# Michelle Obama was my hero today **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 29, 2015, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186 "2015-01-29T02:05:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/41 "2015-01-29T08:09:22Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Look, if you are denigrating an entire group of people based on race, religion, country of origin, gender, sexuality, etc, you are participating in bigotry. It doesn’t become okay because they are “the bad guys.” So you will readily acknowledge that there were some angelic, good-mannered, honest and righteous Nazis? To discredit them entirely is, by your inane logic, bigotry. When we pass judgement on the Nazi Party we are, in fact, all bigots. > [@BigT](#): > > And I know I’ll be blasted for this, because that’s the way this board works now. But I’m not going to sit back and watch the hatred spewing from you and act like that’s okay. You don’t get to preach about tolerance of women while yourself being intolerant towards Saudis. You don’t get to use the 9/11 argument used by people to hate Muslims. If you don’t see the difference between criticizing Saudis on the internet and the Saudi people forcing women to cover their face in public and banning women from driving vehicles then you are patently unqualified to start calling people bigots and passing judgement. You’re a deluded, self-righteous moron who needs to open his eyes and look at the real world. Get off your soapbox and call out true bigotry instead of huffing and puffing over the people _defending_ the rights of women. Sometimes, it’s worth having a pair and taking a stand. That’s why conservatives don’t buy the bullshit that is “cultural relativity.” In instances like this, bowing to the intolerance of other cultures makes you a spineless coward. Kudos to the First Lady. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/42 "2015-01-29T08:24:16Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > > [@adaher](#): > > > > Hillary did however, wear the hijab in Pakistan. > > > > [Hillary in Hijab](http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2009/10/30/should_hillary_clinton_wear_a_headcovering_in_pakistan.html) > > The link to the photo in that cite is out of date. Is there an actual photo of this somewhere? A google image search turns up several examples of Hillary-in-Hijab. I noticed cites regarding visits to Pakistan and also Egypt. [This appears to be Hillary in Pakistan.](http://www.andrewcusack.com/2009/11/19/a-tale-of-two-headscarves/) ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/43 "2015-01-29T08:56:40Z")
People do realize Saudi laws regarding women having to have their heads covered don’t apply to foreign visitors don’t they? Obviously, this doesn’t include indentured servants(they’ve come with yet another euphemism but I’m too tired to remember it and too disgusted to bother looking it up). None of that is to defend the Saudis or their odious government which makes the Mullahs of Iran look progressive by comparison, however what Michelle Obama did was hardly that unusual or something that would give Saudis the vapors. Angel Merkel didn’t wear a hijab when she visited Saudi Arabia either. Anyone if anyone really enjoys seeing some westerners give the Saudis a cheeky “fuck you” here’s a clip from a few years ago. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Cc\_dJBKz4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Cc_dJBKz4) ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/44 "2015-01-29T10:48:01Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > It’s remarkable that liberals who often criticize conservatives for lacking cultural sensitivity are now praising Michelle Obama for flouting local cultural customs. It’s more remarkable that conservatives are approving of anything done by an Obama. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/45 "2015-01-29T12:51:02Z")
Once again, a complete non issue for anyone else in the world, especially the people who were supposedly disrespected, gets American’s all hot and bothered. A segment of the population would be outraged if she HAD worn a headscarf! There is no winning with American outrageaholics. How does this stuff even get news coverage? Won’t people ever grow weary of this kind of nonsense and manipulation? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/46 "2015-01-29T13:05:04Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Once again, a complete non issue for anyone else in the world, especially the people who were supposedly disrespected, gets American’s all hot and bothered. > > A segment of the population would be outraged if she HAD worn a headscarf! There is no winning with American outrageaholics. > > How does this stuff even get news coverage? Won’t people ever grow weary of this kind of nonsense and manipulation? Idiotic apostrophe use aside, can you please explain how a thread applauding Michelle Obama amounts to outrage? In short, what the fuck are you talking about? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/47 "2015-01-29T13:28:31Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Think about it. It’s not really that hard. Thinking is HARD! ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/48 "2015-01-29T13:30:23Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Wrong. The First Lady is a very symbolic part of the Presidential office, and what the First Lady advocates and says is watched very closely by the press, and reflects upon the White House, should she choose to take that role. And, I think the country is better off for her doing so. A fully symbolic role, which is, at most, a bully pulpit-by-proxy. Also, it’s a position where the only requierment is being married to a powerful guy, not something modern-day women should really aspire to. She has no real power, and the little symbolic power she has derives fully from her being married to POTUS. Nobody would know who Michelle LaVaughn Robinson was if her husband wasn’t presidnet. > [@](#): > > You can’t just disqualify an important ally because you disagree with some of their political and social policies. What you CAN do however is use your leverage as their ally to send important statements about how you’d prefer to see them conduct themselves. By your logic, the White House should agree with how Israel handles Palestinians, 100% of the time, and shouldn’t pressure Israel when it feels it went too far. As Ibn Warraq said, headscarf laws don’t apply to foreigners so even if the gesture was intended, it didn’t register. Moreso if other US women, with actual legal power I might add, had already done it before. There is NO leverage, there is NO message. I see that the horrible, systematic mistreatment of women in SA is less important than their help. The message is, “Saudi women, we’ll have a meaningless, empty gesture as show of our non-existing support for your plight”. > [@](#): > > When put in a position of power to be able to make a stand where you can’t be punished for doing so, morally, sometimes you have a duty and obligation to do so on behalf of those who cannot because they are oppressed. I read that as “entitled woman gets to throw tantrum hiding behind her husband’s power”. What message did she send and to whom? Did the message register? It’s more of a like-this-FB-page-if you-suport-Saudi-women in the real world of actual things that help. > [@](#): > > I don’t recall that ever happening when a Saudi official visited the White House, so you are making up some sort of exaggerated example that never happened to back up your argument. Of course it’s exagerated and hypothetical, it was the whole fucking point. Praising someone for (not acutally, by the way) disregarding other people’s traditions taht they think suck becasue they can get away with it should work both way. > [@](#): > > Do you prefer Iran over Saudi Arabia? Iran makes their women wear scarves, as well. I have no idea what you’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/49 "2015-01-29T13:31:45Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Idiotic apostrophe use aside, can you please explain how a thread applauding Michelle Obama amounts to outrage? > > In short, what the fuck are you talking about? A board conservative made a seemingly positive comment about Michelle Obama, so it must be a backhanded insult. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/50 "2015-01-29T15:37:05Z")
It’s not OK for men to shake a woman’s hand, but it’s OK to use Twitter to express your outrage. Pick a century, people. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/51 "2015-01-29T16:01:51Z")
I’m not getting why Michelle is getting kudos for this. As others have pointed out, no western female dignitaries bother putting on headscarves there. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/52 "2015-01-29T16:30:33Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Michelle Obama was my hero today > [https://celebrity.yahoo.com/news/michelle-obama-not-amused-while-meeting-king-saudi-143636653-us-weekly.html](https://celebrity.yahoo.com/news/michelle-obama-not-amused-while-meeting-king-saudi-143636653-us-weekly.html) > > Plus head uncovered? Good on her. Women are treated like dirt there and there’s no reason for a proud Western woman to cater to their bigotry. I haven’t seen any report that sez Michelle intended to make a political statement by not covering her head. She’s not required to cover her head. This was an unplanned, last minute trip. Maybe Michelle didn’t bring any outfits that included a matching hat or hair covering? Hooray! Michelle Obama got dressed and walked about in public. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/53 "2015-01-29T17:28:59Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > People do realize Saudi laws regarding women having to have their heads covered don’t apply to foreign visitors don’t they? That’s what I was wondering about - thanks. I can’t imagine our First Lady didn’t know that, or wasn’t told so by one of the protocol officers, so I assume she didn’t mean it as any kind of a protest. I wouldn’t slam her any more than I would give her credit - it doesn’t appear to be anything that deserves either credit or blame. Tangential question - are there rules on what kind of head covering women are supposed to wear? Back in the days of “women must keep their head covered in church” in the US just a folded handkerchief satisfied the situation, at least according to the Lovely and Talented Mrs. **Shodan** , former Roman Catholic. I grant you, it reminds me of school dress codes and “how much can I get away with”, but in situations where this would apply, how much room for compromise is there? There might be a balance to strike between “when in Rome, do as the Romans do” and “I refuse to wear such a symbol of subjugation”. Perhaps a happy medium - a head scarf, and a bikini. And boots. Thigh-high, leather boots. On Michelle Obama. Pardon me, I will be in my bunk. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/54 "2015-01-29T17:37:00Z")
I, for one, am surprised that Fox News hasn’t yet tried to spin this into “arrogant Michelle Obama disrespecting our allies by thinking she’s too good to dress properly for a diplomatic event”. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/55 "2015-01-29T17:46:00Z")
Obviously, Fox News is slipping. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/56 "2015-01-29T18:04:25Z")
So FoxNews is being criticized for not criticizing the First Lady for doing something she didn’t do. Those bastards. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/57 "2015-01-29T18:06:41Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So FoxNews is being criticized for not criticizing the First Lady for doing something she didn’t do. Those bastards. > > Regards, > Shodan Snarking about snark… does that make it completely serious? I’m not sure how that works. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/58 "2015-01-29T18:11:26Z")
Doesn’t matter - I’ll just criticize you for not knowing. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/59 "2015-01-29T18:15:34Z")
Typical conservative, criticizing snarkiness about snarking over snark. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/60 "2015-01-29T18:21:45Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So FoxNews is being criticized for not criticizing the First Lady for doing something she didn’t do. Those bastards. > > Regards, > Shodan I hereby nominate Michelle Obama for a Nobel Piece prize. A non-piece of Michelle’s costume was unintentionally missing but a very important political statement has been unintentionally made. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186.md?page=4)