Lydia Lindsey: No defending Trump’s behavior

I appreciate Sarah Nagem’s Nov. 11 column “Women say it’s time to bridge the divide,” but I’m not one of the women who says it is time to bridge the gap. I, too, know what it means to not have an election go my way, but this is more than that.

Donald Trump’s election wasn’t a normal election. He ran an abusive, misogynistic, racist, xenophobic campaign. I and many other American women have been verbally and emotionally battered by him throughout the entire campaign and his life. He just can’t say a few rational words in his victory speech and make it all go away.

I will not allow him to normalize abusive behavior. I will not be made a victim of battered women’s syndrome by him. Trump has refused to acknowledge his abusive behavior throughout the campaign; just like most abusers, he never accepts responsibility for his actions.

He just can’t say and do anything in a campaign; civility has its place in America. That is what makes America great.

I respect democratic institutions of America, but I resent the media and others normalizing Trump’s behavior and encouraging me to ignore his abusive behavior. He can’t just bring home the flowers and kiss and make-up.

This story was originally published November 23, 2016 at 10:14 AM with the headline "Lydia Lindsey: No defending Trump’s behavior."