THE MADISON BRIEF

EDITORIAL BY JEANNIE CONNER

Dear Girls Everywhere,

We want to apologize to you for Donald Trump’s recent  name calling and his repeated comments that objectify women.   We are extending our apology because we suspect that an apology won’t be coming from Mr. Trump.

For the record, calling someone fat, ugly, Miss Piggy or judging a woman’s appearance with a numerical value is a sign of cowardice, not leadership.  We would not tolerate this behavior from our grade school sons,  let alone tolerate it from the potential leader of the free world.

You see, no one has the right to bully you. Sexist bullies lash out because of their own self doubt and insecurity. They put you down, so they can lift their egos up.

As mothers, daughters, aunts and sisters, we know about the shaming. The self-criticism. The haunting images of female perfection in social media, television, film and print — the questioning about whether we will ever measure up, or be good enough.

So here’s the truth:  on the day you arrived on this earth, you were a bundle of wonder and joy, surrounded by boundless hope and potential, free of shame. There you were, with your scrunchy face, pot belly, bald head — and you were BEAUTIFUL!

We know you can’t remember that day, but WE do. WE know the promise of your birth, the power of your potential. Don’t ever let someone tell you that you’re not good enough, that you aren’t pretty enough or smart enough.  Your value is not dependent on the opinion of others, it is dependent on your absolute, unshakeable awareness that you are worthy.

Demand respect.  You deserve it.  That beauty that you exuded on that first day of life is still within you.  We promise.

With love, admiration and acceptance,

Women Everywhere