Michelle Obama Shines in Indonesia Mosque Visit

[Turborama]

By Agence France-Presse, Updated: 11/10/2010

US First Lady Michelle Obama was a picture of modest elegance as she visited Southeast Asia's biggest mosque with her husband on Wednesday.

Grand Imam Haji Mustafa Ali Yaqub showed the Obamas around the massive domed structure, which was still being built when a young Barack lived in the nearby suburb of Menteng as a child in the late 1960s.

He explained its history and architecture -- it was designed by a Christian -- and impressed Obama with the story of how the caretakers donate the mosque's parking lot to the neighbouring Catholic cathedral on Christmas day. "That's an example of the kind of cooperation" between religions in Jakarta, Obama told the following White House press pack, in keeping with his desire to uphold Indonesia as a model of religious tolerance.

Michelle wore a silky flowing chartreuse pant suit and beige head-covering adorned with gold beads and a black fringe. She also wore thin lace socks, having removed her shoes to enter the mosque.

From: http://news.malaysia.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4450079

Still waiting for photos. I'll give a prize to anyone who can find some...

[JTFrog]

1. Just one.

US President Barack Obama (R) and his wife Michelle Obama (L) talk to Indonesia Istiqlal Mosque Leader, Ali Mustafa Yacub

[Turborama]

2. Here's the prize ...

Thanks! I was just about to post some more when I saw your nice photo.

[JTFrog]

3. Yay!

(not enough coffee to make any links work this morning, lol)

[Turborama]

4. Photos...

[nofurylike]

5. K&R! that's great! thank you for posting this, Turborama!! nt

[lamp_shade]

6. Awwww..... Nice.

[BlueMTexpat]

7. Now watch the RW heads explode! LOL

About wearing the head covering (hijab) generally, I am not against it. After all, during the 50s, we Catholic females had to wear hats, scarves or otherwise cover our heads when we went to Mass. That only changed after Vatican II. And yes, any female non-Catholic friends who "visited" my church with me or who attended various events there would wear head coverings as well.

When I have attended ceremonies in conservative Jewish synagogues where I have been invited by friends, I have always been given a symbolic head covering and I have always worn it.

When I have visited mosques, I have always covered my head, and removed my shoes.

I am no longer a believer in any one religion, but I will respect the practices of those who do, no matter my personal opinion, so long as those practices are not harmful to anyone and so long as they also respect my freedom to believe - or not - as I wish.

If women choose to wear a hijab, I don't see it as a problem. In fact, some hijabs are quite attractive and I can think of many womean who might welcome one on a "bad hair" day. If woman do not choose to wear it, I do see a problem. I do have problems with veils and any garments that totally obscure identity. But my problems with those are security, not religion.

I am proud to have a President and First Lady who are not only comfortable in settings that are "alien" to most Americans who have never travelled outside the US, but who dominate those settings simply by their presence and demeanor. And Barack and Michelle do exactly that!

[tomm2thumbs]

8. she wore thin lace socks

if you look at a zoomed in pic of them, the President is wearing his Calvin Klein socks