This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Once upon a time, there was a man. In smooth raiment he dressed, though his words were coarse. Vulgarities and insults were his ilk, but the men in the city did not care, for he was their leader.
The ladies in the town knew better. They knew that when he was around, it was best to keep a far distance, and ensure your vulnerable parts were against a wall. You never knew when he would try to grab you or worse. The ladies told the men of the city about the man. They brushed it off, defended the man, said he would change.
When at last the man went to far, was caught in too compromising a situation, the men finally denounced him. But the ladies ... well, the ladies grew in rage. They had given warnings, shouted truths, tried to protect themselves. But the men didn't care — not until the man himself could no longer hide behind flattery and deception.
When the man was finally run out of the city, the men were proud — proud that they were clever enough to see the truth and brilliant enough to destroy the man. But when they returned to the city after ensuring the man was gone for good, they found the city gates were locked and barred. Spikes driven into the soil surrounding the city prevented the men from trying to enter without risking impalement.
"What has happened?" they mourned.
A spokeswoman climbed the city wall from the inside to address the city's men.
"We gave you warning," she cried. "We told you of the man's ways. You ignored us, spit upon us, treated us like common liars. And now you take pride in your cleverness for discovering the truth about the man. You don't deserve to lead. Your change in opinion is empty and cruel. Your lack of compassion leaves you out in the cold. We rule the city now. Be gone and join your beguiling friend."
The men of the city looked on with wonder and rage. But as soon as they tried to approach the wall more closely, all the women of the city rose up with weapons, ready to use them. The men turned and went into the forest, their power melting with the rising sun.
The End.
Fables and fairy tales. They teach lessons, stir imagination, tell truths. Unfortunately, Donald Trump is no fantasy.
My outrage about Trump has been burning for over a year. Countless women and men, including myself, have been writing, posting, conversing, warning for months about the danger that is Trump. While unfortunately many reporters have fed the beast that is the Trump entertainment aspect of this election, plenty have done due diligence and found evidence for his despicable antics.
And yet, too many people ignored us. Too many people ignored the women who have described an abuser, women who have brought up charges of rape, people who have seen the truth of Trump.
And then the audio/video of his "locker room talk" was leaked by The Washington Post. While I'm happy multiple Republican leaders have finally denounced Trump and/or removed their endorsements, I'm outraged that it took this long. I'm outraged that people are acting like somehow that leak gives us new insights into the character of Trump.
The comments made in that recording are nothing new. We've known all along. Why the sudden turnaround? What hole did Republican leaders have their heads buried in until now? Were they too busy directing their own misogyny toward Hillary Clinton to realize the real threat was the misogynistic beast they themselves were feeding and supporting? Is it because Trump's comments were made about a married woman, and only then were unjustified because they believe single women must want it?
I'm glad some leaders are having at least a public turnaround. But they didn't just stumble onto something new yesterday. Trump's treatment and attitude towards women has been clear for years, even before he decided to run for president of the United States of America.
I'm angry that people refused to listen before. I'm angry that many still try to defend Trump. I'm angry that people put an irrational hate of Clinton before the safety and well-being of women, minorities, the environment, labor, etc.
The truth has been shouted from rooftops. Don't act like you didn't hear it before.
Tamsen Maloy is a Utah writer and poet focusing on politics, social movements and various forms of fiction.