"It’s not just the far-right fringe" targeting Laura Bush over headscarf

[ProSense]

From The Carpetbagger Report:

<...>

It’s hard to believe how worked up some conservatives are over this — and just how far their rhetoric has gone today.

It’s not just the far-right fringe, either. The Weekly Standard, for example, is outraged: “I find the image from Saudi Arabia so disturbing. … That she would oblige her hosts by wearing a shmata on her head is a tacit endorsement of Islam’s subjugation of women.”

Perhaps the most striking example of the conservatives’ ire comes by way of Atlas Shrugs. (emphasis, and grammatical errors, in the original)

We are the king of the world. We are the best and the brightest. We are America goddammit. WTF are we bowing to Islam for? This ain’t PR no matter what Karen Hughes and Condirasha say. This is not not going to make the Islamic world hold hands and sing campfire tunes. Uh uh. This is submission and the worst message to send to Muslims.

Carolyn sent the pic and Schlussel link, shaken by it, with this note, ” This should be the photo that sinks the West. If the Bushes don’t get the proper advice, they will destroy this country before their 14 months are up. Today, the shuttle commander and the space station commander are both women. In Saudi Arabia the women cannot even go out of the house. (Or drive – Atlas)

This picture will say to the Arabs they are winning, and those women who would like to be free, will be very disheartened.Those who subscribe to Islamofascism will, of course, cheer.

Whose country is this, is the question. Is Bush the President shilling for the Saudis? What is Mrs. Bush doing there and in the UAE in the first place.That scarf and abayah has just insulted every single woman in the free world.

Well, on the one hand, I suppose the right deserves some credit for consistency. They were apoplectic when Pelosi wore a headscarf, and at least a fair number of these same folks are just as livid today. Score one for bipartisan disgust.

But on the other hand, their rage is terribly misguided. This need not be complicated — when U.S. officials, lawmakers, and diplomats travel overseas, they’re careful to honor local traditions. Male diplomats know not to show Muslims the bottoms of their shoes. They know not to eat with their left hand. They don’t give unwelcome backrubs to foreign heads of state (well, most of them know this). The First Lady’s trip was no different.

Laura Bush was a guest in Saudi Arabia, she was given a scarf as a gift, and she honored and respected the practices of her hosts, just as other women representing the Bush administration have done under similar circumstances.

Western civilization will survive. I promise.

It will not survive in small minds.

[Kurovski]

1. Edit.

Not a dupe...different source. Forgive me.

[redqueen]

2. I think those 24% who are so small-minded...

will just die off (albeit probably not quietly), while the rest of us move on.

[NewJeffCT]

4. are you kidding? they're breeding like rabbits

A lot of those fundie types have 10+ kids.

These people think long-term.

[redqueen]

6. Yeah...

but they can't guarantee that their kids will be as small-minded as they are.

There is reason for hope, I hope. :P

[aquart]

9. The only problem with that is the grandchildren syndrome.

As much as you might want to dominate and control your descendants, grandchildren get all upset when they find out about adult hypocrisy. You really can't count on all those descendants adhering to the founder's opinions.

[tsuki]

3. The Weekly Standard is the far-right fringe. n/t

[opihimoimoi]

10. Its Crystals Rag....fuck them PNACers/NeoCons...they make trouble on Purps...

[tsuki]

11. Financed by the AEI, the oldest of the anti-think tanks. nt

[opihimoimoi]

25. They supposed to THINK for ....for...., well, its not America...its for...THEMSELVES

The heart of the PNACers/NeoCons....they have fucked America for their own selfishness,,,heartless assholes they are...

[HockeyMom]

5. I am old enough to remember

having to cover my head before going into church. I went once with a friend to a Buddhist ceremony and had to take off my shoes before entering. What is the big deal about all this?

[Neecy]

8. it's odd, isn't it

If I remember correctly, Laura wore a scarf to meet the Pope. What's the difference? She's not Catholic, but did so out of respect.

I dislike her - a lot - but the wingnuts are really off the mark (again).

[ProSense]

20. Hypocrisy, exhibit A:

[tsuki]

12. Ah, the head doily or a kleenex and bobby pin will do.

:hi:

[aquart]

7. But they LOVE Laura.

Uh, about the shmata comment...It's Yiddish. It means rag. And if this remark came from a Jew (and not simply a New Yorker) well, we don't have the right to comment on the Muslim headscarf. Unless we're ready to stop our orthodox women from wearing wigs. Sorry, but that's a very sore issue around my family.

[NanceGreggs]

13. Laura did the correct and courteous thing.

I keep wondering where the RW outrage was when Cheney attended the Holocaust Remembrance ceremony in a hunting parka - while all of the other gentlemen were appropriately dressed in somber, dark-coloured suits?

[ProSense]

21. Hypocrisy, exhibit B:

[NanceGreggs]

22. He looks like he's waiting for the game to start ...

... and where's the kid with the popcorn cart, fer Christ's sake!?!

What a complete and utter asshole - er, I mean, THAT'S how you bring dignity back to the White House.

[SoCalDem]

14. Two words... Debbie Schlussel

:rofl:

[ljm2002]

15. It's truly funny...

...the minute I saw that picture yesterday, I knew there would be a hue and cry.

Hilarious!

[Poiuyt]

16. Well, at least Bush isn't kissing or walking hand-in-hand with Saudi princes

We don't want to adopt any of their customs

[gatorboy]

17. They can't be serious about just realizing Bush shills for the Saudis.

Someone send them the Bush holding hands pic STAT.

[Felinity]

18. Go ahead, hate me.

I'm no right winger, I assure you.

"Most Americans traveling the Middle East have little recourse but to don the black sheets, but the first lady certainly does. She can dress as she likes. Which is why I find the image (at right) from Saudi Arabia so disturbing. The first lady represents the American people, she is not a private citizen, and she certainly isn't acting as a private citizen in her tour of the Middle East. That she would oblige her hosts by wearing a shmata on her head is a tacit endorsement of Islam's subjugation of women. Do I expect a visitor to a synagogue to wear a yarmulke? Yes, though I wouldn't force them, and a yarmulke isn't a sign of subordination to another group of people, but to God. And also, radical Jews didn't attack this country, radical Saudi Muslims did. This isn't merely a question of being a polite guest.

And what will happen if Hillary wins the White House in 2008? Will she be expected to don the burqa on her trips to Saudi?”

I believe that there is a lot of truth to that statement. I come from the generation of the feminist movement in America, and my father was the first feminist I ever knew. Wrapping women up in black from head to toe is an insult to the sovereignty of women, and to their right to individuality in the world outside of their homes.





Besides, it makes her look fat!


Edit to add, yes I get the irony.



:evilgrin:

[CTyankee]

19. Will they object if she goes to meet the Pope and has to wear a black shmata?

No? I didn't think so. Hell, even Hillary Clinton wore a black head scarf when she and Bill met with the Pope...

[Stephanie]

23. She wore a mantilla to the Pope's funeral.

And she's not Catholic. :shrug:

[rockymountaindem]

24. Funny how they're all femininsts when they think it's a vehicle for confronting Islam

and the rest of the time they're whining about "feminazis" and trying to erode the right to choose.