Are the most recent sexual assault allegations in opposition to Donald Trump lastly registering with voters? Or do a few of his supporters really approve of Trump behaving in direction of girls on this method?
The previous model Amy Dorris has come ahead – in a narrative damaged by the Guardian – to accuse Trump of assaulting her on the US Open in 1997 (which she was attending together with her then boyfriend), leaving her feeling “sick” and “violated”. Dorris accuses Trump of grabbing her, forcing his tongue down her throat and groping her, saying “it felt like there were tentacles on me that I couldn’t rip off”. The allegations in opposition to Trump now quantity no less than 26, together with greater than a dozen accusations of sexual assault, one from the author E Jane Carroll who’s suing him for defamation after he dismissed her as a liar, saying he by no means met her.
Some folks may not view the allegations as being within the realm of sexual assault, and even sexual misconduct
The Trump camp is trying to undermine Dorris, asking why she continued to combine socially with Trump after the alleged assault, as if being overwhelmed and embarrassed was the clincher. They are saying the allegations are politically motivated, when in fact Dorris was too nervous concerning the affect on her daughters to return ahead in 2016, and he or she remains to be anxious now.
What occurs now: does something? Stunning as these allegations are, it was round this stage of the 2016 marketing campaign that Trump’s infamous “Grab ’em by the pussy” remarks surfaced, however that didn’t cease him turning into president. It makes you ponder whether this isn’t only a case of sure voters dismissing and disbelieving claims about him being a predator. Or worse, it makes you ponder whether some voters hear allegations of Trump’s sexually aggressive behaviour and regard them not as repulsive and felony, however as proof that he’s a red-blooded male.
Has this turn out to be a part of the story: removed from hindering Trump, in some folks’s eyes the allegations enhance his reputation? This isn’t to assert that People condone rape, slightly that some folks may not view the allegations as being within the realm of sexual assault, and even sexual misconduct. For some, even nowadays, the rape narrative is fastened mentally as a stranger in an alleyway with a gun or a knife.
On this context, most of the allegations in opposition to Trump could possibly be defined or shrugged away as a person behaving badly, making an attempt his luck, “doing what men do”. Actually, the allegations in opposition to the president are critical and felony. They don’t signify a red-blooded male making an attempt his luck; they paint an image of a decided, serial sexual predator.
Thus, although it’s disheartening to see mounting allegations dismissed as a lot white noise, it’s additionally clear how important it’s that these courageous girls preserve coming ahead. As with all case of this sort, the sheer quantity of allegations is telling its personal story.
Play like posh folks and overlook the ‘rule of six’
Grouse capturing in Yorkshire. {Photograph}: Matt Limb OBE/Alamy Stock Photograph
Perusing the “rule of six” exemptions, it’s apparent that the ever-carping British public has solely itself guilty if it has didn’t nurture the right skilled and spare time activities.
Why are folks moping about not having the ability to have a good time household birthdays? They need to take up grouse capturing. Then, armed with weapons, and garbed in tweeds, they might trample by way of grass, capturing at defenceless creatures. Discuss a smashing household day trip. Presumably, grouse capturing is permitted as a result of it’s within the open air and the primarily rich folks who take pleasure in killing issues will be trusted to socially distance. Nevertheless, socially distanced workforce sports activities in public parks aren’t permitted, for causes which can be none of our enterprise.
Elsewhere, two households having a chat on the street is classed as “illegal mingling” and, if your loved ones numbers greater than six, you gained’t see them this Christmas. Rule-breakers will incur hefty fines. As a substitute of seeing their inconveniently giant households, folks ought to present some widespread sense and go to play poker or blackjack in casinos. The federal government has decreed that casinos can keep open, so it’s clear: we should look to the nation’s gamblers for steering in easy methods to conduct ourselves throughout the pandemic. Identical with businessmen, who’re nonetheless in a position to assemble in convention halls in teams of as much as 30. Obtained that? Gamblers, enterprise varieties and grouse shooters are trusted to behave responsibly. You and your gran, not a lot.
Facetiousness apart, I can’t be alone in feeling that I’ve entered the top stage of the Covid-19 Twilight Zone. With weird exemptions equivalent to these, is it any marvel that the British public is more and more disobliging and stressed?
Mark Glastonbury’s 50th with rain, mud, warts and all
Ankle-deep in mud: Glastonbury 2016. {Photograph}: Alicia Canter/The Guardian
Might one hope for the unvarnished reality about Glastonbury? To mark the pageant’s 50th yr, in a tie-in with the V&A, there’s to be a web based archive of performances, memorabilia and recollections from artists and followers, which have been collected since June. All of which sounds intriguing, particularly in a yr when festivals are off.
Nevertheless, as folks proceed to put in writing in with misty-eyed tales of boogying and jester’s hats, do much less rosy-coloured recollections have an opportunity of constructing the reduce? Like mine, standing in heavy rain, ankle-deep in mud, whereas a stoned New Ager emptied his bowels subsequent to me. One other time, I needed to rescue the late, nice NME author Steven Wells from the location, as he began gibbering like a hallucinating Vietnam warfare veteran.
Or what concerning the halcyon recollections of on-site company yurts, the place folks might sanitise the Glastonbury expertise to the purpose the place they could as properly have stayed in their very own again gardens?
Within the pursuits of impartiality, Nicky Wire from the Manic Street Preachers joking on stage about “building a bypass over this shithole” certainly deserves a spot? Joyful birthday, Glastonbury pageant, there’s nothing incorrect with reminiscing, particularly this yr. Simply embrace some reality.
• Barbara Ellen is an Observer columnist
