It's like I'm watching a really bad movie.
I keep waiting for the resolution, for the "bad guy" to finally be exposed for what he truly is. And every time another racial slur is spewed from his mouth, or an incriminating video reveals the inner workings of his mind, I think, "This is it. This is the climax that I've been waiting for. There's no way he's coming back from this."
But there's no knight in shining armor riding to the rescue.
And the bad guy just keeps marching on.
With the release of the 2005 video of Donald Trump making extremely disrespectful and lewd comments about a woman, laughing and joking about what he'd do to her, the country is given yet another reminder of who could possibly be the next leader of our nation.
In his apology video for what was said, Trump stated, "Anyone who knows me, knows that this doesn't reflect who I am."
Well, Mr. Trump, that's just the thing- from what I can gather, your statements over the past few years and months have reflected that this is exactly who you are. This is not the first time this has happened. You can't claim that this 11 year-old video is any way different than how we've heard you talk about women since the start of your campaign, and the years that followed this video that supposedly is in no way who you are. So don't tell me that this, "doesn't reflect" who you are as a person. This reflects who you are at the core.
I mean, the joke is on us now. How many times did we laugh at him a year ago, joking that there was no way he would ever get any endorsements? How many times did we chuckle when he talked about winning the Republican ballot? How many times did we roll our eyes when he claimed that he wanted to change this country "for the better?"
And yet, how many times have those laughs turned nervous when he actually did win the ballot? How many times have we started to sweat as we watched his poll numbers rise? How many times has he made comments that should cause his supporters to stop and think?
And how many more times does this have to happen before the voters in America stand up and say enough is enough?
Please don't misunderstand me; this is not a pro-Hillary statement. She has her own issues as well, but that's not what this is about. This is simply me asking what we should all be asking ourselves- how did we let it get this far? And how can we stop it from going any farther?
I can in no way claim to be a political savvy person; I'm not always able to follow what they're talking about at the debates, and I can't say that I have a complete grasp on every issue that is discussed. I don't like to participate in political conversations because, honestly? I'm not sure I know what's going on half the time. And so, with that being said, even I can't ignore this anymore. I can't ignore a man who would look at me and see me as less than the person that I am. I can't ignore a man who would treat me and anyone else as if we were objects for his pleasure.
And so, voters, I'm begging you. Research your third-party options, any of which would make a better president than a man who would think it's okay to treat people (women, LGBTQ, racial minorities, etc.) like they are any less of a person. Jill Stein of the Green Party, Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party, Tome Hoefling of the American Independent Party, Gloria LaRiva of the Party of Socialism and Liberation, etc.
If we let Trump win, he could destroy our nation. And it will be our own fault. But there are so many ways we can stop the "bad guy" from winning. We don't need a knight to come riding it- let's don our own armor, and get to work.
