How far from morality, duty, justice, fairness, and grace have we fallen? What shows that our nation has hit bottom? What proof is there that a full third of all potential voters are willfully ignorant and willingly complicit to white male supremacy, depraved royalty, and an oligarchy?
Melania Trump is the First Lady.
I watched another documentary yesterday. My favorites are historical descriptions of World War II…the events leading up to the world war, the psychology of the populations and the leaders involved, Winston Churchill, President Roosevelt, and Eleanor Roosevelt. The fact that our nation had the Roosevelts in the White House during major crises of the 20th century gives me pride. The fact that our nation has the Trumps in the White House twice in the 21st century repulses me. The Roosevelts versus The Trumps – like comparing the fragrance of a newborn to the stench of a rotting carcass or hope to utter defeat or heaven to hell. But Melania exemplifies how far we’ve fallen more than the Useful Idiot who plays at mob boss while selling us out to Putin. He, a demented, old rapist with one foot in the grave, remains useful to the Republican party because he likes to yell at women. However, Melania can sleep, eat, live, and play elsewhere and every day; no one can explain what purpose she serves.
Eleanor Roosevelt was active in her husband’s presidency. She was an important advisor; she was a serious and welcome extension of the White House to the American people. Not everyone liked her, but everyone respected her. As a highly educated woman, she knew how to fulfill her official duties as well as create more problem-solving opportunities. I remember her funeral. All three television channels showed live footage of her funeral, and our father, a decorated hero of World War II, sat and watched it with a seriousness I could not appreciate at the time. President Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor were among the entitled wealthy of our nation; however, they used their relationships with wealthy Americans, with industry and business leaders, with thinkers and doers to bring our nation back from the 1929 financial crash and Great Depression. Because voters knew they could trust the Roosevelts, they voted for them repeatedly. Eleanor’s integrity, honesty, energy, and unique style of servant leadership as First Lady place her at the very top of U.S. history’s most admired women.
Melania is a selfish woman who lacks both empathy and integrity. As a recent immigrant in the late 1990s, she chose the path of sex worker. Both as immigrant and sex worker, I will not shame her. But her involvement in the Epstein-Maxwell sex trafficking and sexual predator network was a choice she made. Most immigrants do not commit crimes or become criminals. No one should shame adult women who choose sex work with consenting adult men; they should be legally protected. Melania became friends with rapists and pedophiles. For her involvement, Melania must be publicly shamed and charged along with the all the powerful wealthy men who exploited girls, boys, and young women. She married a sexual predator. She has never explained her involvement, much less apologized to the victims or given official testimony to law enforcement against her husband or the other predators. The Silence of the Republican party and most of America’s mass media is Approval.
As First Lady, Melania represents her husband and has both the power and obligation to use her position for Good. She protects sexual predators and offers no legal support to their victims; therefore, she is complicit. She stood behind her husband when he incited the January 6, 2021, violent and deadly attack on the Capitol and the legitimate election process; therefore, she is complicit. She is Putin’s friend and says nothing about Ukrainians’ suffering; therefore, she is complicit. She spends the money that the Trump and Kushner family illegally gain from its official and nonofficial duties; therefore, she is complicit. Unlike former First Lady Eleanor, she avoids meeting with the public – I cannot say ‘public’ to describe Mara Lago guests; they do not mix with us. She has no calling, accepts no duties, offers no hope or encouragement. A more useless woman I cannot imagine. Except that she willingly protects corruption and evil.
The U.S.A. has fallen. Before pronouncing our fate, some wait for the midterm elections. Others closely watch the courts. Others hide behind their wealth. But look at the State of Us – truly Look. Melania is our First Lady. If Donald is the face of a broken corrupt and criminal Republican party, the face of a degenerate oligarchy who celebrate Melania’s film in the White House within a few days of recent ICE killings, then Melania is the exemplar of evil, selfish women who support evil men. Yes, we hit bottom.