Dear Rosie...

I am writing you this public letter thought this is not a fan letter. I am not a fan. Let me take that back it's not that I'm not a fan it's just that I'm not not a fan either. Does that make sense? I mean you and I are both women of a certain age (oh how I hate that phrase) and there are some similarities between us. Our age, we both grew up in the mid-Atlantic of the United States, you in NY and me and NJ.We both have been married, you to a woman and now divorced and me to a man and still married. You’ve had a very successful career. You had your own TV show, which I did not watch regularly but caught from time to time. You were on the view, again which I didn't watch regularly but still catch from time to time. You've been in several movies, most of which I haven't seen. (Don’t tell anyone but I've never seen a league of their own and I'm sure in certain states that's a crime.)  I’m “just” a mother and wife whose had several jobs throughout my many working years that have paid the bills.  My creative outlet is in writing this blog that a couple of people read now and then. So I write this not as a fan letter but at the letter of a fellow human being who is distressed and distraught over your circumstance. 

Now I know from social media (and somehow I seem to be following you on Instagram) that you are very happy living in Ireland. And I as a normal human being, I'm happy to hear that you are living happily where you are. But I am outraged and angry that you had to make the decision. 

One thing that I am sure that we had in common as girls is that we were bullied. I think at the time that we grew up, bullying was just sad fact of life. But now we are older. Are bullies should be in our past. I do know that I still think from time to time of the boy who bullied me when I was in elementary school. My mother had purchased me a puffy orange winter jacket and this one particular boy called me something along the line of the big fat orange. It was hurtful. I was glad when his family suddenly moved away before Junior high. Although I was unhappy that his sister who I consider to be one of my best friends, disappeared without any word. Still I was glad that he was no longer in my life and when he did reappear when I was in high school I managed to avoid him. (Sadly his sister did not come back to New Jersey but instead stayed with her mother in the Midwest.) As an adult I understand now why he believed me and how difficult his family life must have been. That's no excuse, but it is an explanation. And while I don't necessarily forgive him, I can understand him. 

But for me that is in the past. It should be in the past for you as well. After all we are adults now. Which is why I find it so disconcerting and upsetting that you are continually being bullied by an old man who should know better but clearly does not. 

Clearly this “man”, and I use the word lightly, has some serious problems. What rationale human being would bully a person for decades?  I mean why else would he spend so much of his time, which should be valuable, making hurtful remarks about you? What is the point? It certainly doesn't make him seen like a sane human being. 

You have said that he is obsessed with you. I think you're right. As someone who has been obsessed with things in the past (when I was much younger) such as The Beatles, Broadway musicals, the books of the late great Dorothea Benton Frank, to name but if you, those obsessions were always positive. Those things enriched my life. However this man's obsession with you is incredibly negative and extremely unhealthy. Why does he care so much about a woman he doesn't even really know? Why does he give a s***?

This would be a great question for his therapist. However I doubt he has a therapist. He definitely needs psychiatric help but he's too busy being an important man to do so. 

Because he is in a position of power (something I still have difficulty comprehending) he seemingly can say anything he wants and it's all over the news and social media. Disgusting, but true. And normally I would just ignore this. Because why do I care?  He's just a narcissistic ass. 

However the fact that he threatened you and you felt so uncomfortable that you had to move out of the country is unconscionable. The fact that he has said he is going to revoke your citizenship, is not only unlawful, but totally insane. I know I don't have to say it but it’s the rantings and ravings of this pathetic bully that make me sick to my stomach and fear for the life of this country.

As someone whose family has been living in the United States of America for a much longer time than this guy (at least since the revolutionary war and there is some possibility that my ancestors arrived on Plymouth Rock in 1621, however I cannot factually confirm that so I don't use it as truth), I say that if anyone should be deported from this one's great (or at least trying to be great) country is him. Not that any country would actually want him. 

As a member of the DAR (I am proud of my heritage) and fellow human being, I would welcome you into my home anytime. I don't know you but the more I hear you speak the more I have come to respect you and admire your grace in the face of such despicable rhetoric and threats.

I say this most sincerely, as no one, and I do mean no one should have to live in fear from an elected leader in the United States of America. No one should have to leave this country because of threats and bullying. And yet here we are. 

You probably will never read this letter but maybe someone who has been bullied or has lived in fear will. Take heart. As the late great George Harrison has told us, all things must pass away. 

Wishing you and your family well no matter where you are on this planet. 

 

Bfth