Melania and equality

Seems Michelle should hav had a lady in waiting at her side to receive it Gillybob.

This nit picking on the giving and receiving of a gift is rather sad

How long she has lived in America does make a difference in adjusting to customs

Ooh, Annie - pot/kettle!
(your post of 13.55 today)

It is rather sad Anniebach and I am glad neither of them had a minion in waiting, either to carry or to receive the gift.

I don't know about adjusting to customs. Is there a custom on giving and receiving gifts?

Do people honestly believe the first family does not have "minions" on hand to help them.

Not often we agree durhamjen but I am totally with you on that

Plenty (ordinary) people have minions too sunseeker, or so I am told. Apparently even some working class people have cleaners these days (although I do find that hard to believe).

The (serious) point I was making though, is that neither of them had a little woman on hand to hold/give/carry the gift for them.

I think this is a good thread and just goes to show that some people seem to have taken a dislike to Melania for no other reason than the fact that they dislike her husband and/or his politics.

I have just read in the DM that Mrs May will present President T with a "Quaich" which is apparently an ancient Scottish (whisky)sharing cup. She is gifting The first lady with a box of cakes and other sweet treats.

Firstly Mr T doesn't drink alcohol and is a bit of a germophobe(is there such a word?) and Mrs T only eats healthy food (Fruit and Vegetables).

We will definitely go to the bottom of the trade deal pile now won't we?

Although it is the thought that counts. just not much thought went into it

I think you’ve missed the point, dj. The OP and the second post by the OP-er are about interpretations of media reports about very very very public figures. Admittedly the thread has wandered a bit, as they are wont to do, but don't miss an opportunity to have a dig or I'd worry about you

I think a lot of thought went into it, gillybob. Somebody's 'avin' a larf!

A quaich is truly Scottish. So was Trump's mum. Quaichs have beauty, tradition and historic significance. Perfect gift.

No Ana, I thought the criticism of Michelle was unkind so just put forward what I saw as her side of the problem , she should have done the same as our dear queen my foot

And a quaich is the cup of friendship. When people don't 'get' really obvious stuff like this I begin to wonder of the obtuseness is deliberate.

if

As the Quaich is an ancient Scottish artifact it will no doubt be welcomed by the President. The "box of cakes and sweet treats" are products from Checkers. No doubt Melania will pass them on to her "minions" if she doesn't want them herself.

Who criticised Michelle, ab? Noticing someone having an awkward moment and being surprised by that, given her usual grace, is not criticism., it's noticing and being surprised. Are you saying one can't be surprised by something someone does whom one likes? and that one can't say so?

Typically the DM are trying to make a big deal out of what they (the media) think is a bad choice of gift. Silly Billy's.

What would they expect TM to gift them? A new ipad and a carefully chosen handbag?

I had never heard of a Quaich before today and think that a Scottish friendship cup is an excellent choice of gift.

If people are surprised by such a trivial thing as a woman accepting a gift and not having a lady in waiting standing by , in all honesty, that is sad thatbags ,

No, they were surprised at the fact that Michelle Obama, having been First Lady for eight years, didn't seem to know how to accept a gift graciously and it was quite awkward to watch.

Surely you didn't take Stansgran's joke about the queen's lady in waiting seriously...?

How long she has lived in America does make a difference in adjusting to customs
America is an amalgam of people from all over the world, that is why it has so many and varied customs.
I know people who left their countries generations ago but still carry out their social customs one of them being never going anywhere without bearing a gift (often food) - and if one is met on the 'front porch' so to speak, that is where one would hand it over.

Perhaps it was a nice box of

I always have my lady-in-waiting standing by to receive such gifts. Surely it is something everyone does?

The thread has come full circle. It began was begun with a comparison of interpretations of the same happening. Two recent posts have done that too. See how easy it is?

Am not sure about that Jalima but I will have my people call your people with the answer.

entertainment.ie/trending/news/Footage-surfaces-of-Melania-Trump-questioning-Barack-Obamas-place-of-birth-in-2011/389706.htm
Well I dislike MT because she supported her husband in the racist lies and slurs about the place of Obsma's birth.

People have complained about Melania being discussed as an adjunct to her husband.

To all intents and purposes that is all she is in the public domain. Presidents, who are expected to be men, are also expected to have wives who will act as hostess and be generally supportive of their husbands. Pretty or stylish is well regarded too. Some First Ladies – what a thoroughly silly expression that is – do rather more but that's not compulsory.