Maine's Senator Candidate: Words Matter
In the world of politics, words hold immense power. They can inspire, unite, or divide. Unfortunately, they can also harm and perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
Graham Platner's Ill-Advised Remarks
Graham Platner, a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate from Maine, recently found himself in hot water due to some ill-advised comments he made on Reddit. These comments, which blamed survivors of sexual assault for their own trauma, sparked outrage and raised serious questions about Platner's fitness for office.
Dangerous and Offensive Comments
Platner's comments were not just offensive; they were dangerous. By suggesting that survivors are to blame for their own assaults, he perpetuated a harmful myth that has long been used to silence victims and shift blame away from perpetrators. This is not a minor slip-up; it's a fundamental misunderstanding of the issues at hand and a clear indication that Platner lacks the empathy and understanding necessary to represent survivors in the Senate.
Deflection Over Accountability
When called out on his comments, Platner dismissed them as "stupid things" and tried to pass them off as the work of a "retired shitposter." This is not an apology; it's a deflection. It's a way of saying, "I didn't mean it," without taking real responsibility for the harm caused. True growth and change come from acknowledging mistakes, learning from them, and demonstrating a commitment to doing better in the future.
A Non-Apology Apology
Platner's non-apology apology was telling. He didn't apologize to survivors or to women; he apologized to "those who were offended." This is a classic case of victim-blaming, where the focus is shifted away from the perpetrator and onto those who were hurt by their actions. It's a way of saying, "It's not my fault; it's your fault for being offended."
A Pattern of Offensive Remarks
Platner's comments are not isolated incidents. He has a history of making offensive remarks, including:
- Racist comments about Black people
- Deriding rural Mainers
- Using slurs against LGBTQ+ people
These comments reveal a pattern of behavior that suggests a lack of respect for others, particularly those whose lives look different from his own.
Maine's Values vs. Platner's Behavior
In Maine, we value decency, equality, and community. We expect our leaders to embody these values, not just when they're being watched, but all the time. Platner's comments show that he struggles to see dignity in others, and that's a problem. If he can't respect and value all people, how can he possibly represent them in the Senate?