half-Indian woman, it is disheartening to believe that an individual such as him could gain the support of so many, despite his complete lack of ability to lead a country that holds so much diversity.
With reference to the topic of consent, I will never forget when Donald Trump became President of the United States. I will never forget the videos or quotations I have seen of Donald Trump spewing misogynistic comments or degrading women, to the point of fully denying sexual assault allegations on the basis that an individual not being his “type.”
With just a quick search, I was able to find so many direct quotations that are as extensive as they are insensitive, or simply factually untrue. As much as I want to move past what he was as a human being, I am an individual who believes that when we do not learn from the past we are doomed to repeat it. Maybe that is just the history student in me, or maybe it is the fact that this election has made me somewhat hopeful.
I believe that leaders should represent the values and morals of those who they lead. To see a step forward from what Donald Trump represented has made me believe that perhaps Americans who voted saw who he was and wanted to step forward in the right direction. I hope that the last four years of his presidency will be reflected upon extensively and stays in history as a lesson on what should be accepted and what should not.
For those of you who may not agree with this perspective, here’s a quote. Read it, reflect, and really question if a leader who represents the values of the most powerful country in the world should speak like this with reference to women.
“And when you’re a star they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything.” - Donald Trump, 2005
Comments