We feel your pain, Abby

This was going to be a comment to a story from Abby Woodhouse “I do not want a rapist to lead my country”, but once I got started it grew too long.

I’ve got a new definition of ‘ugly’ — ‘Trumpish’; and for ‘criminal’ — ‘Trump-like’. I do not want a rapist with his finger on the nuclear trigger, either.

I don’t live in the USA, but here in Australia his ugly visage defaces our TV and computer screens, and his appalling boasts defile our ears with regrettable regularity. The national broadcaster shows the Clinton/Trump debates live, and the campaigns are reported frequently and at length. Not that I regret that, I could say ‘there but for the Grace of God go we’. I take comfort from my belief that the majority of Americans are sane, which is why Hilary is going to romp home, and I’m not that sure of my own people’s commonsense.

Trump has admitted sexual assault. If this was happening here, I would start an on-line petition requiring that his confessed actions be investigated to determine if he could be prosecuted for criminal assault. He would either have to deny that he did any of the things about which he has boasted, in which case he would expose himself as a fraud and a liar, or else he would admit the truth of what he said, in which case …..

I think two things need to happen: firstly, his boasts need to be clearly and loudly identified for what they are — admissions of criminality; secondly, a woman, (or several), needs to come forward and detail her experience of Trump’s abuse. Furthermore, we need to actively and urgently educate our young people that behavior like Trump’s is the end result of staying quiet when confronted by abuse. We need to teach them to shout, loudly and publicly, ‘ABUSE!, ASSAULT!’ at their first experience of such. We need to support the accusers in every way possible — by speaking out, by showing solidarity, by protesting if the law enforcement agencies do not do their job, financially.

For many women it went past that point long ago. We, humanity in general, not just specific nations, need to totally change the way we treat victims of sexual assault, rape, domestic violence. I was appalled at the Brock Turner / Aaron Persky miscarriage of justice, and like any sane person who read it, I was deeply moved by the victim impact statement of Jane Doe, the terrible truth it conveyed that victims of rape are forever changed, they live with consequences for the rest of their lives. BUT I have no words to express my outrage at Trump’s boasting, and I think this is the general reaction here in Australia. For example, it is very unusual for politicians to involve themselves in any way in another country’s electoral issues, but they have broken with convention this time, the leader of the opposition has said Trump is unfit to be the leader of the free world, and the Prime Minister has also condemned him. There have certainly been occasions in the past when the USA’s junior partner nations have taken some pleasure in America’s discomfort at the antics of its citizens — ‘Oral’ Roberts admissions come to mind — but this is not one, it’s far too serious.

If this was happening in Australia I would start an online petition on GetUp! to investigate Trump, but it is not. Cannot someone in the USA start something on change.org? If this happens I will start a petition here in Oz to express solidarity with you, our cousins and allies.

A final message to you Abby, WE FEEL YOUR PAIN and I’m sure that just as you say Trump’s words and behavior have brought up unwelcome recollections, your sisters here may well have experienced the same. Stay strong.