Not The Image We Need
By streiff Posted in dhimmitude | Laura Bush | UAE | War — Comments (42) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Back in April I posted on Nancy Pelosi's slide into dhimmitude. As a constitutional officer of the United States she denied her own religious tradition and her status as a human being with equal rights regardless of her sex in order to assuage muslim sensibilities.
If anything I feel stronger about the utter wrongness of this episode today than I did then.
I feel no less strongly about First Lady Laura Bush's photo op in the United Arab Emirates, above, but for different reasons.
Read on.
Let me differentiate the two pictures for the particularly dense.
Nancy Pelosi's concession was, and remains, shameful and speaks to her weakness of character. She willingly went along in aping a particular Islamic practice when there were lots of alternatives available. Not the least of which was to say, "women in my country are the equal of men."
Laura Bush, on the other hand, agreed to a photo op, dressed as Nancy Pelosi could have been dressed in Syria, with several [this photo has been cropped] women as part of a breast cancer awareness function. There are several things to keep in mind. Wearing this burqa/chador/abaya is not mandatory in the UAE, it is voluntary. She was not photographed with women, like those in Saudi Arabia, who have no legal option but to dress in this way.
But voluntary or no, this type attire is not common in the Islamic world, rather it is associated with a very particular strain of Islam. The strain that flew airplanes into the WTC and the strain that ruled Afghanistan.
At a time when we are supposedly reaching out to "moderate" (presumably that means unarmed) factions in the muslim world it is hard to fathom the First Lady agreeing to be photographed with what looks like adherents of the most regressive and reactionary part of that religion when they were not representative of what UAE women look like.
Where I was raised the Confederate battle flag did not symbolize racism or the KKK. It symbolized our heritage and the war our ancestors fought in. No one made us sew it on our jackets or put the decal on our car window. It was voluntary. Do we think Laura Bush's public relations functionary would allow her to be photographed between a couple of guys festooned with the flag of the Army of Northern Virginia because it was part of our culture?
I think not.
If we are to prevail in the Long War we need to send clear and consistent messages not only against terrorism as a way of life but, being the slavering neo-con that I am, on democracy, the dignity of man, and the equality of man. Sadly, the First Lady had an opportunity to send that message by simply refusing to participate in a photo op that did not include women not wearing the abaya and she didn't.
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I went back and forth -- agreeing -- disagreeing -- not sure!
Thanks loads, guy! What? Do you think these forums are for expanding our thought, and making us think outside the box as far as critical thinking goes?
Hmmm, like Neil said, I'll have to think about that!
We're at war with those that resort to terrorism against us. There are millions of Muslims who are very conservative and wear this kind of dress but don't support Jihadists. If they want to cover up their women like they're ashamed of them, that's not my concern.
It is an awful picture though. It looks almost surreal.
I would submit that the Venn diagram showing "muslims that wear the abaya/chador/burqa voluntarily" and "muslims that support terrorism" are very, very similar.
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
reject that utterly. People should not be allowed to walk around ready to rob a bank, unless there is a blizzard going on.
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
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www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
www.race42008.com
www.hinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
"One man with courage makes a majority" - Andrew Jackson
this type of dress is symbolic of the concept of women as chattel and men as being incapable of suppressing the urge to sexually assault random women. [IMHO, we men should be as offended by what the abaya symbolizes as women but that is a different story]
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
The first lady and her taking this picture shows her strength to be WHO SHE IS. Even around women who allow them to be covered completely she shows an example of "other worlds". Worlds that the covered women know exist and probably envy. The first lady shows those other women what it's like to have self-respect, something the oppressed women know little about.
Good for her........
this shows that is fine. As I said in my story, I don't think people would look at her with two guys wearing Confederate flags and say, "look, Laura Bush is rejecting [whatever epithet you wish to associate with the Confederate flag] by being photographed with two guys wearing it."
We certainly didn't say that about Ronald Reagan's speech at Bitburg.
No.
We'd be saying, "what is heaven's name was her press officer thinking."
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
to add to the described context. As a missionary in the ME back on furlough, I can say you are correct in almost all of the details, and I would add one. We need to remember that we support, in many ways, a government which not only accepts this, but commands that women dress in this manner. Of course I'm talking about Saudi Arabia, the worst human rights violator in the entire region....including Iran! If we think this is bad, we may want to reconsider our message to the Monarch and his princes.
I prefer to reserve judgment. Although I find the photo a bit odd, I wasn't there. I don't know how it was arranged, I don't know who proposed it to Mrs. Bush; and I certainly don't know what Mrs. Bush's reaction was when the photo was suggested. What I do know is that Mrs. Bush is a wonderful, thoughtful woman; who tries very hard to represent our country with class, dignity, and humanity. And I think, before we go overreact to this photo, we need to know the context in which it was arranged. For instance, who were these two woman? Do we know? Until then, I reserve judgment.
can you come up with a circumstance under which this photo would be completely okay with you?
I can't.
Smaller versions of the uncropped photo are out there. The background that led to the photo op is to.
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
the photo is definitely regretable. However, the fact that it is being shown in the ME press might have some positive externalities.
I disagree that this is as bad as Pelosi, as Mrs. Bush is not submitting herself to the dress limitations.
What would be awesome would be a picture of Mrs. Bush driving a car in Saudi Arabia . . .
How about "Its a meeting between women of different cultures to discuss a disease that primarily affects women, without regard to their race or religion." Why does it have to be viewed through the prism of the long war?
endorses child marriage, polygamy, FGM, and women as chattel is important.
The fact that we are engaged in a shooting war on two continents with people who believe women should wear the abaya/burqa and these women are allegedly wearing it voluntarily is important.
I'm sure that the Nazis made all kinds of great medical breakthroughs at least after 1939 we weren't all that eager to be photographed with them.
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
isn't it netiquette to wait at least 3-4 response before invoking the Nazis?
And I didn't know we were in a shooting war with the UAE. When did that start?
Werhner von Braun for Nazi scientist breakthrough photo with US politicos. Been done. And hypothermia test data still widely used by the world.
It is only important up to the point that you or your mother or your sister is dying from breast cancer. Then everything you mentioned doesn't mean a lot to you personally. And cancer is personal. It is not political.
1. Learn to read.
2. No one said we were in a shooting war in the UAE. See point 1.
3. Show me a pre-1939 photo of Wernher von Braun. See point 1.
4. Hypothermia data is still widely used? Really. It is considered unethical to cite that data in US medical journals so I'd say "widely" is very arguable considering the volume of medical research we produce. From the AMA's "Principles of Medical Ethics":
Based on scientific and moral grounds, data obtained from cruel and inhumane experiments, such as data collected from the Nazi experiments and data collected from the Tuskegee Study, should virtually never be published or cited. In the extremely rare case when no other data exist and human lives would certainly be lost without the knowledge obtained from use of such data, publication or citation is permissible. In such a case, the disclosure should cite the specific reasons and clearly justify the necessity for citation.
If I follow your logic then there is no reason to object to buying organs from executed Chinese criminals. Kidney disease is personal, who needs ethics or principles.
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
Which is breast cancer will kill more people than the long war. It is more important to people than anything you have cited as "important" when it happens to them. Breast cancer will have an affect on more people world-wide than the war on terror ever will unless it is cured.
Laura Bush being pictured with women from other cultures is a great thing in the war on cancer. She's a smart lady. If she saw the benefit of being photographed with those women as being larger than a statement about cultural differences, I trust her to make that judgment. Why can't you?
Ten weeks, ten months, ten years from now, if you ask anyone to name the five most embarassing photos of any first lady, I will wager this will not make the list. Why? One, because I don't know that there are any really embarassing photos of a first lady, if you discount Bill and Hill dancing on the beach. And two, I don't think anyone will remember it. Hence, with all due respect to the reservations being expressed, isn't there anything else we can focus our angst on?
I go back and forth on this, but I think that if we want to win this war in the long run, it will not be at the barrel of a gun. I think respecting one's culture is probably a good move from a foreign relations perspective and we certainly need more of that today. However, if what you state is true about the dress being specifically linked to a terrorist organization, then I would have a different opinion on it. I would like to see some actual facts that back that up.
you mean other than knowing that the philosophy underpinning al Qaeda requires wearing the abaya?
Do you associate wearing this with moderate islam?
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
I actually do know some muslims that I would consider very moderate that I have seen in dress similar to what Laura is wearing. They reject al Qaeda and that fundamentalist ideology, however they do retain some of the traditions in dress. I'm by no means an expert on it, but Laura's dress does not seem to be that outlandish to me.
and the point of this blog, unless I've missed it entirely, was the two women in burlap sacks- not what Laura was wearing.
the issue isn't what Laura is wearing.
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
if you would like:
Time Magazine's Joe Klein asked U.S. Colonel Antonia why the Sunni insurgents are now joining American forces to fight al-Qaeda. "They said it was religious stuff," he said. "AQI demanded that the women wear abayas, no smoking and they preached an extreme version of Islam in the mosque.
And:
The situation of Iraqi women under Al Qaeda rule is very bad indeed. At first they were forced us to wear al-hejab with a black wide gound called Abaya. Jeans or any other trousers were forbidden. Women disobeying insurgents’ rules were executed.
All hockey players wear helmets, but not all people that wear helmets are hockey players...
if you really didn't WANT an answer, don't ask the question!
I guess I should have asked a couple of different questions: Were these women pictured with Laura Bush FORCED to wear this dress under islamic law or did they CHOOSE this dress based upon their religious traditions? Are these women that posed for this picture specifically linked to any terrorist organization threatening the US? Some more context is what I'm looking for. We tend to make too many assumptions based on sound bites and snippets of information that I think it's important to put things in context.
in the story. I thought the second photo made that point really clear. Either way it doesn't matter.
If the women were forced to wear the abaya, then the First Lady should not have appeared in a photo op that supported a repressive culture. If they did it voluntarily then one has an idea of which brand of islam they adhere to. Probably not "moderate."
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
if Laura was set up?
sadly, it was by the unintended consequences of her husband's administration:
Speaking before the U.N. General Assembly, the president called on world leaders to join him in a global "mission of liberation" against repressive governments and called for renewed efforts to enforce the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights...
"Americans are outraged by the situation in Burma, where a military junta has imposed a 19-year reign of fear," Bush said. The president also had sharp words for Iran, North Korea, Belarus, Syria, Zimbabwe and Sudan for having "brutal regimes" that "deny their people the fundamental rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration" of Human Rights." And he noted that the long "cruel" rule of an ailing Fidel Castro in Cuba "is nearing its end." "The Cuban people are ready for their freedom," Bush said. The president, however, omitted any reference to repressive regimes allied with his war on terrorism, including Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Russia and China.
I track the Saudi-backed expansion of extremist Wahhabi Islam
http://wahaudi.blogspot.com
I had a lit class with a girl from Saudi Arabia, she liked dressing like that even in the US because she thought she was taken much more seriously by men. She felt she was judged more by personality than looks. A point I would certainly conceed, knowing what went through my head meeting a girl at college.
I can assure you she was no terrorist. And the direct correlation you paint is nonsense. Laura Bush was photographed with Muslim women. So what? First of all, burqa != terrorist. Second, I didn't see the same reaction of photos of the Bush men with the Bin Laden family, even though they have a far stronger connection to terrorists than a random burqa wearing women. Especially ones wearing breast cancer awareness pins.
It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes.
As a matter of national law, all Saudi women must be accompanied by males outside of the Kingdom -- even that girl from the lit class -- whether or not she wanted or even need to be 'chaparoned'.
The Ministry of Higher Education is maintaining the practice of requiring Saudi female students nominated for foreign scholarships to obtain proof of kinship and support from their chaperones from Shariah courts before they are allowed to travel overseas. This document is required in the event a female student's father is no longer alive or unable to travel.
A number of female students, however, are worried that the kinship documents requirement might prevent them from taking advantage of the scholarship opportunities. The father's death or his inability to travel with her daughter has become a big problem, one student said. "I was denied a student visa by the US Embassy because it's my brother who's coming with me," she said. "I lost the opportunity."
I track the Saudi-backed expansion of extremist Wahhabi Islam
http://wahaudi.blogspot.com
one by one.
The Saudi chick you went to class with was an idiot.
No one said burqa (actually this is peculiar to Afghanistan, they are wearing abayas)= terrorist, except you. If you can't take the time to read, don't comment. That isn't a request. I don't intend to waste my time arguing with someone who didn't read the story.
There is a difference between clothing and your last name. Really.
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition." -- Rudyard Kipling
I will admit being somewhat vexed, but that is the nature of this discussion. Does the wearer determine ultimate symbolism? One might be able to suggest that is ultimately the case for both the Confederate flag (racist or proud Southerner) and abaya (fundamentalist victim, terrorist supporter or just conservative). Certainly, recent history shows this dress is used as an oppressive Muslim fundamentalist tool. But this dress style dates back to Mesopotamia, so I will leave some wiggle room it is not purely a philosophical religious statement. Nonetheless, given your history I bet you have been to Saudi Arabia and know first hand it is currently more of the former than latter.
So the real discussion becomes Mrs. Bush, who is probably one of the most decent people on this planet. Nancy Pelosi on the other hand, is not, which renders that comparison superfluous and unnecessary. Now I am not one to judge intent and therefore based on history pass Mrs. Bush’s photo as a poorly constructed attempt to show solidarity on an important women’s issue. After all, given how she has seen terrorism define her husband’s presidency, impact him emotionally and used by despotically rabid Democrats to attack him ad infinitum, I doubt she’s a big fan of their oppressive ideology.
Overall, I do get your point that it looks bad and will undoubtedly be misused well beyond the current representation. In following, there were other photos taken at this event; why is this the one splashed everywhere? Food for additional thought.
"Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori"
Contributor to The Minority Report
I need more context for this story. On first glance, I think, "what the hell?" After reading the posts, I'm left with more questions. Why these two women, dressed head-to-toe? The UAE is moderate and I was under the impression women, even Muslim women, were not required to wear the traditional garb. Given that, this photo-op could have sat Laura Bush with any number of women not wearing the burqa/abaya, who chose to wear more modern fashion. So, what is this photo-op being used for?
I give Laura credit for not wearing a headscarf. While she is the First Lady, she is not an elected official, unlike Nancy Pelosi. Mrs. Bush does not have the official capacity to make law. Yes, she does represent the United States, but as an ambassador of goodwill, not Speaker of the House (3rd in line for the presidency).
Lastly, I've questioned just how voluntary it is for women to "choose" to wear the burqa and other clothing. Volunteering is an act of free will. But, if women are fearing for their lives due to their actions, they cannot exercise free will.
R.J.
My wife is Saudi and I've lived over there for some time. You've painted such a broad brush that I'm too overwhelmed to try and explain all the intricacies. My wife doesn't cover herself here and doesn't cover her face when we are there (doesn't have to according to sharia). She doesn't necessarily agree with women who do it here, but would probably break your nose for calling someone who did an idiot.
Anyway, I disagree.
You wrote:
Where I was raised the Confederate battle flag did not symbolize racism or the KKK.
Beautiful. Maybe it didn't "symbolize racism or the KKK" to you or your neighbors, but it certainly did to victims of racism and the KKK. And it did to me -- the son of a racist mother from the South.
A single official photo could create such angst. Well, the Sox and Rockies go at it in three hours. Just in time.
I think that the First Lady did right.
Oh, and I would not object to her being photographed with two men with the Confederate Battleflag on their shirts or something either.
Just because the liberals are stupid and can't tell the difference between tolerance and approval doesn't mean that we should throw tolerance out the window.
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Let's nominate the Nash Equilibrium for President.