Trump's criticism of "Person of the Year" another example of his character
If you haven't heard, United States President-elect Donald Trump won Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2016, and he isn't happy about it. Not the honor of winning it of course, (Trump likes winning,) just with the title.
"You know, Time magazine, they were both nice and a little bit wise guy yesterday," he said at a rally Friday. "They gave me the 'Person of the Year.' It used to be the 'Man of the Year.' Now it's 'Person of the Year.'"
While Trump is correct in that the distinction was called "Man of the Year" when first introduced in 1927, the title was changed in 1999 as many types of people and even groups have received the honor. This was not the first time it had been altered, as the title had been changed three times before to "Woman of the Year" and once to "Man and Wife of the year".
Despite this, Trump went on to blame the change on his own win.
"Seriously," Trump said. "Because I won, it's 'Person of the Year.' So for years, it was the 'Man of the Year,' right? And I think even if a woman was named, it was the 'Man of the Year,' so its a little bit shaky."
As if mocking a major publication after they give you a world-renowned distinction isn't enough, Trump then proceeded to "poll" the audience at his rally by asking who among them would prefer the title which went like this:
"Who would rather it be called 'Person of the Year?'"
*Silence*
"Well I've got a lot of women here, what about the women? Let's do it again. Who would rather have it be 'Person of the year?'"
*Some cheering*
"Okay, a couple of people. Who would rather have it be 'Man of the Year?'"
*Loud cheering*
"That could be why the magazine business isn't so great. Hmm, I don't know."
Aside from blaming better representation on the fall of news media and mocking political correctness, this comes at a time when so many Americans are looking to the President-elect for any sign of hope that the sexism, racism, and xenophobia that fueled his campaign won't be the basis for the way he runs a country.
Unfortunately, if the President of Twitter Tantrums Donald Trump has shown us anything in his month as President-elect, it is that that won't be the case.
With Roe v Wade at risk of being overturned, as well as women rushing to get long-term birth control before revisions to Obamacare, this is a scary reminder that the next President might not care about the well being of every American he's going to be sworn to serve.
Hopefully there will be some sort of changes being made as we inch closer and closer to January 20th. Until then, we as citizens may need to gear up for the political struggle of a President who refuses to fact check or respect the inclusive freedoms we as a nation have worked so hard to achieve.
Does the reversal of the progress made over the last 100 years by civil rights activists scare you? Call or email your representatives today, and encourage your friends to do the same. Change doesn't come overnight, so I'll leave you with this: "If not you, then who?"