Frankly, I was shocked when I read Joan Ganz Cooney’s intro - I thought far better of her intelligence, overall. How quickly we forget the embarassing fauz pas Barbara Walters made interviewing Kdafhi when she told him she knew he was lying because he wasn’t looking her in the eye! Either Ms. Walters simply disregarded the culture into which she was going or the network assumed that she did! That was the talk of the town for a year!

It is about time that our nation reapected other people, and evidenced respect for all, because when it comes do life it is humans that lead the pack, and right now our nation is listing in the other direction when we let thousands die here without medical care, much less an opportunity to enroll in CMS, and the nation’s ‘leaders’ argue and fight over what is merely humane.

Most of you hit the mark on this, and kindly supported Secretary Clinton, but I cannot refrain from writing again that Cooney’s ignornace is shocking.

It is a sign of respect, not subservience. Men cover their heads in some cultures, as well. Somehow, Americans have difficulty understanding that bikinis, short sleeves, low cut dresses, and uncovered hair  are not acceptable in many places.

Of course, Mrs. Clinton would cover her  head and arms if she met the Pope; she is not required to wear a crucifix. Get over that careless and casual  American  point of view that everything we do is appropriate all over the world. It isn’t. 

As for the  remarks about covering one’s head, not only do Muslims do it, but other religions and cultures follow similar customs; covering one’s head is customary & respectful. Get a passport, leave your jeans &, sleeveless clothing behind, bring some skirts below the knees, and cover your shoulders, and visit  those many places; if you do, observe others, and try to  behave as they do, so perhaps we won’t be considered such awkward and rude  visitors. 

Hilary Clinton behaved appropriately and it was not a ruse to convince her hosts about anything. It demonstrates good manners! The diplomatic corps learns that before venturing abroad.

Really…I do not recall Laura Bush ever wearing a head scarf when she visited Afghanistan  on her missions to support women’s emancipation and freedom there but if any of you have a photo showing her wearing one, I will stand corrected.  Of course, Laura was pretty low key about those missions so maybe there wasn’t a photo op to be had.  Just like I do not think an American should curtsey to the Queen of England, I do not think an American woman should wear a head scarf to appease cultures which subjugate women.   I didn’t know that Michelle Obama wore black lace to meet the Pope…but as a pre-Vatican II Catholic I will tell you that there is no tradition in the Catholic religion that says women should wear black lace when meeting the Pope.   Or a scarf for that matter (although they did make us put some sort of hankie on our head for awhile…but that tradition ended in 1963 so…at least Michelle didn’t wear a J Crew Cardigan and I will give her credit for that). 

Whether you like Hllary or not (and I do not) she still is the Secretary of State of our country and should represent our values of equality of the sexes.  She is no longer a first lady.  Comparisons to Laura Bush and Michelle Obama are not relevant.    Hillary, as Secretary of State, is the manifestation of our country when she goes abroad as much as the President is.   Can you imagine the President of the United States BOWING to  another country’s leader?  That would be insane.  Our country was founded on priniciples of equality not the manners of the court of King George III or Louis the XVI!  

I remember the scorn the media dumped on Nancy Reagan when she curtsied to the Queen of England (and that was not a good thing for her to do) as some sort of royal sychophant.  Well, I would much prefer that Hillary curtsey to Elizabeth the II, who is at least on our side, than don sharia garb to appease our enemies.  

Oh..did Condoleeza Rice wear a head scarf when she met with leaders of Muslim states?    I don’t recall that she did.   But then…she was raised in a culture where she experienced the oppression muslims inflict on women .    Ask her about how when in the south we should do as the south does and ban blacks from lunch counters.