Michelle Obama - yay or nay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When people peg someone as "an angry woman" while admitting that there is no reason for it that they can articulate, I am immediately suspicious. This is particularly true if followed by a characterization of "arrogant/narcissistic." Some examples, at least, or at least try to pinpoint a reason? Without anything to support your dislike, you just sound (a) misogynistic or (b) jealous or (c) intimidated. It is very difficult for some people to watch a strong, beautiful, successful, seemingly happily married woman without feeling bitter and a little hostile.

I have been only impressed with Michelle Obama -- specifically her obvious intelligence, her poise, and what seems to be a genuine and mutual affection and respect for her husband.

I am neither of the above. I don't doubt that she is an intelligent woman. I think she has a great life but she comes across as wanting more or that it isn't good enough. She has racial issues that she can't get past and to me, that is not a good thing in a first lady. I also feel that a little humility goes a long way to make you likeable. Personality is important, too.

I also feel that although Barrack has a ton of charm and is extremely well-spoken, he is letting a lot of the praise going his way go to his head. We don't need a president with a big head.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:Definite yay. I think she may be Barack's biggest asset. Rovian political strategy is to attack an opponent's strength and that is exactly why Michelle is catching so much heat. I'd bet almost none of the posters who believe she is angry can cite a specific example of her anger. They are simply conditioned by the messages that are being spread by those opposed to her husband.

I agree completely that much of the criticism leveled against her is rooted in sexism which makes it doubly ironic that Clinton supporters are often the biggest offenders. If there is one thing McCain must fear more than being put side by side with Barack, it must be Cindy being put side by side with Michelle.

Read her college thesis. She was angry - she may have her reasons, but when anger turns into prejudice, that is wrong.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

Read her college thesis. She was angry - she may have her reasons, but when anger turns into prejudice, that is wrong.

Since I haven't read it, could you summarize it for me? What about it is angry?

[Anonymous]

I think she has a great life but she comes across as wanting more or that it isn't good enough. She has racial issues that she can't get past and to me, that is not a good thing in a first lady. I also feel that a little humility goes a long way to make you likeable. Personality is important, too.

I also feel that although Barrack has a ton of charm and is extremely well-spoken, he is letting a lot of the praise going his way go to his head. We don't need a president with a big head.

This still sounds just a little prejudiced to me... and I don't certainly mean to insinuate that the PP is a racist or a sexist, but without specific instances or examples, I can't help but read that as a (perhaps unconscious) subtext in the prior post. Can you see how "she has a great life but she comes across as wanting more" and "she has racial issues" and she doesn't have "humility" just sounds a little too close to offensively suggesting that she should "know her place" and be happy with what's she's got instead of continuing to aspire, or daring to critique the status quo? Whether the subtext is that she should know her place as a woman or as an African-American, it does not sound like a genuine, worthwhile critique of a public figure.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely YAY. And honestly no one would be calling her angry or narcissistic or arrogant if she was 1) white; or 2) a man.

[Anonymous]

Here thesis is linked here:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8642.html

I personally don't find muck blatant anger in it, but rather perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely YAY. And honestly no one would be calling her angry or narcissistic or arrogant if she was 1) white; or 2) a man.

Many would argue that if she were a white man she would have very little about which to be angry.

[Anonymous]

Hillary supporter here, and a big Yay! from me for Michelle Obama. She's intelligent, strong, clearly loves him and has impeccable taste in how she presents herself visually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here thesis is linked here:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8642.html

I personally don't find muck blatant anger in it, but rather perspective.

Typo Queen here. The ironic part is that I'm an editor.

[Anonymous]

Her thesis focused on the racially insensitive practices at mostly white Princeton. Her writings, at least in my opinion, come across as being racially charged.

Per M.O. "Predominately white universities like Princeton are socially and academically designed to cater to the needs of the white students comprising the bulk of their enrollments."

"These experiences have made it apparent to me that the path I have chosen to follow by attending Princeton will likely lead to my further integration and/or assimilation into a White cultural and social structure that will only allow me to remain on the periphery of society; never becoming a full participant. This realization has presently, made my goals to actively utilize my resources to benefit the Black community more desirable."


"I hoped that these findings would help me conclude that despite the high degree of identification with whites as a result of the educational and occupational path that black Princeton alumni follow, the alumni would still maintain a certain level of identification with the black community. However, these findings do not support this possibility."

[Anonymous]

To those who call her racist, how do you explain that she married a man with a white mother (who was alive when they married).
Please do not confuse racism with anger.
Also, all college students have more energy, emotion, and passion that at any time in their lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Her thesis focused on the racially insensitive practices at mostly white Princeton. Her writings, at least in my opinion, come across as being racially charged.

Per M.O. "Predominately white universities like Princeton are socially and academically designed to cater to the needs of the white students comprising the bulk of their enrollments."

"These experiences have made it apparent to me that the path I have chosen to follow by attending Princeton will likely lead to my further integration and/or assimilation into a White cultural and social structure that will only allow me to remain on the periphery of society; never becoming a full participant. This realization has presently, made my goals to actively utilize my resources to benefit the Black community more desirable."


"I hoped that these findings would help me conclude that despite the high degree of identification with whites as a result of the educational and occupational path that black Princeton alumni follow, the alumni would still maintain a certain level of identification with the black community. However, these findings do not support this possibility."

I honestly don't see this as angry. And by the way, after 2 pages of posts, this is the first attempt to actually give an example of her anger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, all college students have more energy, emotion, and passion that at any time in their lives.

Oh, if all the posters were judged on their 21-year old behavior . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Her thesis focused on the racially insensitive practices at mostly white Princeton. Her writings, at least in my opinion, come across as being racially charged.

Per M.O. "Predominately white universities like Princeton are socially and academically designed to cater to the needs of the white students comprising the bulk of their enrollments."

"These experiences have made it apparent to me that the path I have chosen to follow by attending Princeton will likely lead to my further integration and/or assimilation into a White cultural and social structure that will only allow me to remain on the periphery of society; never becoming a full participant. This realization has presently, made my goals to actively utilize my resources to benefit the Black community more desirable."


"I hoped that these findings would help me conclude that despite the high degree of identification with whites as a result of the educational and occupational path that black Princeton alumni follow, the alumni would still maintain a certain level of identification with the black community. However, these findings do not support this possibility."

What about this is racist or angry? If you substitute her use of "white" and "black" with, I don't know - "business majors" and "science majors" is it really so "charged?" I think it's a fascinating topic and that she's probably accurate in her conclusions.

[Anonymous]

Yay. I think she kicks butt!