topic Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral in Community Spirit

No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

icyfroth — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:13:49 GMT

Barack Obama was in Riyadh on Tuesday to pay his respects to the late Saudi King Abdullah.

His visit, for which he cut short a much-hyped trip to India, underscores how important the U.S.-Saudi relationship remains to the American leadership.

On social media, however, much of the attention has focused on something else: His wife's attire.

As noted by the Associated Press, Michelle Obama did not wear a headscarf or veil Tuesday. In Saudi Arabia, that's unusual: The country is one of the few on Earth where women are expected to cover their heads, and most Saudi women wear niqabs.

Exceptions are made for foreigners, however, and Michelle — who did wear loose clothing that fully covered her arms — appears to have been one of them.

In photographs from the official events, other foreign female guests are also shown not wearing headscarves.

More than 1,500 tweets using the hashtag #ميشيل_أوباما_سفور (roughly, #Michelle_Obama_immodesty) were sent Tuesday, many of which criticized the first lady. Some users pointed out that on a recent trip to Indonesia, Michelle had worn a headscarf. Why not in Saudi Arabia?

Entire Article Here

I think that's disrespectful. Especially at a funeral.

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

vicr3000 — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:20:11 GMT

The world seems to be split on the issue.

I think she was sending a message and did it on purpose.

I think she should have worn some sort of head scarf, like the Queen did and

NOT rub their noses in it.

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

dskracing — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:20:35 GMT

Why is it disrespecful?...

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

vicr3000 — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:22:21 GMT

When in Rome, do what the Romans do ?

Follow the local custom ?

Be gracious to your guests by following how they do things.

It's not hard.

The thing is, the Obama's are so up themselves and think they are superior to everyone else.

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

daydream**believer — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:27:52 GMT

i dont think they should of been there "paying respects" to him at all

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

vicr3000 — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:31:31 GMT

They don't get a choice, it's called protocol.

You might not like them but as POTUS,

sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

icyfroth — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:32:51 GMT

@dskracing wrote:
Why is it disrespecful?...

Because Michelle Obama is the wife of the President of the most powerful nation on earth. She must know it's customary for women in Saudi Arabia to wear a headscarf

Yet she showed disdain for their customs and culture by choosing to ignore them.

Specially the Saudis are such good friends with the Americans and the West.

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:34:02 GMT

When in Rome, do what the Romans do ?

meh

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

dskracing — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:34:26 GMT

If exceptions are made for foreigners...then she is not being disrespectful...she is exercising her right not to wear a head covering

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

dskracing — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:36:16 GMT

Nup...I disagree

That is not a reason...she is a foreigner...her right not to wear a head covering

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

polksaladallie — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:37:52 GMT

At least they didn't suck face.

Or hold hands like kindy kids.

I bet Dubya was there crying into his hanky.

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

lionrose.7 — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:36:42 GMT

Damed in her own Country if she did and damn in theirs if she didn't

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

icyfroth — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:38:01 GMT

@dskracing wrote:
Nup...I disagree
That is not a reason...she is a foreigner...her right not to wear a head covering

Ok well you can disagree.

I still think it's disrepectful.

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

debra9275 — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:44:41 GMT

http://qz.com/335179/michelle-obamas-refusal-to-wear-a-head-scarf-in-saudi-arabia-is-not-a-revolutionary-act/

Many Westerners living in Saudi Arabia are not required to cover their hair. They are required to dress modestly — however, their hair can go completely uncovered. This contrasts strongly to women of Saudi, Pakistani, and other brown backgrounds, whose choices are regulated and controlled by the U.S. state sponsored royal family.

Her presence reaffirms what many women living in Saudi Arabia already knew; a Western woman can always walk around the cities of Saudi Arabia with more freedom than the locals.

apparently western women are not expected to cover up in Saudi Arabia

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

vicr3000 — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:44:56 GMT

@lionrose.7 wrote:
Damed in her own Country if she did and damn in theirs if she didn't

Why wouldn't you.

She is racist and a bigot.

And shows it far more than whites do.

Coloured !!! What a blow up over nothing.

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

debra9275 — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:48:18 GMT

yes a blow up over nothing...... as a western woman she was not expected to cover up, so she didn't... so what??

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:52:03 GMT

Or hold hands like kindy kids.

a lesson in culture for you:

In Arab culture, physical contact such as holding hands between people of the same sex is a sign of affection without any sexual connotation. It’s considered a sign of warmest affection and respect – a sign of solid friendship.

In fact, in Arab culture if a man chooses to not touch another in a greeting, it can be considered a sign of distance or rudeness. The same goes for women. Kissing cheeks, long handshakes, and holding hands are meant to reflect friendship, peace, and equality. When it comes to strangers, they do not kiss cheeks or hold hands. Of course, greetings then would be more formal, such as a quick handshake and nod of the head.

If you look back at Arab history, Arab culture has always been segregated, so it’s easy to see why emotions are easily expressed to the same sex. Unrelated men and women rarely have the chance to show affection toward each other.

However, as the times change, so do the customs. With increased modernization of thinking and living, segregation is decreasing in Middle Eastern countries such as Lebanon and Jordan where society has become less critical of mingling. In other countries such as Saudi Arabia where segregation is just as enforced as it was in the past, it is still common to see close interactions between the same sex.

Just recall the commotion the media made of King Abdullah Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia (at the time crown prince) holding hands with former President Bush in Texas. It was ongoing snickering at the time, making the headline on major news networks. People seem to find it funnier to laugh at things they don’t understand, rather than respect them. It was similar to the story of President Obama bowing to the King when he came to Saudi last year. Maybe these gestures are not necessary, but people need to remember the intention of courtesy and respect behind them.

https://echodepiction.wordpress.com/2010/03/14/why-do-arab-people-of-the-same-gender-hold-hands/

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

vicr3000 — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:52:11 GMT

I couldn't care and yes, it is over nothing.

I don't like them.

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

polksaladallie — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:58:17 GMT

Aw gee, another clever post. Wow! Just wow! Lost your SOH though.

I have visited such a country, and it was common for two men to hold hands for an hour or more of conversation. It was not an Arab country. So I knew before you knew.

Re: No Scarf For Michelle Obama At Saudi Funeral

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:58:27 GMT

@debra9275 wrote:
yes a blow up over nothing...... as a western woman she was not expected to cover up, so she didn't... so what??

hmmm...

margie abbott was heavily criticised on

this forum for the way she dressed while visiting

indonesia even though her shoulders

were covered and dress was below knees.