Michelle Obama: The Perfect Role Model for Third World Women?

[SirJosephPorter]

These were your words and your thoughts.

EagleSmack, those were not may words and my thoughts. Well, my words, perhaps. But not my thoughts I was paraphrasing what CNN said.

So if you call me a racist and call CNN a racist, I can understand (I don’t agree with it, but I can see where you are coming from).

However, if you say CNN is not a racist, and I am one just for paraphrasing CNN, your position it totally untenable.

 

[VanIsle]

I am sure he means well and thinks what he is saying is just fine. But basically he judged her from her "dark as anyone" skin color as opposed to being a great First Lady. He said as a dark skin colored woman she is a role model to ALL poor dark skinned women as opposed to all women.

I guess the best test which would be is if he was to give a speech to the NAACP and read off exactly what he wrote...exactly... and see how it was received.

You are sure he means well are you. Well then why don't you take it for that. He does mean well. He is not making any attempt at insulting her. He is complimenting her and saying he believes this is a step in the right direction for all women of colour. You all see that. You simply choose to do the very best you can to insult his posts. You have been asked to knock it off in regard to Sir Joe and others. You guys are not debating. You are looking for a way to criticize Sir Joe in particular. Why can't you just stop. Enough already. This criticizm has simply moved from thread to thread. Yes he is a Liberal. Yes I am a Conservative. So What!!! Don't all of you have your political preferences? Let's have some healthy debating instead of all the insults you can think up for one person. Like a bunch of pack animals following each other. Keep it up. Soon you will have only yourselves to insult.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

IslandPacific, sometimes I do get the impression that EagleSmack argues just for the sake of arguing. When he says that CNN is not racist, but I am racist for reporting (and paraphrasing) what CNN said, one really has to wonder about his motivation.

But to his credit, he does not use obscenities or insulting language, so I don’t mind debating with him.

 

[YukonJack]

In every single aspect Condolleezza Rice trumps Michelle Obama. Including the fact that Dr. Rice held the posts of Security Advisor and Secretary of State on her own merit, rather than on the coattails of her husband.

If third world women look for inspiration from an American lady of African heritage, Dr. Rice would be a far more solid role model for them.

 

[VanIsle]

In every single aspect Condolleezza Rice trumps Michelle Obama. Including the fact that Dr. Rice held the posts of Security Advisor and Secretary of State on her own merit, rather than on the coattails of her husband.

If third world women look for inspiration from an American lady of African heritage, Dr. Rice would be a far more solid role model for them.

Why can't they both be good role models?

 

[SirJosephPorter]

In every single aspect Condolleezza Rice trumps Michelle Obama. Including the fact that Dr. Rice held the posts of Security Advisor and Secretary of State on her own merit, rather than on the coattails of her husband.

If third world women look for inspiration from an American lady of African heritage, Dr. Rice would be a far more solid role model for them.

You may have something there, Yukon. I think Rice is a remarkable woman. In fact, if you recall, Democrats were most muted in their criticism of Rice. They were savage in criticizing Bush, Darth Vader and Rumsfeld.

The problem was that Rice did not have high visibility, not all over the world. Michelle being first lady, has almost as much exposure as Barack himself. So Rice’s achievements, though considerable, went largely unnoticed by the third world. Not so with Michelle.

 

[YukonJack]

Dr. Rice was time and time again referred to by the press and liberals/Democrats (sorry, redundancy) in the most uncomplimentary, racist terms. They were not a bit less savage attacking her than those others mentioned. Cartoons, cruelly and tastlessly exaggerating the gap in her front teeth were almost a daily occurence.

And as a Secretary of State she travelled to virtually every single country on Earth, so she was definitely not an unknown.

Alas, she is a conservative, and as such she will always be called a "house n----r', always be reviled by the ever so tolerant and loving liberals.

 

[captain morgan]

... The wisdom of politicians eh?

Ironic (and quite sickening to be honest) in that these same fools use words like integrity and honesty in describing themselves and their posts.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

Dr. Rice was time and time again referred to by the press and liberals/Democrats (sorry, redundancy) in the most uncomplimentary, racist terms.

Any public figure is criticized; there is nothing new about that. Indeed, in the first 100 days conservatives have called Obama much nastier things that Democrats ever called Bush (Fascist, Nazi, communist, Hitler, Stalin etc.). Also, most of his cabinet has been subject to nasty criticism by the right and the far right.

However, it is a fact that Rice (and Collin Powell for that matter) was criticized a lot less than Bush or some of the others.

As to her traveling to many countries, when a Secretary of State travels to a country, she mostly meets politicians and diplomats. She may be briefly in the news, but is soon forgotten after she leaves the country.

US president and his wife on the other hand, are in the news most of the time. As such, Michelle gets much more exposure than any other cabinet member (except the President, of course).

 

[ironsides]

SirJosephPorter: Just for the record, I understand what you mean about Michelle Obama and agree with you.

 

[Curiosity]

SirJosephPorter

I like Obama's wife and family - and I think it is a great step forward in historical terms the age of race has finally entered the upper echelons of governance in the nation.

Without regard to how the Obama family success rests in terms of four years or eight years and whether the nation prospers or not isn't what I would like to point out here... but it does concern race and people of color.

Those who continually bring up the 'great divide' and monitor it regularly for publication are the people of color themselves.

Many other nations and nationalities are represented in the USA - Asian, Mexican, South American, Caribbean, Indian, European, and so on - we are truly a melting pot and it is changing with each year as the census numbers rise.

This is a great thing because our world is shrunken and many of our problems are ignorance of others in how they think and believe. There must be sharing, and understanding and of course acceptance if we are all to enjoy and prosper.

There are some who prefer the status quo - because it does weaken the opponent (or the perceived opponent) for whatever reasons exist in the mind of those who
carp on 'race'. Personally I get tired of hearing the race card played and utilized over and over again by those who prosper from keeping separation alive and well... I mean Jackson, Sharpton and a couple of others who have made their wealth and careers on the backs of their brothers' dislike and suspicion of "the whites". It's over but they will not give it up. Not while there's more guilt to be used as a weapon for a payoff.

One of my closest friends has been my mentor since coming to the USA - she being a Black American - not African American (having never been there she states) but an American of Color - and Black. That is how she terms it.

She also says - "we will have arrived when we begin to identify ourselves as American without all that clutter keeping us in the dark ages!!"

Edit: American Black women are often the stronger of the two in a well suited couple - the backbone - the justice in the court of marriage - and the healer of
wounds. I would stay Michelle Obama is a typical American woman of color and I doubt very much if her husband ever "looks down on her" even in his present job.

 

[missile]

My secret hope is that all young Blacks start to imitate the Obamas in dress and speech and that Rap Music dies a quick death.

 

[darkbeaver]

You are sure he means well are you. Well then why don't you take it for that. He does mean well. He is not making any attempt at insulting her. He is complimenting her and saying he believes this is a step in the right direction for all women of colour. You all see that. You simply choose to do the very best you can to insult his posts. You have been asked to knock it off in regard to Sir Joe and others. You guys are not debating. You are looking for a way to criticize Sir Joe in particular. Why can't you just stop. Enough already. This criticizm has simply moved from thread to thread. Yes he is a Liberal. Yes I am a Conservative. So What!!! Don't all of you have your political preferences? Let's have some healthy debating instead of all the insults you can think up for one person. Like a bunch of pack animals following each other. Keep it up. Soon you will have only yourselves to insult.

"'a step in the right direction for all women of colour."


This type of comment is patronizing at its worst. It is racism. If she were a good role model it would be for all women and men not just non whites. So many times a comment like this will be made and accepted without the slightest regard to the words. The sentence suggests that people of non colour would gain nothing from studying Michelle Obama and that whites could not be served by her example.
Except for illustration niether Obama offers a good role model for anyone but a thief and a liar. Barrack Obama is the bumper that softens the fall he is the front man for the collapse he will grease the skids into the camps and the missus will be at his elbow through every betrayal of the American citizen. They will proove conclusivly the equality of the races.

 

[L Gilbert]

Wife thinks she's a hottie. lol She likes other tall women. I hope no-one thinks my wife is a heightist, though. She also thinks the tiny Jolene Blalock is a hottie.

 

[VanIsle]

"'a step in the right direction for all women of colour."


This type of comment is patronizing at its worst. It is racism. If she were a good role model it would be for all women and men not just non whites. So many times a comment like this will be made and accepted without the slightest regard to the words. The sentence suggests that people of non colour would gain nothing from studying Michelle Obama and that whites could not be served by her example.
Except for illustration niether Obama offers a good role model for anyone but a thief and a liar. Barrack Obama is the bumper that softens the fall he is the front man for the collapse he will grease the skids into the camps and the missus will be at his elbow through every betrayal of the American citizen. They will proove conclusivly the equality of the races.

No it's not. Are we not taught that black and white are not colours! If they are not then I have included all women anyway. You know exactly what I mean yet you choose to nitpick. You have zeroed in on colour rather than the big picture that is saying it's time everyone recognized equality of races. All the nonsense talk about Afro Canadians/Americans and Indo-Canadians etc. etc. A reference to colour is nothing. Even so called white people are varying degrees of "white". How many white people do you know who run out daily for their fake and bake so they can darken up their skin to look more "healthy". We seem to want to emmulate people with darker skin so to a degree, for all of us, the grass is always greener.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

My secret hope is that all young Blacks start to imitate the Obamas in dress and speech and that Rap Music dies a quick death.

Missile, there is nothing wrong with rap music. The problem is what they say in the rap music. Music is not to blame, the words are to blame.

No kind of music is inherently good or bad. Thus, classical music has good reputation. When one thinks of classical music, one thinks of Beethoven, Wagner, Bach, the operas etc.

However, Mafia’s favorite music is opera music.

I am a great fan of Gilbert and Sullivan. There are a couple of songs in their operas which could easily pass for today’s rap.

So don’t badmouth rap music, rap music is not the problem, rap musicians are the problem, because of their message. The message would be equally unacceptable whether set to Jazz, country music or classical music.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

If she were a good role model it would be for all women and men not just non whites.

Perhaps, darkbeaver. However, non white women in third world would not have related to her if she were not dark skinned. Much as you may not like it, that is the reality of life.

Thus why do you think blacks voted almost 100% for Obama? It is not because he is black, he is not. Obama is only half black. Blacks voted for him overwhelmingly because he looks black.

If he had looked like his mother, had been almost white, I seriously doubt if 98% blacks would have voted for him. He would have got the usual 85 to 90% black vote, as any Democrat gets.

I think blacks voted almost unanimously for Obama because he looks black. Again, you may not like it, but that is the reality of life.

 

[L Gilbert]

Who gives a crap ... the thread's about Mrs. Obama being a role model, not about whatever shade her husband is or anyone else for that matter.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

How many white people do you know who run out daily for their fake and bake so they can darken up their skin to look more "healthy". We seem to want to emmulate people with darker skin so to a degree, for all of us, the grass is always greener.

Quite right, IslandPacific. Color of skin sometimes matters, whether we admit it or not. Thus, blacks support Obama because he looks black. Third world women relate to Michelle because she has dark skin.

This has nothing to do with racism. Likes tend to attract, that is the law of nature. Opposites attract only in magnets.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

I mean Jackson, Sharpton and a couple of others who have made their wealth and careers on the backs of their brothers' dislike and suspicion of "the whites".

Curiosity, don’t be so quick to blame Jackson and Sharpton. They grew up in an era when blacks were very much second class citizens. They had to be militant for their demands to be heard, they had to be rabble rousers.

That is how any movement begins. It is the militants, rabble rousers who mobilize the masses (Martin Luther King and Rosa Park were very much militants). As the movement matures, there isn’t any need of rabble rousers, and respectable, reputable people take their place.

Thus Jackson and Sharpton paved the way for Obama. Obama would never have been the president had it not been for the work done by Jacksons and Sharptons of the world.

However, the Jacksons and Sharptons of the world never achieve power, they are too divisive. It is the Obamas of the world who achieve power. But there wouldn’t have been an Obama without Jackson and Sharpton.