By With another day comes another Donald Trump move that leaves us flabbergasted. Unsurprisingly, most are ignorant, and sometimes entertaining — but they are political statements fabricated to support his platform.
Most recently, he managed to take it a step further. In a child-like attempt to rebuke Khizr M. Khan’s much applauded speech, Trump suggested that Khan’s wife, who stood alongside him on-stage during the appearance, “wasn’t allowed” to speak.
“If you look at his wife, she was standing there,” he said. “She had nothing to say. She probably, maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say. You tell me.”
Alright, if you insist, let me tell you. I will make it as simple as I can in three points, in case you have a problem reading this, Mr. Trump (as there are no pictures involved.)
The first, and most obvious, concern with your four insightful phrases is their insinuation that Mrs. Khan was restricted by Islam and/or her Pakistani culture to speak for being a female.
I am sure, since you have done your research, you know that Aisha, the wife of the Prophet (PBUH) was a strong, outspoken Muslim female who had the power to move audiences. Her wit, intelligence, and bravery is said to be unrivaled.
Benazir Bhutto, the late Prime Minister of Pakistan, served two terms in office between 1988 and 1996. She was a leading political figure elected into her position years before America could even nominate a female presidential candidate in 2016.
The second, perhaps less obvious red flag, is raised when we dissect your phrase wasn’t “allowed to have anything to say.”
Who is not allowing? If you are suggesting it is Islamic ruling or Pakistani culture, please redirect yourself to number one. If, however, you are suggesting that it is Mr. Khan who is demanding his wife’s supposed subservience, please continue.
You degraded two mourning parents who had the courage to stand for equality in front of a nation that has repeatedly rejected them by reducing them to an example of misogyny, which later proved to be false.
Out of everything said in Mr. Khan’s powerful speech about patriotism, unity, and politics, all you could grasp is that a grief-stricken mother of her dead son, who served the country you want to “make great again,” “probably, maybe” wasn’t allowed to address a large audience because — you know — it’s apparently her husband that’s the bigoted chauvinist in this situation.
Never mind that you have repeatedly reduced women to their body parts. Never mind that you think men are more competent than women. Never mind that you have shut down your own running mates because they are female.
The real misogynist here is obviously the man who stood aside his wife, delivering a speech that he crafted with her guidance and input.
And in my final third point, you said, “I’d like to hear his [Mr. Khan’s] wife say something.”
She did. Donald Trump, upon and even before your request, Mrs. Khan spoke.
She spoke when she raised a son who understood and acted upon loyalty, bravery, patriotism, and everything that you strategically avoided and then claim to personify.
She spoke again when you accused her husband, religion, and culture of stealing her freedom.
She spoke of her love for a son that died serving the country you want to expel her from and what she said was not plagiarized, superficial, or out of obligation to anyone.
Just because a few true sentences spoken by two immigrants moved an audience that you, a patriotic American, could not enrapture with years worth of your lies, does not mean that you have the right to attack them.
It’s time to grow up, Mr. Trump. Our children are watching, and your bully-ish behavior is unacceptable.