Dear Editor,
Throughout Mr Trump’s campaign he has been bombarded with allegations of sexism yet the liberal media which was on top of each and every indiscretion is unable to hide its own sexism when dealing with Mrs Trump, who is set to become the next first lady of the USA.
The constant publication and attention being drawn through social media among others to some provocative photographs of Mrs Trump with the intent to humiliate, disrespect, cause emotional distress and discredit this lady as someone to be ashamed of and trivialized is utterly disgusting. How can any respectable media entity that fashions itself as a voice for women’s rights and empowerment, condemns sexism and racism and lectures on accepting others who are of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds then objectify, sexualize and humiliate a woman for some photographs that were taken over two decades ago when the young Melania Knauss couldn’t have possibly foreseen the important role which awaited her? It also seems that this was the only dirt that was found, notwithstanding the fact that Mrs Trump lives and has lived in Western countries with very modern, liberal beliefs, views, laws and moral precepts.
Mrs Trump was born and grew up in Slovenia, a small European country. Therefore, I assume she was immersed in European culture and attitudes towards women. I visited a Western European country and saw somethings in a few days that I have never seen before in Guyana with regard to women. I can clearly recall seeing a sane looking naked woman walking in front of me in the ‘English Garden’ in Munich, and while on the top deck of a tour bus I noticed an elderly lady sitting on her balcony in the nude or topless (I only saw the upper part) languidly smoking a cigarette. Women were scantily dressed and to such a degree that it would be an oddity if someone were to dress like that in public here. I did not hear catcalls or other sounds directed at those women nor did their state of dress or undress elicit any excitement as to suggest something abnormal had occurred.
I am not an expert on European culture but from what I observed and was told quite offhandedly by a male European friend who bathes and visits the public sauna in the nude among other men and women, I can safely assume that Europeans are quite relaxed about nudity and do not objectify and sexualize the body to the extent that we are accustomed to. If the media and the refined, cultured and well-educated can preach about doing the right things, notably accepting and understanding others of different cultures and ethnicities, diversity and multi-culturalism then surely the same reasoning that accepts a hijab wearing lady can also accept women on the other end of the spectrum. One cannot be biased when applying certain core values and beliefs; fairness and equality should apply to all.
Yours faithfully,
Narissa Deokarran
