Michelle Obama forgoes headscarf in Saudi Arabia

[mack]

www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/01/27/michelle-obama-forgoes-a-headscarf-and-sparks-a-backlash-in-saudi-arabia/

[Deleted]

Definitely a non story. Lots of Saudi women don't cover.

[mrspadfoot]

Other female foreign dignitaries didn't wear headscarves, and only Michelle Obama is causing a backlash? I think that's ridiculous.

[mack]

I thought it was a non issue because I thought that Saudi Arabia was more liberal as far as that was concerned. Like you were a foreigner you would dress more modestly, but they don't expect you to cover your head.

But the story tried to make it sounds like she was making some sort of political statement.

[mack]

WELL SORRY

[mrsbutt]

This is dumb.

I can't imagine what it's like to have everything you do be judged. I mean, they can't even blink without it being a story.

[mack]

Jan 28, 2015 9:37:37 GMT -5 @pobrecita said:

Jan 28, 2015 9:28:45 GMT -5 mack said:

I thought it was a non issue because I thought that Saudi Arabia was more liberal as far as that was concerned. Like you were a foreigner you would dress more modestly, but they don't expect you to cover your head.

But the story tried to make it sounds like she was making some sort of political statement.

I've never heard anyone accuse Saudi of being liberal.

Also, it's hard to visit the country in the first place.

I meant, than other Arab countries. 

[mack]

What country am I thinking of then? UAE?

[mack]

You're right.

[Deleted]

Jan 28, 2015 9:26:56 GMT -5 @scoutnumbers said:

Man, the Wa Po is in the toilet these days.

I canceled my subscription during the George Will things. I won't be re-subscribing.

[Deleted]

Jan 28, 2015 9:37:37 GMT -5 @pobrecita said:

Jan 28, 2015 9:28:45 GMT -5 mack said:

I thought it was a non issue because I thought that Saudi Arabia was more liberal as far as that was concerned. Like you were a foreigner you would dress more modestly, but they don't expect you to cover your head.

But the story tried to make it sounds like she was making some sort of political statement.

I've never heard anyone accuse Saudi of being liberal.

Also, it's hard to visit the country in the first place.

Women aren't allowed to drive in SA. 

Do you remember Qumar in West Wing?  It's a amalgamation of Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

[Deleted]

Jan 28, 2015 9:40:49 GMT -5 mack said:

What country am I thinking of then? UAE?

Yes.

Also Jordan and Turkey.

[mack]

Jan 28, 2015 9:47:43 GMT -5 @marlasinger said:

Jan 28, 2015 9:37:37 GMT -5 @pobrecita said:

I've never heard anyone accuse Saudi of being liberal.

Also, it's hard to visit the country in the first place.

Women aren't allowed to drive in SA. 

Do you remember Qumar in West Wing?  It's a amalgamation of Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

No, I didn't watch that show. I think I was thinking of UAE. My friend was deployed there and they could go out all the time, wearing whatever.

[mack]

But if the Saudis don't care, why should we?

[mack]

Jan 28, 2015 9:49:02 GMT -5 unheardof said:

I think the backlash would be worse if she did. Not because it should be, but people are cray cray and already hatin'.

I am sure she would have been accused of capitulating to sexism or something.

[mack]

Well, now I am remembering reading a biography about women in Saudi Arabia being locked up for years or being drowned in their pool for dishonoring their family. So yeah, I was wrong.

[bidetsabotage]

Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton didn't wear headscarves when they visited and now it's a big deal? If she wore it, the Wa Po would be calling them secret Muslims again.

[leroybrown]

Jan 28, 2015 9:22:09 GMT -5 @carbenatar said:

So what I got from that article is that exceptions are made for foreigners and she took a picture standing with the Saudi King. If he didn't freak out, then I'm thinking this is NBD.

Guaranfuckintee it's a big deal since Mrs. Obama did it. Fox news will be talking about it all day.

[Deleted]

Jan 28, 2015 9:50:29 GMT -5 mack said:

Jan 28, 2015 9:49:02 GMT -5 unheardof said:

I think the backlash would be worse if she did. Not because it should be, but people are cray cray and already hatin'.

I am sure she would have been accused of capitulating to sexism or something.

Or people going "see!! I told you she was one of those Muslims."

That being said, either way it's a non-issue for me.  Several foreign service people I know are very much feminists but chose to cover their heads there out of respect. To them, it was like covering their shoulders at an Orthodox wedding. They might not agree with the doctrine behind it but they are a guest there.

[mack]

Jan 28, 2015 9:56:15 GMT -5 @scoutnumbers said:

Jan 28, 2015 9:55:29 GMT -5 @pobrecita said:

Did they make a stink when she wore one in Indonesia? She was visiting a mosque, so it was definitely apropos. I just couldn't remember.

Yes. Yes they did.

But see that would have been disrespectful if she hadn't because that's a religious building.

[Deleted]

It seems Laura Bush did wear a hijab at one point on a visit to Saudi Arabia. She was strongly criticized by conservatives for doing so.

Basically, you just can't win.

[mymorningcoffee]

Jan 28, 2015 9:52:47 GMT -5 bidetsabotage said:

Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton didn't wear headscarves when they visited and now it's a big deal? If she wore it, the Wa Po would be calling them secret Muslims again.

This is exactly what I was thinking.

[dc2london]

Jan 28, 2015 9:28:45 GMT -5 mack said:

I thought it was a non issue because I thought that Saudi Arabia was more liberal as far as that was concerned. Like you were a foreigner you would dress more modestly, but they don't expect you to cover your head.

But the story tried to make it sounds like she was making some sort of political statement.

If it were anyone other than an Obama, this wouldn't even register on the radar. But Obama.