What Michelle Can Teach Us

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  • Posted By: V. Hope @ 11/05/2008 4:32:58 PM

    I had several women read this article, I will post each of their comments separately below is the second:

    I don't really know what to say about this article. I don't appreciate the author's advice to Michelle. She has never been mouthy or out of character, so where is this advice coming from? Is she referring to our stereo-type?

    And to be honest with you I am not offended nor do I look down on what is consider our stereo-type. (Loud, feisty..ect)
    No one ever talks about where these negative characteristics stem from. Yes we have rolled our heads and snapped our fingers and have come across feisty at times. But it is not and never has been an easy task to walk in a black woman's shoes. This behavior has been our defensive way of expression. And I can talk on that for days.

    So while I realize there are the family woman like Michelle and Clair Huxtable. There are also our flaws, in which I will not be ashamed of.
    Because it comes from somewhere and those woman are only struggling in there circumstances. However I commend Michelle for being a strong woman and overcoming these flaws.


  • Posted By: V. Hope @ 11/05/2008 4:21:03 PM

    I had several women read this article and I will post each of their comments separately, below is the first:

    I had many thoughts. The one that sticks out most is hatred, fear and racism will never be erased by Michelle. In this country (white America) has an opinion about blacks that will not change. This is one change
    that will not happen EVER! It will never die.

    These are the things that make them feel superior. But I the same breath I will say I am glad to be represented by her. People need to learn a thing or two about intelligent black women, positive black women. We really had no powerful public representative.
    Other than Oprah that whites pay attention to and think something of. Now we will and she will reside in the White House. Wow!!

    I hope this will make a change in our own black women positively, to see what we are capable of. I hope this raises the bar for young girls and women. These young mothers and fathers really need to be on their job about this historical victory with their children. A black child can now see himself as president Wow!

    V. Hope

  • Posted By: ApolloKnowsAll @ 11/05/2008 3:30:03 PM

    Seriously, now that Newsweek helped Obama get elected, will you please start acting like a news agency, do some reporting on the overseas donations, the millions of less than $25 untraceble debit card donations and hundreds of thousands of voters who are registered in multiple states?

    Real news, people.

  • Posted By: EileenDennis @ 11/05/2008 10:58:33 AM

    i am very excited to be part of the change. As an African American women who has been married for 30 years and now divored I can truly appreciate and applaud a couple that portrays a healthy "Family" with a great deal of pride, and my prayer is that communication between the both of them will not be broken. I believe that a three fold cord is not easily broken (God and the both of them). I am grateful for this day!

    Thank you

  • Posted By: s.hope @ 11/05/2008 5:05:23 AM

    its interesting to me that this writer does not look at the individual but at the color of her skin once again putting a divide between white and black.should you not be looking for a role model based on their charachter ?skin color should have nothing to do with it and by making it the main issue once again americans are not just equal citizens but seperated into white and black and ours and theirs.

  • Posted By: saidakomba@hotmail.com @ 11/05/2008 2:44:12 AM

    CONGRATULATUATIONS FOR OBAMA. MAY GOD HELP HIM TO RULE THE AMERICANS SUCCESSFULLY. AMEEN

  • Posted By: cynmac @ 11/04/2008 4:17:54 PM

    Michelle Obama is special. Very special. She brings simplicity,
    intelligence, eloquence , and warmth all rolled up into one. She is not JUST a wife but a loving mother, a verrrrrrrrrry pariotic person and a human being who brings much inspiraion. We would not have heard about Hillary Clinton had she not been married to Mr. Clinton...but then again, that's another story...And by the way, I'm not African-American.
    I'm a fair-skin hispanic whom people mistake me for an anglo--I WAS one of those kids who rode on those damn buses with black children (all of whom were my friends)to all white schools during the, what I call,the "desegregation ordeal", back in 1965. Americ ans need to get past the "color of skin" issue and vote for the Real Issues.


    • Posted By: florida christian @ 11/04/2008 5:11:01 PM

      You wonder, her being a loving mother, how can her husband vote for partial birth abortions three times?

      • Posted By: leepdx @ 11/04/2008 11:21:47 PM

        Statistically the partial birth abortion is so rare it is irrelavent. No one is pro abortion but you folks don't even entertain the notion that sex is natural and therefore birth control is a good thing. You are just as much to blame as anyone.

  • Posted By: happy camper @ 11/04/2008 4:19:15 PM

    You should visit NE N.C. if you want to see typical black females.... They are always lined up in grocery stores proudly using their "food stamp" cards and packin their carts to the hilt. What is with so many of you insisting on showing just how lazy you all are by wearing fuzzy bedroom shoes to the store??? Oh, and the flannel "sleep pants"!!!!!!!!!! Give me a break. When I take my children to school, we pass the same "folks" sitting on their front porches in the morning.... they are still sitting in the same spot 8 hours later. Wow, what a hard day's work, huh?????????? Oh, and the high school girls around these " here parts" love to have babies....the more babies, the more money they get every month.... Why don't you see if Michelle Obama would like to visit and see what her 'sistas do every day???

    • Posted By: leepdx @ 11/04/2008 11:19:11 PM

      Thank the rabid conservatives for fostering the notion that sex, birth control and abortions are bad.

  • Posted By: Kboogie @ 11/04/2008 3:20:04 PM

    JUST VOTED BABY!!!

    i'VE BEEN SINGING IT FOR MONTHS....THOSE WHO'VE BEEN AROUND HAVE BEEN SINGING IT W/ ME....

    "OH HAPPY DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!"

    LOL!!!!!!

    GOBAMA!!!!!!!

    • Posted By: happy camper @ 11/04/2008 4:58:33 PM

      "GOBAMA"!!!!!!!!!! Please humor me... This is for you and anyone else that would like to answer this: NAME ONE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT IS RUN BY BLACKS THAT EVERYBODY ISN'T STARVING TO DEATH??????????? Let's see how happy you are when we will be living like tribal blacks, starving to death....

      • Posted By: Kboogie @ 11/04/2008 11:18:50 PM

        Hahaha!! I can certainly name some countries, run by whites, that aren't doing to well either. America has become the 3rd superpower b/c of its current leadership. Time for a change, maybe??

        LOL!!!!!

  • Posted By: patsyaj @ 11/04/2008 5:12:56 PM

    So sorry Mrs Obama. You lost me when you stated you were finally proud to be an American. What the Hell were you before? Are an illegal? Did you personally row over her with a gun pointed at you to make you stay?
    People like you make me sick and I don't care what color your skin is or what your heritage is.
    You ARE a citizen of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, first and foremost, been that way since you were born here unless as i stated above you are not a true American.
    Be proud of your heritage, we all have that right, share it with friends and family, BUT IF haven't been proud to be an American as far as I am concerned you have no right to be first lady of the country. I put you at the bottom of the barrel. And I will be more than happy to see if we can set you up working in some country where your boss has an AK-47 strapped to his back. Think about that honey! I pray you and your husband could read this!

    • Posted By: leepdx @ 11/04/2008 11:15:38 PM

      The only people who know the exact words to say all the time are usually adept liars, America, get a grip on yourselves, it's one comment. I'm white and I've been disgusted by my politicians and the right wing for awhile now.

  • Posted By: Teen Mom @ 11/04/2008 4:56:06 PM

    American. American women, come in all colors.
    What will Obama do for me the black single woman? What the hell?
    The president should stand for all Americans, his old lady should do the same. (She can't she only likes her peeps.)
    As far as the lives of black women going unexamined. The typical black women in the area I live in never go unexamined, you can hear them threatening their children a block away. Not only loud but obnoxious.

    • Posted By: Kboogie @ 11/04/2008 11:13:48 PM

      Have you ever been to NE Philly?All you see are white chics towing strollers up and down the street.

  • Posted By: Kboogie @ 11/04/2008 10:58:01 PM

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

    He's rounding third base!!!!!!!!!!

    GOBAMA!!!!

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 11/04/2008 11:10:04 PM

      KB! Give me a hug, Obama just won the presidency! I'm crying with happiness! All you Obama supporters, I love you guys!

  • Posted By: capecowl @ 11/04/2008 5:27:30 PM

    This is exactly the opinion of Black People, what can they get out of a Black President and the First Lady. With Blacks it is never Country first but entitlement first. What can they do for me as an African American, so selfish. Lady, you are either African or American, you need to decide. I do not walk around saying I am an Irish American, I say I am an American.

    • Posted By: give_me_a_break @ 11/04/2008 6:11:17 PM

      Cape Cowl. Why don't you actually go out and try to get to know someone thats 'african american' and try experience and empathize with their experiences before spouting out an opinion based on ignorance? An open mind usually helps greatly before embarking on such an endeavor. All I've heard from you is narrow-minded bigoted comments. Its pretty obvious that you live in your own little world and only relate to a handful of people who look and act just like you. And its very obvious that you don't know about anything that you've commented on. Try not to form your opinion from the TV shows you obviously watch and try more to experience life out in the real world; where everyone doesn't necessarily look like you or believe the same things that you do but may be some of the nicest people you'll ever meet.

      • Posted By: capecowl @ 11/04/2008 7:29:52 PM

        I have gone out in the African American Communities, gave money, offered jobs and got beat up, spit on and robbed many times. You are not dealing with an uneducated man here, so while I value everyones opinon and I a respectful to our Constitution I could care less what you think of me, my opinion is firm and I stand with it. I know who I am, what I have accomplished and what i have gone through and my family who could not get welfare when we needed it desperately because of our skin color, so *** off. Obama is a very good looking and intelligent man. He is very well spoken and educated, however I do not agree with his policies and it will kill the country financially to pay for all the hand outs he will give, so in 4 years come back and tell me I was wrong, until then I am entitled to my opinion. Further, she is either African or American she needs to decide as i have stated.

        • Posted By: Kboogie @ 11/04/2008 11:08:13 PM

          She's an American of African descent. Just like you're an American of Irish descent. Does the terminology really upset you that much? Or, is it deeper? I can't see how an "educated" man, which you claim to be, could let such a small nuance anger you. Well, I hope you find peace.

          Good luck.

    • Posted By: jake341956 @ 11/04/2008 6:05:14 PM

      You're not an Irish-American, you're an idiot-american!

      • Posted By: capecowl @ 11/04/2008 7:30:19 PM

        And your a Dick Head!

  • Posted By: tipster127 @ 11/04/2008 7:37:54 PM

    Are Flag burners role models???I'm Lost...

    • Posted By: Kboogie @ 11/04/2008 10:58:34 PM

      Who burned the flag?

  • Posted By: Average-Jane @ 11/04/2008 5:45:08 PM

    Michelle Obama said: "this is the first time she has ever been REALLY proud of this country."

    Removing that one word changes the context entirely. So stop with the smears on this tangent, it's false. She spoke from the heart and she spoke well -- there is nothing wrong at all with what she REALLY said.

    • Posted By: Vypurr @ 11/04/2008 10:15:35 PM

      I'm glad Michelle Obama can finally, finally, be proud of her country... she'll have to wait to January 20th to do so, but at least she can finally be proud of her country now that she' s in the White House in sight!

      Good for that Michelle! I'm sure the people that died defending Europe would be glad to know that this is the first time she's proud of the USA! By the way, all you Obama supporters can omit the usual, "it was taken out of context" bs statement. Michelle Obama said what she said and meant what she meant.

  • Posted By: redbloodedamericangirl @ 11/04/2008 9:59:55 PM

    To sebr01stl: Strange comment, and amazingly uninformed. To correct: those making the highest income already pay a disproportionate share of income tax revenues; they are hardly getting a free ride. Plus, socialism is not the opposite of capitalism, such that we need some "socialism" as a check and balance against capitalism "run amok," whatever that means. Some regulation to keep the market honest is fine, but socialism is a different economic animal. Also, it was not capitalism itself, but, to a large extent, government intervention into the market system, that lead to the current economic crisis. In fact, it was Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (government sponsored enterprises) that were the leaders in making the bad loans, bundling them, and palming them off to investment banks to be sold as "mortgage backed securities." Coupled with actions by the Fed, misguided legislation by Congress, and the creation of what I like to call "vapor" securities, the real estate bubble (and burst) would likely not have occurred. Had profit-motivated banks been left to their own devices, few or none would have made these bad loans. Even now, government intervention is likely to lead to a worse economic crisis.
    And no, a graduated income tax has not always been in the U.S.; in fact, there was NO income tax until the 20th Century, and it was touch and go there for a while whether the Supreme Court would sanction it at all. (Also, there was very little federal regulation of businesses until the mid-20th century.) Moreover, the income tax does not tax wealth, but income; there are plenty of wealthy people who pay little or no income tax. And increases in tax revenue in the last few years came from corporate tax revenues, not personal income tax, so it is hard to argue that we could not provide for needed programs through a different taxation system. In fact, lowering taxes can increase revenues--there is no direct correlation between higher rates and higher tax revenues.
    I could point out more half-baked assertions here, but now that you know some facts, please recast your comment so that informed people can make sense of it. I think you do have a point, but it is hard to decipher.

  • Posted By: MICHELE S @ 11/04/2008 6:12:03 AM

    SHE CAN'T TEACH ME A DAMN THING.
    REMEMBER SHE IS JUST AN ANGRY BITTER BLACK WOMAN THAT HAS NEVER BEEN PROUD OF HER COUNTRY.
    REMEMBER THAT WHEN HER AND HUSSEIN DESTROY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 11/04/2008 7:05:07 AM

      You look pretty angry to me. Bitter much?

      • Posted By: Kboogie @ 11/04/2008 3:22:54 PM

        Hey P, let's do the dance, manana!!!!

        • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 11/04/2008 9:40:32 PM

          KB, I'll dance with you anytime!

      • Posted By: sjpersonal @ 11/04/2008 12:09:59 PM

        Hey P,

        Make sure that you are on the boards tomorrow, I cannot wait to read her and those like her reaction to an Obama presidency!

        • Posted By: Kboogie @ 11/04/2008 3:23:29 PM

          I heard that!! It's gonna get real nasty after 12midnight!!!!

        • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 11/04/2008 2:41:24 PM

          Hi Seej! I will be here for sure.. wouldn't miss our party for the world!

  • Posted By: dllydggr @ 11/03/2008 8:15:10 PM

    Oh please, please PLEASE - let us all find a way NOW to support the Obamas (if you care to do so) without making them representatives for an entire race of people! The exact reason Claire Huxtable is no longer around, by the way - the Huxtables were eventually punished because they could not be all things to all people. I understand that its tempting to want to do this but I am sure the last thing Michelle Obama needs is EXTRA pressure at this point. The Obamas are not going to 'inject their ethnicity' into any part of Barack's administration, and Michelle is not going to dress the girls in cornrows or afro-puffs - and this is all exactly why they have made it as far as they have. If we keep a more realistic idea of exactly what it took for the Obamas to come this far (or maybe even to win the presidency) perhaps it'll be easier to support them without pressuring them. I apologize if this sounds unkind. Its just that this always seems to happen to us and the stakes are just too high to risk it this time.

    • Posted By: rogerhall @ 11/03/2008 8:28:19 PM

      I like your point, and their skin color already has nothing to do with my support.

      But seriously, why are so many people upset that this one black woman is proud of another one? Is it really so wrong to have this sort of pride? Does it *actually* preclude anyone else feeling the way they do?

      I don't think the author is arguing that no one else can support her but black women. However, given the images of black women on television (and specifically the images from the HBO show "True Blood" that she cites), isn't Michelle in fact a real life "better than Claire Huxtable"? Do we miss the fact that "Claire" is one of the most popular images of a black woman on TV in our lifetime?

      BTW ??? if you pay attention, you will see that almost no one named "Roger" in popular television is a respectable character. I???ve noticed because ... that is *my* name. You might not have noticed, and if not, it is probably because ... it is not *your* name.

      So if a new show starts up and the hero is named Roger, what must you think of me if I am a little bit excited about it? (BTW, that's rhetorical. I don't actually care what you must think of me! :)

      • Posted By: dllydggr @ 11/04/2008 8:57:41 PM

        That's kind of funny...I can only think of one tv character named Roger and you're right...he was a bad guy! To answer your comment...suppose there were many people like you out there, named 'Roger' and looking for stand-up Roger characters on tv. And then you got one. And at first you were just grateful to have gotten the one. But after awhile, you pay more attention to the one Roger character and realize he doesn't really ring true. He's too perfect. Or too serious. Or too righteous. Too something, too ANYTHING. You all start complaining to the network that about how 'unrealistic' the Roger character is. When the network refuses to change its (so far) winning formula, you and the other Rogers get frustrated and turn on the Roger character - you just can't relate to him, and eventually that makes you mad. It doesn't occur to you that you might see a fuller range of human behavior if only you had more than one Roger character to compare. Once the Roger character's star starts to fall, the networks yank him or the show. Now you and the other "Rogers" are back where you started, with no good Roger characters. You wish and you hope that a good, positive Roger character were on tv and the cycle starts all over again. This is basically the story of The Cosby Show and why it came to an end. And my point is just that support, even positive support, can easilyl morph into negative pressure if you're not careful.

    • Posted By: waittosee @ 11/03/2008 11:34:24 PM

      Always nice to see another Obama supporter "fanning" the flames again. This kind of comment is uncalled for and does nothing but reflect your own ignorance. If Michelle Obama is the kind of woman you say she is, I doubt she would approve of your rude comment.

  • Posted By: TaterTot @ 11/03/2008 9:14:43 AM

    "For the 1st time in my adult life, I am proud of my country". ROLE MODEL!!!!!! She is not

    • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 11/04/2008 8:37:16 PM

      America's image worldwide is nothing to be proud of. Obama is America's best hope.

  • Posted By: Concerned Canadian @ 11/03/2008 4:02:07 PM

    More and more disturbing stuff on Obama's past and his real intentions are just starting to surface.

    As I predicted over a year ago .... Obama is a big fraud and America is being duped !!

    • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 11/03/2008 4:21:22 PM

      You are the fraud. Canadians love Sen. Obama.

      • Posted By: drollins @ 11/03/2008 5:19:55 PM

        That's nice, Canada can have him, we sure don't want him or his wife.

        • Posted By: elizabethpaige @ 11/04/2008 8:24:36 PM

          Canadians are smart cookies. They are also the No. 1 exporter of crude oil to the USA. Next time you're at the pump, thank Canada. Canadians thank the USA for President Obama.

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