In the wake of Melania Trump’s plagiarism scandal―something, frankly, I’m not completely shocked by―it’s hard for me not to think back to when I was a student and feared more than anything being even remotely associated with the P-word. I remember the gripping paranoia I felt throughout my college and graduate school careers while writing the many papers I had to write. I was terrified of potentially somewhere, somehow pulling an idea or mere sentence structure without proper attribution from one of the many sources I had consulted. After reading so much content about one subject, I’d easily get to the point where different voices began to take on the same tone, disparate ideas converged, and it became increasingly difficult to separate my own thoughts from those I had read. But as soon as I got to that point in my research and writing, I stopped. I walked away from my work and allowed myself the mental space I clearly needed to be able to come back with a rested mind and a fresh pair of eyes. The thought of potentially plagiarizing something was at times seemingly paralyzing because the consequences were irreparable—and as they should be. If this nightmare had actually become a reality, I would have lost all credibility for my work and gained a permanent black mark by my name. And if I had wanted to pursue a career in academia, in particular, those dreams would have been completely shattered.
The progression of any field in any industry depends on new ideas, perspectives, configurations, and the only way to go forward is to understand what’s already happened, what’s already been said. You’re forced to ask yourself how you can meaningfully contribute to a conversation, how you can respin the wheel and push the envelope. But the cardinal rule is to never build upon someone else’s work without proper attribution. Ever.
So when the next potential first lady takes center stage and delivers a speech with a paragraph clearly cribbed from First Lady Michelle Obama’s 2008 Democratic Convention speech, how does she―or, more specifically, Trump’s campaign―not suffer more extreme consequences than those each student fears? How is this even remotely excusable?
Trump’s campaign has taken three unsurprising defense tactics in response to the scandal, none of which are satisfying. Despite Melania claim that she wrote the speech with “as little help as possible,” Trump aide Meredith McIver offered her resignation for the blunder, but this clearly doesn’t add up. And of course, no Trump campaign response to their own mistake would be complete without absurdly blaming Hillary Clinton for playing at least some part in the drama. Obviously, the jury’s still out on who truly wrote the speech―whether it was Melania, Meredith McIver, or some third party who’s yet to come out of the woodwork―but no possibility is good.
While listening to Melania Trump at the 2016 RNC, it’s impossible not to conjure images of First Lady Michelle Obama and mentally replay some of her most historic speeches, given the circumstances. Mrs. Obama’s time as FLOTUS has put her in the spotlight for nearly 8 years, yet she’s cultivated an image of unwavering grace, brilliance, and warmth. And these qualities shine in her many accomplishments as first lady, most notably the social initiatives she spearheaded. Over the course of her tenure in the White House, she has encouraged the advancement of women in numerous ways, most impressively by starting Let Girls Learn, which works to help disadvantaged girls around the world receive an education; she has sought to help future generations lead healthier lifestyles through Let’s Move!; she has been a strong advocate for LGBTQ rights and openly included gay service members in her national service families initiative, and launched Joining Forces, which urges Americans to help servicemembers and veterans receive support through wellness, education, and employment opportunities; and last but not least, she created Reach Higher, which seeks to inspire young people across America to take charge of their future and complete their education past high school. On top of this, she is a devoted, loving mother and wife who works to ensure that her two daughters know how empowered and capable they are. She exudes a natural confidence and strength, and it is her sense of motivation and determination that has gotten her to where she is today. She is a Harvard Law graduate who prioritized community service as Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago long before she set foot in the White House.
When I think about all that Mrs. Obama stands for, I feel both inspired and encouraged to realize my own full potential and to perhaps pursue paths I hadn’t before considered. She prioritizes education, generosity, and truth above all else, and we see that in her actions and hear it in her words. And when she said 8 years ago “your word is your bond,” we know that to be her personal creed because she’s bound herself to her words all these years. The mark she’s left on our culture is unforgettable and she will forever remain a role model for many women, myself included.
And perhaps Melania also looks to Mrs. Obama as an idol of sorts. But hearing her echo Mrs. Obama’s words about hard work, education, and values is darkly ironic because if Melania becomes the next first lady, Mrs. Obama’s legacy will be undone by someone who is―at the very least―a mouthpiece for a campaign that unapologetically plagiarized an entire paragraph ultimately about morals. And this image of Melania replacing Mrs. Obama, stolen words about the importance of morals sitting in for actual morals, is jarring. At this point, most everyone (I hope) realizes that Trump is a heinously corrupt influence, spewing toxic vitriol against every minority in this country, someone whose financial experience consists of swindling hardworking employees for his many real estate pursuits that mostly resulted in bankruptcy, and someone who is absolutely not equipped to lead any country, let alone the United States, into the 21st century. And Melania’s plagiarism scandal, breaking that cardinal rule, goes hand in hand with Trump’s campaign, so much so that I wouldn’t have expected anything less from anyone even remotely associated with it.