#BeBest – An Open Letter to Melania Trump: For the Sake of Women and Little Girls Everywhere, Stand Up For Greta

Dear Mrs. Trump,

I normally do not say much to or about the family members of politicians who I do not agree with, mainly because you are doing what any family member should do, and that is to stand by your loved one. In this case, your husband. However much I do not agree with him and much of what he says, there is no reason I should take that out on members of his family. That’s fair.

However, I feel I need to say something now.

On May 7, 2018, you started a public awareness campaign called “Be Best.” Of course you know its purpose; to ultimately put a stop to bullying, whether it is bullying in person or cyberbullying; all forms of bullying need to stop. This is what you and I both agree on. I’m sure much of the country can get behind that.

It goes without saying that it will take a long time before ALL bullying is stopped. We have a long way to go, and it is not sensible to believe we can immediately reach everyone. I can completely understand that. But when bullying is within our grasp, I feel we all have a responsibility to stop it.

Your husband spends a good portion of just about every single day on Twitter and putting people down. Calling them names, hurling insults, or even retweeting insults and name-calling coming from others against opposing parties or practically anyone he does not agree with.

In short, much of his behavior and words go completely against your “Be Best” campaign. This is the same behavior that, upon coming from any of his political opponents, would likely be called out.

It is bad enough that he says these things to and about other adults. However, when he finds it in his heart to attack a child, that is when ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Mrs. Trump, for the sake of women and little girls everywhere…PLEASE stand up for Greta Thunberg.

I understand that a lot of people have come after you and mocked your “Be Best” campaign, implying that this is conditional. In other words, only if you agree with the person is he or she stood up for.

Pamela Karlan recently said the following:

“The Constitution says there can be no titles of nobility, so while the president can name his son Barron, he cannot make him a baron.” 

Your tweeted response:

“A minor child deserves privacy and should be kept out of politics. Pamela Karlan, you should be ashamed of your very angry and obviously biased public pandering, and using a child to do it.”

Mrs. First Lady, no attack was made on your son. She simply stated that your husband can call your son whatever he would like, but that would not naturally make your son the title of which his name closely resembles. And she left it there.

There are children at the border who die periodically while in United States custody. You have been nearly silent about them.

There are children who are murdered by mass shooters on a sadly periodic basis also. You have never expressed anything near the level of frustration to those instances as you did to Professor Karlan.

Now, Greta Thunberg wins TIME Magazine’s “Person of the Year” award, and your husband attacks her directly, accusing her of “needing anger management.” Does Mr. Trump have medical training? Is he professionally skilled on what would constitute a person to need anger management? I am confused on why he would make this comment about a 16-year-old child.

Not to mention, many members of your political party have attacked her as well, and nothing from you.

I am not asking you to agree with her.

I am asking you, as the First Lady, to stand up for her against bullying.

Show us what “Be Best” is about.

Believe it or not, I am not even asking you to publicly blast your husband. I don’t believe any sensible person would. That is your husband. Whatever anyone thinks of you and him, you are supporting him. I understand that. If I was doing something people did not agree with, I would not be thrilled about my wife publicly blasting me either.

However, that does not mean you should not say something to him in private about his words toward Greta Thunberg.

If Barack Obama had said something similar about a child who expressed a stance that you and the GOP agreed with, there is no doubt that you all would have a problem with that. Please do not make an exception to bullying just because you do not personally agree with Greta’s stance and because your husband is the one doing the bullying.

More importantly, Mrs. First Lady, it is about much more.

Women can be extremely vicious toward each other. I am certain you have seen and experienced this behavior personally. After all, you stated in October 2018 that you are the “most bullied person in the world,” which was largely your reason for creating your “Be Best” campaign. So you do recognize it when you see it.

A woman in your position absolutely must follow through with her words. Greta Thunberg is a young lady who is being bullied for her beliefs. It does not matter whether or not you agree with her. But the very aspects of what “Be Best” is about are not present here and frankly, you are doing little to help.

There are a number of men, grown men, who are berating Greta in every way, shape and form. They are wrong for doing so. However, when you as the First Lady stand by and say nothing when this happens, you are not only doing a tremendous disservice to Greta.

You are doing an immense disservice to ALL young girls and women out there.

It is tough enough for an ADULT woman to want to make a change that could affect a great deal of people. But here is a 16-year-old choosing to do so, and the majority of those putting her down are NOT her peers, as would be more typical…

…they are ADULTS. The very ones who should be an example to her.

And your husband is one of them.

Please speak up against ALL forms of bullying and not just those who you feel “attack” the people closest to you. And please talk to your husband about the bullying he does on a daily basis. Either that, or help us to understand how calling constant name-calling lines up with the “Be Best” mantra. Maybe there is a part of it I am not understanding.

Whether you want this or not, Mrs. First Lady, you are a role model. Not only are the country’s women and girls looking up to you, but the women and girls of the WORLD. They are looking to you to use your platform and let others know that bullying will not be tolerated under ANY circumstance, whether you agree with someone or not. Disagreeing with someone does not give the right to bullying.

Your press secretary recently responded in the following manner to your lack of a response to your husband’s word to Greta Thunberg. The statement was as follows:

“BeBest is the First Lady’s initiative, and she will continue to use it to do all she can to help children. It is no secret that the President and First Lady often communicate differently – as most married couples do. Their son is not an activist who travels the globe giving speeches. He is a 13-year-old who wants and deserves privacy.”

So if I have this correct, it is okay for the president to bully activists who travel the world and give speeches? Does your “Be Best” campaign state in any fashion that activists deserve bullying, or that this campaign only covers those who want privacy? If that is the case, why is your husband stressing so much about the whistleblower being made public? I’m sure that person wants and deserves privacy as well.

Also, Mrs. First Lady, please consider this. You were once 16 years old. I do not have to tell you that women already have it pretty difficult. I can only imagine how tough it is for you when you are growing and becoming a young woman. You want to speak up for something you believe in that you know people will be against. And while you expect adults to be a good example for you, they are anything but. It hurts enough that people would disagree with something you in regard to you doing something that you believe is a good cause. For the President of the United States to lead the charge on it is absolutely horrifying. Then a number of adults who have made it through life and have not accomplished what they set to accomplish sit on social media with made-up usernames for the sole purpose of bullying you because you ARE doing more at a young age than they have in their entire lives. Again, you don’t have to agree with anything Greta says. But a big part of “Be Best” means that this is the behavior we use toward those we disagree with as well.

If we loved only everyone we agreed with, then you would not “Be Best.” You would only “Be Average.” I’m sure you wanted better than that for this campaign. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Please stand up for Greta. Not because you agree with her…

…but because once upon a time, you WERE her.

Sincerely,

Robert People