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Melania Trump: Guilty by Association
She was an immigrant to the United States, an independent woman who began her modeling career at five years old, and was a successful model who spoke five languages: Slovene, English, French, Serbian and German. She moved to the US in 1996, and became a permanent resident in 2001 and a US citizen in 2006.
Her name is Melania Trump. And the mainstream media has tried to make her life hell.
It’s hard enough to be the First Lady of the United States: that woman has to assume that she will often be in the spotlight. But when you are married to a president who is despised and criticized, you are a target for everything you say and do. It doesn’t matter if you are a woman, an immigrant, and independent—all qualities that the Left supposedly admires.
You must be destroyed.
Most recently, Melania Trump made a four-day trip to Africa. Most organizations skimmed over the countries she visited, the children she interacted with, the organizations she spoke with, and the goodwill she was spreading.
Instead of highlighting the positive potential outcomes of this trip, the media became obsessed with her clothing, particularly a pith helmet she wore. They labeled this hat a symbol of “colonialism” because it suited their agenda. When I checked on the origin of the pith helmet, however, this is what I found:
The pith helmet, also known as the safari helmet . . . is a lightweight cloth-covered helmet made of sholapith. Pith helmets were often worn by European travelers and explorers, in the varying climates found in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the tropics, but have also been used in many other contexts. They were routinely issued to European military personnel serving overseas in hot climates from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century.
After reading several paragraphs, I saw nothing relating to colonialism. The helmet, however, was placed distinctly in the foreground when there was a pull-away shot in her interview with ABC News.
From her interview with ABC, I saw a beautiful, independent and intelligent woman, who speaks of being true to herself. When asked the hardest part of her role as FLOTUS, she spoke of the lack of privacy and the media’s obsession with her clothes. In spite of the media’s efforts to characterize her as unhappy, she says she is happy and loves her role as First Lady.
Melania Trump is a charming and effective ambassador to the world. The Left is only hurting itself when it tries to annihilate her and garner hatred of her from the people. I wonder if people are envious of her poise, candor and beauty? I am proud to have her represent this country, and hope to see her in other parts of the world.
She is a fine example of an American citizen who loves this country, and a woman who has found her way in the world.
Published in Foreign Policy
I encourage you to watch at least the first 1:30 minutes of the video. It think it communicates a lot about her.
Many US letter carriers wear pith helmets.
OMG–Now the USPS has caved to the right!!
Suzy,
The left is now appearing more and more deranged. Melania has proved herself highly intelligent, supremely poised, and truly excellent in the ceremonial & highly symbolic role as the first lady. She is definitely an asset to Donald Trump and the country. When she is caught in a non-ceremonial situation her gentle and upbeat personality comes through. I don’t think that is an act but that she is a decent person.
The left/media is so desperate to discredit Trump that it would destroy this very excellent first lady to do it. Isn’t that what we’ve seen all along. They are glad to destroy the USA as long as they can take down Trump with it. The bad news for the left/media is that the American people are onto this nonsense and they know very well that the media is garbage. The real story will be told in November.
Regards,
Jim
FIFY.
Great post, Susan. Thank you.
Well, there is a reason for the expression “going postal”.
You didn’t? What do you think those European military personnel were doing? Oppressing native populations, that’s what!
Less insanely though, I’m not seeing what the point is from the POV of the people who are reporting this. Pith helmets are evil, anyone who is associated with President Trump is evil, obviously the two go together.
No kidding @bossmongo We’ve already had the “ecosexual” post. Some time ago, in fact (trigger warning: disturbing image).
PS: You’re correct. No one was surprised.
Aghgh! Brain bleach! Stat!
Thanks @bossmongo! I need you to edit my posts more often. Great job!
Thanks for getting that out of the way, @mattbalzer! I knew someone would point that out! ;-)
I so hope you’re right, Jim. I’m counting on it. All indications are in that direction.
I have seen a lot of women as first lady in my 80 years and she is by far the most qualified and the most elegant. Our last one made me gag.
I would love to know what the African media, especially in the countries she visited, is saying about her. I don’t know how to access that information, although I’ve tried. She visited Ghani, Malawi, Kenya and Egypt.
Susan, I like Melania a lot and despise the MSM’s treatment of her.
However, I think it’s a bit disingenuous of Melania to chide the press for asking about her clothing. After all, she’s an extremely beautiful woman who wears ultra-stylish clothing that calls attention to her.
Even I want to know about her clothing, and I have no interest in clothing. Anyone can hug a little African child for a photo op, but not many woman look like Melania. You might say that Melania, in some ways, is cursed with beauty.
The connection of her pith helmet to colonialism is just another silly attempt by the Trump haters to suggest that Trumpism is another name for white nationalism.
I want desperately to believe that everyday Americans now see through the MSM’s obvious biases.
I have a friend who lives in Kenya and newly married so will e-mail him and ask. Will get back to you.
It isn’t just asking about her clothing–it’s criticizing it. There was the criticism when she wore an all white outfit that the press said mimicked Hillary Clinton at one of the debates; there was the time she wore high heels onto a plane to visit a storm-ravaged area (and she changed into sneakers once on the plane). And the infamous jacket with the wording on the back. I agree with everything else you say! ;-)
Fabulous, @kayofmt! Thanks!
I had a topi when we lived in India for a little over two years. My brothers and I returned from India with British accents, much to the amusement of our third grade classmates. My first bat was a cricket bat, complete with wickets, and a cricket ball. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to shed my white privilege, as well my colonialist past, well not really.
Thought I had a photo of Dad in his pith helmet, but it’s the other guy who’s wearing one. I think I know who that is, but don’t want to misidentify him. So, yes, they were worn by Colonials. Because they’re a lightweight and efficient piece of headgear that allows for excellent ventilation, and which doesn’t muss up one’s hair too much (suspect that feature is more important to some than to others).
It’s ridiculous to fixate on the pith helmet. They’re worn all over the world, by members of several armed forces, including those of Thailand and Canada, (and perhaps even the United States on occasion), and by members of several professions that work outdoors and in the sun (someone’s already posted the photo of the USPS guy.
I have one that’s part of my beekeeping outfit.
I do notice in the above photo that Dad’s wearing socks. Are they a symbol of colonialism too? Most colonial officers wore them, IIRC.
The DJT quote about immigrants from s—show countries. Not about Africa or even African countries. I think he said “s—show”, since Kelly said he did not say “s—hole”. He was probably referring to Haiti and/or El Salvador.
I am interested to see how far this attention to Africa goes. While the MSM complains about any engagement with Africa as colonization, China is busy colonizing Africa. Any country with interesting minerals or willing to buy Chinese financed and built infrastructure is a target. The Belt and Road starts/ends in Africa. How will US and European countries respond? Africa has historically been a project of Europe. There there is the question of what “colonization” even means in 2018.
And yes, Melania has gotten very bad treatment from MSM, but she’s a big girl and seems to be a better person than those that need constant adoration from MSM.
Susan, I need for you to agree with everything I say.
What a racist organization! I’m using e-mail from now on . . .
My dad as a US Naval Officer had a tropical dress white uniform that consisted of white shorts and white knee length socks when we lived in India. I don’t have a photo of him wearing the shorts, but he’s wearing the short sleeve shirt in the photo.
Melania Trump: Class personified
Female Senate Democrats: Crass personified
Know what else I’ll guarantee all those pith helmet wearers were wearing? Belts. They all wore belts.
If you wear a belt, you’re a racist colonizing monster!
@kentforrester this if for you and Bob.
Obviously doing something wrong, can get it to embed.
Melania is a beautiful, strong and independent woman. Three things libs can’t/don’t understand. She’s not a victim and doesn’t plan on being one. These concepts make the libs heads explode like the aliens in Mars Attacks.
My recollection is that she seemed initially reluctant to step into the role of First Lady. Right after the election, it seemed that daughter Ivanka was preparing to undertake First Lady type duties. But, Melania Trump has certainly stepped up to the plate and been remarkably successful at it.