Meghan Mark II?

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.

Thank you Syracute

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.

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.

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.

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.

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....

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.

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.

Thing is, Michelle Obama is not in the wrong.

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

Parsley3

Thing is, Michelle Obama is not in the wrong.

And maybe Meghan isn’t either. 🤷‍♀️

I leave opinions on Meghan to those better informed than I am.

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,

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.

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.

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.

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?

‘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

Not racist at all. No comparisons with colour at all. That's what I thought FGT.

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.

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.
😁

I’m glad Barack at least realised it’s politics and nothing else (not personal) and that being civil costs nothing.

escaped

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.
😁

Show me a trouble-free marriage and I'll show you a doormat.

They are divorcing and Obama is dating Jenifer Anniston. Apparently.