Melania being a copycat of Michelle or just a liar is not a big crime. At the most it affects ones credibility. And with Trump being his ever odious self, these transgressions pale in comparison. Being inspired is one thing but copying is usually loathed. In this political climate being a laughing stock is not to Trump camp’s advantage. Sukanya takes a hard look and says that in politics there were both sides, one condemning, the other finding excuses, exclusively for Different Truths.
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” ~ Charles Caleb Colton
I had missed most of the Republican National Convention (RNC) that day, and when I turned on the TV it was Rudy Giuliani’s turn. He was the man who had handled 9/11 with a lot of composure, but the same man was full of theatrics on the stage that day. It was no Shakespearean play that was being performed. It was in a political arena. So why those mad flailing of arms, and saliva spitting from his mouth. He almost gave me a headache. Can’t deal with much histrionics. Soon his speech was over, and from the shadows emerged the shadow of a man, his silhouette way too familiar.
As he stepped in, Queen’s, “We are the champion’s” belted out. That is when we see the man Donald Trump. The Republican Presidential candidate for 2016. He came in to introduce his wife Melania. A beautiful woman from Central Slovenia, with chiselled features, luxurious hair and a fantastic body. She must have been nervous. Who wouldn’t be? She was not born into a political family, neither was she married into one, until recently. But she is wealthy, leading a charmed life and has been in the spotlight for a long time. Then again speaking in front of a huge crowd on the other hand is a daunting task. Eyes on you, hanging on to each word of yours. The camera focused, the opposition party ready for you to make a slip. That is indeed a scary feeling I would think. And above that she English is not her first language, and she has a heavy accent.
In her white outfit, Melania was up on the podium ready to speak. And speak she did. She held herself straight and whatever she had memorised she started putting it forth. Now is this day and time everything is scrutinised. Even speeches by a presidential candidate’s wife. And it is done instantaneously. I did not know that this speech was already given a few years back by the woman, who is now our present first lady. I just thought that Melania was brave.
And that she was.
The moment the speech was over, experts came on the screen and immediately started pointing out that her speech is plagiarized. Not just inspired but copied straight out. She repeated lines that have been already said. And that is where the controversy starts. In an interview previously Mrs. Trump had very clearly mentioned that she wrote her speech with as little help as possible. And this is what she exactly said to Today’s Matt Lauer in an exclusive interview “I read it once over, and that’s all because I wrote it with as little help as possible.”
Now that means she plagiarised on her own. That makes her a copycat. Or if someone else wrote it for her, then she lied. A copycat or a liar!
Soon enough it was revealed that the speech was written by another – Meredith McIver, a family friend and writer for the Trump organisation. She identified herself and even extended an apology and offered her resignation. It was not accepted, and she was excused for her mistake.
Now Melania being a copycat or a liar is not a big crime. At the most it affects ones credibility. And with Trump being his ever odious self, these transgressions pale in comparison. Said that when you are in a position like this, every part of your life is being scrutinised, one has to exercise caution. Being inspired is one thing, we draw our creativity from inspirations, but copying is usually loathed. And with the terrible political climate we are in, being more of a laughing stock is not to their advantage. Then again, like it is always in politics there were both sides, one condemning it, the other finding excuses. In the meantime, what I found extremely funny was Nicholas Kristof’s jab at her calling Trump loyal. This what Kritof had tweeted: Donald Trump “is intensely loyal…he will never let you down” – his third wife.
Here are the passages for your pleasure:
Melania Trump: “My parents impressed on me the values: that you work hard for what you want in life. That your word is your bond and you do what you say and keep your promise. That you treat people with respect. They taught me to show the values and morals in my daily life. That is the lesson that I continue to pass along to our son. And we need to pass those lessons on to the many generations to follow. [Cheering] Because we want our children in this nation to know that the only limit to your achievements is the strength of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.”
Michelle Obama, 2008: “And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you’re going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don’t know them, and even if you don’t agree with them. And Barack and I set out to build lives guided by these values, and pass them on to the next generation. Because we want our children – and all children in this nation – to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXZQIKLxpVM
Seems pretty blatant to me!
©Sukanya Juno Biswas
Pix and video from Net.
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