Not Just Dangerous For Young Men...

This column appeared in the Sun Chronicle on Friday, October 12, 2018

AN INSIDE LOOK

By Bill Gouveia

            “This is a very scary time for young men in America…”

            That was how President Trump responded recently when asked about the impact of the Supreme Court Kavanaugh confirmation hearings on the country.  Trump clearly sees Justice Kavanaugh as the only victim in this situation.  He has ridiculed and insulted the woman who testified she was sexually assaulted and clearly and unambiguously identified her attacker at great personal risk.

            But he does not limit it to just the Kavanaugh situation.  The President of the United States believes this is a dangerous time for young men.  He expressed concern for them in today’s society, citing “evil people” who threaten them. 

And what about young women?  Does he also believe it is a dangerous time for them?  When directly asked if he had a message for young women given recent events, President Trump seemed totally unconcerned.

“Women are fine”, he said dismissively, then turned and walked onto his Presidential helicopter, headed to make yet another political speech.

Women aren’t fine, Mr. President.  They are strong.  They are brave.  They are smart.  They are growing in political power and confidence.  They are continuing their fight for equality under the law, in government, and in our society.  They are helping their brothers, husbands, sons and other men better understand that they don’t need to be cared for – they need to be cared about.

It’s perfectly fine for you to be worried about young men, President Trump.  You should be worried about all young people.  But you seem obsessed with your own experiences.  Sir, the lessons we preach are never as effective as the lessons we teach by example, by how we act towards others.

For generations, we as a society made it nearly impossible for women who had been abused to step forward.  We made reporting abuse and sexual assault a badge of dishonor for the victim.  We expected women to simply understand it was a man’s world, and they weren’t cut out to run it. 

It has been less than a century since women earned the right to vote in this country.  It has been less than half a century since women were given control of their own bodies.  And it was only 13 years ago a man who would become the 45^th President of the United States was taped saying the following:

“You know, I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything…Grab ’em by the p***y. You can do anything.

We should thank him for a great teaching moment.  You have to wonder if he still believes “they let you do it”. 

“They” aren’t letting anyone do it anymore, Mr. President.  Women are standing up for themselves.  And while you think that puts young men in danger, it doesn’t.

But it does put sexual predators in danger.  It puts those who still believe “you can do anything” in danger.  It means the days you apparently still long for are finally ending. 

And that is great news for all Americans.

Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and a longtime local official.  He can be emailed at billsinsidelook@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.