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Melania and equality

(361 Posts)
thatbags Thu 26-Jan-17 08:07:12

Certain pictures and 'stories' about Donald and Melania Trump are appearing repeatedly on Twitter. It's interesting to compare interpretations.

This one, where Donald gets out of the limo and goes up the steps to meet the Obamas while Melania gets out of the far side of the vehicle and walks up by herself has provoked a lot of discussion reaction.

The most common interpretation is that Donald is a boor/ungentlemanly for not waiting for Melania and walking up the steps with her. I suspect this is based on the premise that he's a boor anyway and, besides, people hate him.

Another interpretation is that he is more of a gender egalitarian than we think because he was behaving just as he would have done if Melania were a man.

The latter interpretation made me wonder if Theresa May 'waits for' Philip May in similar circumstances or whether he just 'follows' in due course?

MaizieD Sat 28-Jan-17 13:17:55

I don't give a stuff that Trump didn't help Melania out of the car, or introduce her to Obama before he shook hands with him. Neither of these actions are rude or unusual.

Thing thing that jars is that he couldn't wait a few seconds for her to come round the car and join him so they could walk up the steps together. It looks uncaring.

Of course, it's entirely possible that before the car stopped she'd said to him "Don't wait for me, dear, I'll be right behind you.." grin

MaizieD Sat 28-Jan-17 13:18:36

EEK! The thing...

Jalima Sat 28-Jan-17 13:26:05

MaizieD grin

I am wondering if DH is uncaring because he is quite likely to do this - perhaps I should write to an agony aunt and get some advice.
However, he is quite likely to stop halfway up the steps and shout - 'are you coming or not?'

MaizieD Sat 28-Jan-17 13:29:40

Jalima
Your DH is not subject to the scrutiny of several million people who already think he's an a***hole.

trisher Sat 28-Jan-17 13:50:42

Jalima if you can only criticise and not contribute to the discussion why bother? I have fully explained my post but you continue to pick on one aspect of it. It's a bit like saying I prefer this natural grey to that manufactured grey and you telling me I am saying it is blue. I am not really interested in either woman's looks and wait patiently for a comment about Melania's intelligence/compassion, but you are obviously not interested in character or any other aspect of the woman apart from two words you regard as criticism and I consider description. Try reading through the posts much worse things were said about Michelle Obama and you didn't make any comment. If you regard 'plastic' as being criticism it's in your head.

sunseeker Sat 28-Jan-17 14:21:26

I think the fact that Melania is said to speak several languages says much for her intelligence - as for her compassion, can we please give her a chance to get settled before we judge.

Rigby46 Sat 28-Jan-17 14:31:11

Does she really speak several languages? I don't think her English sounds particularly fluent or articulate. Her web page used to say she had a degree and that wasn't true and it was eventually taken down. In the video I posted I honestly think she sounds quite stupid - especially with those vile birther comments

Rigby46 Sat 28-Jan-17 14:35:44

Mair just seen you comment re MO - I think it's absolutely disgusting

sunseeker Sat 28-Jan-17 14:36:32

According to "The Week" which does not appear to be a Trump supporting site she speaks Slovene, English, French, Serbian and German. Just because someone has a strong accent doesn't make them stupid.

durhamjen Sat 28-Jan-17 14:37:05

She is fluent in five languages.

Trisher, it's like Chinese whispers, isn't it, the message gets twisted in the repeating of it.
Nothing against the Chinese, by the way. Why is it called Chinese whispers?

whitewave Sat 28-Jan-17 14:45:36

mair that comment was beyond disgraceful regarding Michele Obama. Whatever is your problem?

Rigby46 Sat 28-Jan-17 14:46:42

Her actual words, not her accent ( and poor grammar) are what make her sound stupid.

trisher Sat 28-Jan-17 14:47:38

No idea dj do you think it's something like a Chinese wall in legal speak?

I have read about her languages and comments seem to vary about her fluency etc. But I will say I admire her for this and having seen the Slovak and other Balkan languages and their alphabet it is an achievement to learn another language anyway.
But I still think Michelle is far ahead of her in all areas.

whitewave Sat 28-Jan-17 14:52:27

rigby except when she pinches others words like MO

sunseeker Sat 28-Jan-17 14:57:21

To be fair Michelle Obama attended both Princeton and Harvard Law School. Melania Trump dropped out of University of Ljubljana after one year so lets cut her some slack!

trisher Sat 28-Jan-17 15:04:39

But up until then sunseeker their backgrounds were fairly similar, so if she wished presumably Melania could have pursued an academic career. She obviously felt this was something lacking in her when she claimed to have a degree n architecture and design.

POGS Sat 28-Jan-17 15:07:42

Not standing up for Mair but are posters making a link between Mair saying 'Black Don't Crack' and racism?

Are posters aware the term Black don't Crack' has a history and it is not racist in it's meaning.

It is speaking of the fact people of a dark skin are given to having a good complexion so in some way is a compliment.

I don't like links willy nilly but this link might explain it better and there is plenty of reading material to substantiate this point.

www.africanvoiceonline.co.uk/scientists-discover-why-black-dont-crack/

"Black don't crack' . A phrase often used to explain the fact that many people of colour, often look much younger than they actually are. For a long time, people have wondered why celebrities like Halle Berry and Stacey Dash, have failed to age in the last twenty years. Until recently people assumed that it was the sun-protecting melanin in the skin of those with darker complexions, that keeps those with darker skin tones looking fresh well into mid-life, however a recent study has revealed that, in fact, more complex genetics are at play."

Not that I am remotely interested in either Michelle Obama nor Malania Trumps appearance other than to say I think they are both beautiful, elegant women.

sunseeker Sat 28-Jan-17 15:09:49

This phrase was used by a West Indian friend of mine when I complimented her on her smooth skin.

whitewave Sat 28-Jan-17 15:11:15

Context all is context

Ana Sat 28-Jan-17 15:15:03

What was wrong with the context in which Mair ussed it?

Rigby46 Sat 28-Jan-17 15:29:48

Yes - I accept I was too quick off the draw with my response. I suppose I just dislike comments that say blacks this, Irish that etc and put this in that category. i wouldn't use it myself though but that's my choice. But then I wouldn't be commenting on the appearance of either of the two women

sunseeker Sat 28-Jan-17 15:31:08

trisher just because someone doesn't pursue an academic career doesn't make them stupid. I would also venture to say that the university Melania attended wasn't on quite the same level as Princeton and Harvard. That is not to underplay the hard work that Michelle must have done, just that you can't judge someone merely on academic prowess.

Ana Sat 28-Jan-17 15:34:42

Can't wait until we move on to how much 'compassion' Melania has or might have...

Ana Sat 28-Jan-17 15:41:49

I see the itchy-finger brigade have done their worst again! You're lucky your post wasn't deleted as well, POGS!

POGS Sat 28-Jan-17 15:58:55

WW

'Context all is context'

I couldn't agree more. So let's look at what Mair wrote for 'context' .

Oh we can't because it has 'just' been deleted by GNHQ as it has 'suddenly been reported'. I had just copied the words Mair used to prove a point but can't now. angry

As for 'context', what is the 'context' when saying

"mair that comment was beyond disgraceful regarding Michele Obama. Whatever is your problem?"

"Mair just seen you comment re MO - I think it's absolutely disgusting"

Were you not making an assumption that Mair was being racist but I saw no intention of that in her post and I will stand by that. Then again I knew what the saying 'BDC' meant in context.