AHA, so here's the comparison or similarity with M (& H) after all!
Speculation about both marriages, though I personally think M & H are rather happy.
😁
WORD ASSOCIATION - 9th May 2026
Sign up to Gransnet Daily
Our free daily newsletter full of hot threads, competitions and discounts
Subscribe
“Staying true to my values”.
So says Michelle Obama as she announces she won’t be attending Donald Trump’s inauguration next Monday.
Personally I think there are expectations around her position as former FLOTUS. She ought to attend in my opinion. The voters have made their choice - sorry Michelle. It’s not ‘all about you’. See the bigger picture here. It’s a State occasion, you should be there. “Your truth”? Pah!
AHA, so here's the comparison or similarity with M (& H) after all!
Speculation about both marriages, though I personally think M & H are rather happy.
😁
Sago
Apparently their marriage is in trouble.
They haven’t been seen together in public since August.
If you delve deep enough you will read the speculation.
Show me a trouble-free marriage and I'll show you a doormat.
Two strong personalities are bound to clash.
Not racist at all. No comparisons with colour at all. That's what I thought FGT.
‘Their marriage is in trouble’ has been a constant refrain for years. Marriages or relationships in trouble remains an exciting story in some media outlets
I suppose you might infer she is doing what she wants but even that is speculation
True indeed Lathyrus. Guilty as charged.
However aren’t most of our posts (on various topics) speculation?
I don't think assumptions should be made about why Michelle Obama is not attending. The reason may have nothing to do with her dislike of Trump.
Well, the O/P said
~~~~~“Staying true to my values”.
So says Michelle Obama as she announces she won’t be attending Donald Trump’s inauguration next Monday.~~~
Clearly implies it's made with the announcement. and it does matter becuase she gave a simple "no" with no loaded associations to truth or Meghan or anyone else.
Apparently their marriage is in trouble.
They haven’t been seen together in public since August.
If you delve deep enough you will read the speculation.
But Michelle Obama has not said she is not attending because she is being ‘True to herself” or being her own person or because she is demonstrating female empowerment. I suppose you might infer she is doing what she wants but even that is speculation.
Because she has said nothing except that she will not be attending.
So to affix an irrelevant quote just because it popped into your mind is totally beyond my understanding. 🙄🤔 Unless it was for the reason I have previously stated,
I leave opinions on Meghan to those better informed than I am.
Parsley3
Thing is, Michelle Obama is not in the wrong.
And maybe Meghan isn’t either. 🤷♀️
This was the comment from escaped -
If you knew the Meghan connection well, you would see that it is all about female empowerment, being your own person, doing what you want to do beyond the realms of royal etiquette and restrictions. The parallel is obvious. Being true to yourself, presenting yourself in a way that shows your true inclinations. I could go on, but check out Meghan's admirable quotes on the subject
Thing is, Michelle Obama is not in the wrong.
Blimey! What a lot of posts my thread has generated! To be honest I was surprised to see it’s still running.
Not racist at all. No comparisons with colour at all. My quote from Michelle Obama I just happened to recall. No idea it was years ago either, it just stuck in my mind. Not an offence I’m sure!
escaped hits the nail on the head concerning my OP when she posted early this morning. (And others, thank you).
To be honest I can see the reasons why some (most?) of you consider its perfectly acceptable for Michelle Obama not to attend. However, my opinion is that I disagree.
And for those of you who pointed out to me that Melania (and Trump himself) didn’t attend Biden’s inauguration then I recall a few weeks ago when a poster who disagreed with me over something pointed out “two wrongs don’t make a right”. Well, quite.
Jane112
Maybe it's always been the way that former FLOTUS attends the inauguration but then it's always been the way that the new President isn't a convicted felon.
Quite.
And then add a quote on "true" which was from some years ago and deliberately conflate that with the present in order to ask a faux question....
Happy to be corrected about NP, though she's rarely been on my radar over here, certainly not to the degree of Michelle? I didn't say she wasn't "important", which she obviously is in America, I used "high profile" to suggest attracting much publicity. (Not influential, I admit might have been incorrect).
The title of the thread didn't imply racism at all to me. We are all different in how we see things, that's fine.
Lathyrus3 said: "I can see no other purpose than to tap into people’s dislike of Meghan Markles attitude and conflate it with Michelle Obama’s decision in order to pass on that dislike. However irrelevant."
I agree with this.
I can understand why posters struggle to see the connection between Michelle and Meghan when the obvious comparison is between Michelle and Melania. A former FLOTUS and a current FLOTUS who made up their own minds about what they would and wouldn't do. The OP picked the wrong comparison, hence the criticism. Michelle Obama is quite entitled to choose not to attend the inauguration of a man that she has no reason to admire.
Maybe it's always been the way that former FLOTUS attends the inauguration but then it's always been the way that the new President isn't a convicted felon.
Thank you Syracute
escaped
argymargy
My point is that White women don’t automatically get criticised for demonstrating these values and behaviours. Black women do.
Your point, in my opinion, was to pretty much call a poster a racist. If you'd said what you meant here first time round, it might have been less offensive rather than accusing FriedGreenTomatoes of something odious.
Syracute offers her perspective. That is good in this discussion.
Syracute mentions Nancy Pelosi alongside Michelle. Is Nancy black? No, she looks very white to me. We could start criticising her for not attending, but we don't because she isn't as high profile or as influential as Michelle. Nothing to do with colour.
I can also think of several white women who irrirate people because of their feminist views, and who often get criticised for demonstrating these strong values.
Emma Watson
Taylor Swift
Hillary Clinton
And more.
I am sorry but you are very wrong to say that Nancy Pelosi is not as important as Michelle Obama. Nancy has been actively involved in politics since the 80s and member of both the California house of representatives and further to the speaker of the house of representatives which is a very important role and almost as important as the President of the United States.
Therefore, you couldn’t be more wrong as Michelle was never a politician nor ever wants to be. Nancy not going is BIG ! I am not sure what part of a white, very important politician not going to Trumps inauguration isn’t important.
escaped
argymargy
Well I will say it, as no-one else seems to have done yet. The “Meghan Mark II” comment means “another uppity Black woman that we disapprove of”. I can’t be bothered to rehash all the incidents of racism against Meghan in the media but will just say shame on you!, FGT2.
Absolute b*ll%&ks!
Where in the world do you see racism screaming from the O/P?
If you knew the Meghan connection well, you would see that it is all about female empowerment, being your own person, doing what you want to do beyond the realms of royal etiquette and restrictions. The parallel is obvious. Being true to yourself, presenting yourself in a way that shows your true inclinations. I could go on, but check out Meghan'sadmirablequotes on the subject
Shame on you for dragging racism into this, and shame on those jumping on the bandwagon to agree!
Sorry, but the title of this thread surely does imply racist thought.
I, personally, find it so offensive! Glad others see it that way and are happy to say so here.
It would be helpful if you came back and explained FGT.
Maybe FGT2 could come back and explain some of the issues and language used in the original post. That should clarify the questions raised.
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join the discussion, watch threads and lots more.
Register now »Already registered? Log in with:
Gransnet »Get our top conversations, latest advice, fantastic competitions, and more, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter here.