Mrs. Bush's People Lied (Laura Bush dons Muslim headscarf)

Debbie Schlussel ^ | 10/25/2007 | Debbie Schlussel

[WWTD]

When I first wrote about First Lady Laura Bush's latest Breast Cancer Awareness Tour of the Extremist Islamic World (redundant), I noted that Mrs. Bush's PR team told the press that she would not, under any circumstances, don an Islamic headscarf or anything of the sort:

"They do not expect nor encourage it," of Western visitors at official meetings, said Bush's spokeswoman, Sally McDonough. "As members of the official traveling party, we will not need to wear any head scarves or abayas at any point."

I didn't buy it. And, as usual, my instincts were correct. This is Sheikha Laura, yesterday, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (thanks to reader "greatcometof1577").

[Valin]

OMG!

[samtheman]

I attacked the messenger because other posters in this thread already made quick and short work of Debbie the Dunce’s “message”.

Bottom line: it was a gift. Laura graciously donned the gift for a few minutes instead of being a total jerk to please Debbie the Dunce.

In response, Debbie the Dunce thought she’d get some good publicity by attacking a good person on trumped-up grounds.

Debbie. Dunce. Dunce. Debbie.

Forever those two words will be linked in my mind.

[farmer18th]

sometimes people just WANT to be offended or outraged so they can get attention, or whatever

The problem, of course, is balance. Debbie has a point in that breast cancer--compared to genital mutilation or honor killings--is something like crusading for better internet access in a country that doesn't have any fresh water. Fighting for representative government in the middle east and treating these Saudi thugs as though they were civilized is just hypocritical. If you chat with Stalin, you don't wear the hammer and sickle.

[WWTD]

We are supposedly engaged in a “war on terror”. This is a misnomer - it is actually a war against Muslim extremism. This symbolic gesture, by the wife of our president, is an act of submission. It was a very stupid act, period.

[ari-freedom]

it’s a gift that represents submission to islam

[Valin]

“I intend to pay much less attention to items from Ms. Schlussel in the future.”

I intend to pay exactly the same amount of attention.

[cajungirl]

I hope you aren’t planning a career in diplomacy.

Have you forgotten that until relatively recently Catholic women wore similar headgear in church,,matillas. And Brides wear Veils. And very sophisticated wmen wear hats with veils.

THis is silly if you ask me.

[Starwolf]

There is something to be said for respecting your host. Donning a gift as such is more than reasonable.

A while back my family visted the Jerusalem, and while visiting the churches they all dressed modestly to respect those there. Not a problem...though the 19yo did have a problem figuring out what modest dress meant in the local context.

[thackney]

Not the first time she covered her head in deference to the local culture.

[Haddit]

I almost bumped into a woman dressed like that the other day but she had a ninja type slit around her eyes. Why is it that our women are encouraged to dress like this when over there and they don’t dress like us when they are over here?

[txrangerette]

She isn’t covered up with it, is she? It was a minimal gesture of graciousness from a gracious lady. It wasn’t stupid. It wasn’t a sign she submitted to Islam.

How can it even be spun that way? She doesn’t submit to Islam in reality, does she? She’s the wife of the President of the United States, the “Great Satan”. She supports him and this nation in our war. She isn’t a Muslim and will never be. She campaigns for women’s betterment, health, welfare and rights around the world, although not as a radical feminist like Hillary.

There’s no way anyone but an abject, hopeless idiot could think that what she did proved she has submitted to Islam.

[WWTD]

There’s no way anyone but an abject, hopeless idiot could think that what she did proved she has submitted to Islam.

You can spin it and all you want, including ad hominem attacks, but submission is exactly what she did. Our enemies will certainly see it that way.

[Tribune7]

We are supposedly engaged in a “war on terror”. This is a misnomer - it is actually a war against Muslim extremism.

It really is a war on terror.

A whole, whole lot of Muslims are victims of terrorists.

A whole, whole lot of Muslims are our true allies.

[Fan of Fiat]

What if someone gave your wife a swastika or a hammer and sickle?

Eureka, I've found the MOAS... the Mother of All Strawmen.

[rbmillerjr]

Bottom line is she was tricked into wearing the scarf with the “gift”. I’m sure there were protocols discussed with advance people that the First Lady would not be wearing head scarfs.

...the muzzies likely ordered the women to give her this “gift”. Never trust those people - ever.

[Puddleglum]

Have you forgotten that until relatively recently Catholic women wore similar headgear in church,,matillas.

I remember - not to start a new thread, bit I am always impressed by how "the times" are allowed to change some bits of how we interpret the NT and not others.

Just mentioned because I was rereading Paul's epistle to the Corinthians and, well, each time I read I notice stuff I didn't notice previously.

[Archon of the East]

What if someone gave your wife a swastika or a hammer and sickle?

The Obama's would wear the hammer and sickle on their lapel.

[agere_contra]

Have you forgotten that until relatively recently Catholic women wore similar headgear in church

And if they didn't, we gave them a damn good thrashing, and then cut their breasts off.

Sorry (truly) for the harsh tone, but I hope you will admit the difference between voluntary and involuntary wearing of headgear

[silverleaf]

Debbie received (and continues to receive) death threats against herself and her family for critiquing the ROP.
I think she is entitled to a whine fest.

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2007/01/muslim_indicted.html

[Sender]

The proper thing to do would have been to have back-channel authorities inform the Saudis that no one in the party should be asked to put on a headscarf or be expected to do any action not normally done by a Christian. If the Saudis have a problem with that, don't go visiting them.

Honestly, the gift of the headscarf was probably just a gift between women, and they wanted to see what she would look like. This was not Laura Bush pandering to the muzzies.