Michelle Obama's Shorts

I have been avoiding the news and reading only the Metro & Style portions of the paper. I can't stand the way our country builds people up and then systematically tries to destroy them. Even at the expense of ourselves. It's one thing when it's celebrities... but it's quite another when it's our president. Or his wife.

I really don't care which party you voted for or who you back but there does come a time when concern for your fellow man or woman should outweigh your need to win. When Obama was elected, our country was in the worst shape it has ever been in my lifetime. Even though it seems the news is trying to recreate history (as usual) and act like things were hunky dory until January of this year, I will not be lulled into believing crap. I know exactly how things were... ask my husband who lost his job of 100 years... or take a look at my stocks that went from $100 a share to $3.17.

I felt like maybe our country was going to come together for a change. While I did not have that Obama is the Messiah belief, I did feel like there was more good that could come out of the election than bad. The fact that he won by the popular vote seemed significant to me. Unlike the prior election. The fact that he is an extremely intelligent man seemed like a big plus. The fact that so many people of all walks of life seemed to understand that it was time for us to put our political, economic and racial differences aside and start to come together to make the future right for our children and their children seemed like a HUGE step in the right direction.

But ahhh, the RIGHT direction. Soon after the honeymoon wore off, we begin to hear murmuring from that direction. I thought, okay, I understand how it feels when your party doesn't win, been there, done that, more times than not, but surely we are beyond that right now. Surely EVERYONE knows how important it is that we provide the means for EVERYONE to live a dignified life, regardless of income. Surely everyone knows how important the environment is to our survival. Surely everyone knows how important health care is... for EVERYONE. How can we face ourselves in the mirror if we think "others" are expendable?

But now when I turn on the news or read the front page I see words like "death panel". WTF? Are you serious? And today, in the Style section, Michele Obama has let the public down by wearing shorts. I am not kidding. Seems as if on vacation to the Grand Canyon, Mrs. Obama dressed appropriate for the weather and wore shorts. And tennis shoes since she was hiking. First of all, this is NEWS? Secondly, what the hell would you wear? A tiara? Direct quote: "Ultimately, the first lady can't be- nor should she be- just like everyone else. Hers is a life of responsibilities and privileges. She gets the fancy jet. She has to dress for the ride.... It does American culture no favors if a first lady tries so hard to be average that she winds up looking common." Robin Givhan, for the Washington Post. Seriously.

OMG. This is outrageous. On so many levels that it is hard to even find a place to start. Like, to even stop sputtering and find words is difficult... believe it or not, this rendered me speechless. For a moment.

Personally, I want a president and first lady that GET it. If it's hot, and you are on vacation AND not at a state dinner entertaining the Queen, it shows a hell of a lot of common sense to wear shorts. And common sense, not lofty, out of touch ideas are what will ultimately save this planet. Not proper attire. In fact, proper attire is damn close to politics as usual. And we saw where that got us. Open your mind people! Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Like 107 degree in the shade calls for shorts, the shorter the better. And if you got the legs (or the brains) for it, flaunt it. Pretending will just give you heat rash.

Sheesh.