Yeah yeah, we’ve all been through the election year drama. After all, we’ve seen it time and time again, right? Wrong— not this year. The 2016 Presidential Election is the one your grandchildren will learn about sitting in their U.S. History classes 50 years from now. And they will wonder how the heck we got it so screwed up.
By now, we have probably all seen the video of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump bragging about sexually abusing attractive women. And if you haven’t seen it, check it out here.
The bothersome Trump said, “I just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.” It encapsulates the stereotypical male mind that so many females are terrified of. And yet, just last week I received an e-mail informing me about an investigation of a sexual assault that had occurred in one of the dorms.
Many millennials have a funny way of using social media to joke about things they aren’t quite sure how else to comprehend, which is both a negative and positive feature of our generation and this election.
And while Trump’s joke about his need to use a Tic Tac in case he can’t help himself from kissing the woman became an instant subject of discussion among millenials, well, Tic Tac did not appreciate the not-so-subtle shout-out.
Tic Tac responded to the video. Even an unaffiliated mint company felt the need to express their views on a political controversy— let’s just let that sink in. In my opinion, this speaks volume to the idea that sexual assault is more than just a political discussion.
Opinions on sexual assault shouldn’t vary based on political leanings; sexual assault should just be universally accepted as wrong among all political affiliations. It is physically, emotionally, and mentally damaging to the victim— male or female, child or adult.
So as we make jokes to ease our own discomforts, keep in mind the severity of the issue we are discussing.
Think about the influence the designated leader of your nation—our nation—has on the youth of our country. Do you want the leaders of our future to think, “If Donald Trump can do it, I can too?”
It’s your decision. Register to vote here…