# 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:** 4
**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, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/61 "2015-01-29T18:27:04Z")
I say we impeach her. We can do that, right? ---
**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, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/62 "2015-01-29T18:42:08Z")
Is that what the kids are calling it nowadays? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/63 "2015-01-29T18:49:40Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > 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. Oh, she’s a piece, alright. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/64 "2015-01-29T19:10:24Z")
> [@Ibn Warraq](#): > > People do realize Saudi laws regarding women having to have their heads covered don’t apply to foreign visitors don’t they? > [@article](#): > > Saudi Arabia imposes a strict dress code upon women, requesting that they have their faces and heads covered in public at all times. Women in Saudi Arabia are also not allowed to drive, and must always have a male accompany them in public. Looks like she got two out of three anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/65 "2015-01-29T19:21:51Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > One of the worst legacies we’ve left our children is an oil based economy controlled by religious crazies. I agree. Humans never should have started using oil in the first place. I pit those assholes for making the world a better place. > [@Colibri](#): > > Just because heroin addicts can’t break the habit doesn’t mean you can’t be pissed at dealers who make a fortune selling it to them. Says the heroin addict. “How dare you give me what I want you asshole.” > [@adaher](#): > > The US actually consumes a lot more oil than is necessary for economic development, mainly because Americans drive so much more than other peoples. I agree. Every city, town and suburb needs to be torn down to the ground and rebuilt from scratch so that there is no need for a car. Fucking asshole city designers. I say we start with your city. You get to be the leader you want. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/66 "2015-01-29T19:25:07Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > 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. And she’s not the first First Lady to visit SA, is she? Or is she? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/67 "2015-01-29T19:26:09Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > I agree. Every city, town and suburb needs to be torn down to the ground and rebuilt from scratch so that there is no need for a car. Nah, just bulldoze the 'burbs, the rest can be infilled and retrofitted. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/68 "2015-01-29T19:31:10Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Perhaps a happy medium - a head scarf, and a bikini. And boots. Thigh-high, leather boots. On Michelle Obama. Curse you! Now I have to pair that mental image with Condi Rice in a short skirt & long jacket. The lines between good & evil blur so easily sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![camille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@camille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camille)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/69 "2015-01-29T19:38:25Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > 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 When in Rome, [first ladies](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uID5YN00YJk/SlZnBdbkRGI/AAAAAAAAAao/JAtp8RXWTLU/%5BUNSET%5D.jpg?imgmax=800) [favor](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Hw-yQLTJoHo/TIEoljhM47I/AAAAAAAAAGI/ZtOt-COxtlY/s1600/Veil_Nancy_Reagan.jpg) [designer black mantillas.](http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/GTY_obamas_vatican_sr_140326_16x9_992.jpg) ---
**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, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/70 "2015-01-29T19:51:56Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > Curse you! Now I have to pair that mental image with Condi Rice in a short skirt & long jacket. Rule 34 strikes again. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/71 "2015-01-29T20:08:01Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > I’d be cautious trying to infer someone’s mood from a candid still photograph, they can be shockingly misleading. This bears repeating. That photo might have just captured an awkward moment; it doesn’t mean she was walking around with that face the whole time. ---
**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, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/72 "2015-01-29T20:32:44Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > This bears repeating. That photo might have just captured an awkward moment; it doesn’t mean she was walking around with that face the whole time. Of course, sometimes a still photo captures [exacty](http://www.popcrunch.com/barack-obama-staring-at-butt-of-16-year-old-brazilian-delegate-mayora-taveras-photo/) what they were thinking. 😃 Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/73 "2015-01-29T20:41:30Z")
> [@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. The US First Lady is watched all over the world and she is very much a symbol for women the world over, and there are lots of women around the world who benefit from little things like the First Lady ditching the head scarf. The Obamas are wildly well-known, watched and admired around Africa, and that’s a good thing. > [@Stringbean](#): > > 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. You can’t be serious, can you? That’s ridiculous. > [@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 pretty much the first thing I read in the first article I read about this. I guess people just read headlines and jump right on the outrage train. > [@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? Oh, once again, it’s not just those dumb ol’ Americuns. The UK is the world leader in tabloid journalism and they were all over it. Most media around the world had something to say about. A lot of it was “Michelle OUTRAGES Saudis!” I don’t think Saudis themselves noticed as much as the rest of the world did. It’s more significant to me Michelle shook the new King’s hand. He didn’t have to, and a lot of the other men completely ignored her. Here’s an article about SA’s dress code for women: [Saudi Arabia’s dress code for women](http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2015/01/economist-explains-20) ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/74 "2015-01-29T20:58:08Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Of course, sometimes a still photo captures [exacty](http://www.popcrunch.com/barack-obama-staring-at-butt-of-16-year-old-brazilian-delegate-mayora-taveras-photo/) what they were thinking. Heheh. Nice. And, entirely forgivable. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/75 "2015-01-29T21:14:00Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > 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 You’re just mad that she wasn’t following local custom when visiting the Ferengi. ---
**Author:** ![CGav8r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@CGav8r](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CGav8r)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/76 "2015-01-29T22:18:26Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Of course, sometimes a still photo captures [exacty](http://www.popcrunch.com/barack-obama-staring-at-butt-of-16-year-old-brazilian-delegate-mayora-taveras-photo/) what they were thinking. 😃 > > Regards, > Shodan I can’t find the video right now on the device I’m using, but the video shows that he isn’t looking at her, just the angle and depth of field make it appear so in this pic. ---
**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, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/77 "2015-01-29T22:44:47Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > And she’s not the first First Lady to visit SA, is she? Or is she? Nope. [Here](http://thinkprogress.org/world/2015/01/28/3616556/saudi-arabia-michelle-obama/)’s Laura Bush not wearing a head covering in Saudi Arabia. ---
**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, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/78 "2015-01-29T23:10:42Z")
> [@CGav8r](#): > > I can’t find the video right now on the device I’m using, but the video shows that he isn’t looking at her, just the angle and depth of field make it appear so in this pic. Yeah, but the French President is totally checking her ass out! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/79 "2015-01-30T01:19:06Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > A board conservative made a seemingly positive comment about Michelle Obama, so it must be a backhanded insult. But that would assume a degree of cleverness that seems unknown to **adaher**. I’m going with him being sincere. ---
**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 30, 2015, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186/80 "2015-01-30T02:36:45Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > But that would assume a degree of cleverness that seems unknown to **adaher**. I’m going with him being sincere. I’m going with him wanting to score some street cred with the cool crowd here. And surely enough, they’ll lap it up! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michelle-obama-was-my-hero-today/711186.md?page=5)