If you've been reading MAGYAR-AMERICAN BLOGSPOT, then you know that my feeling is that even if we do not like President Trump, we should show respect for the office of the Presidency of the United States which he won (and Hilary Clinton lost) fair and square!
If you read the news at all, then you know that lately the criticisms and speculations about President Trump extend to his wife, First Lady Melania Trump. The fashions a woman in public life wears seem to always be up for discussion in the press, and in this case Melania was once a fashion model so it makes sense to me that she is expected to wear the perfect outfit for every occasion. I actually prefer a softer look on women overall, so I like her flared pants outfits and don't like those huge belts and pencil shirts, but OK, she seems to savvy about appearing modest while not actually hiding her figure, but she doesn't have to dress to please me. Now there is criticism of her face because she is not always smiling. Melania's face appears sad, bored, upset, tired, etc. I've looked at those pictures and I can't always be sure of this but so what?
As someone who has been at times bothered by people telling her to smile, I feel the need to defend Melania (and all women) who are expected to show approval and happiness with smiles on their faces all their waking hours, and perhaps while they sleep too.
There are cultural expectations of what we do with our faces. But we OWN our feelings and we OWN our faces. Society does not. Men do not. We are not all performers.
I think I have a bit more insight into why Melania isn't always smiling, and it has nothing to do with the state of her marriage, which believe it or not I think is exactly as they want it to be, which is all that matters really. (Who cares if they happen to not share a bed. I can tell you that many loving couples just wish they could afford separate bedrooms and beds.) You see, Melania is from a Slavic culture and the Slavs have always kept to a more serious (which is considered NATURAL) countenance. A serious state of mind is actually more respected in Slavic cultures than it is in the United States. Seriousness means intellectualism. It means a person is thinking. It also means compassion and respect for others in many situations. For instance, witnessing a speech is a historical moment that deserves that seriousness. It also means the person can be trusted.
"Smiley Smiley" types are considered to be a bit suspicious. I recall one woman who was a friend of mine who was like that. Oh everyone looooved her. She sure did screw me over in business!
"Smiley Smiley" types are sometimes thought to be in the serving, pleasing professions (like airline stewards, waitresses, hotel desk clerks, and people employed in tourism) or always trying to sell something (your new best friends who has such a deal for you!), which could even be their own selves, and a bit pathetic. Even they don't have to smile all the time in their private lives.
Consider this: If you need to submit paperwork for a passport of Visa ask and you'll learn smiling for your picture is not a good idea if you're going to Russia and many other countries because these countries do not like suspicious people.
I think Melania is beautiful but I know that Americans think Slavic women have a severe look. Some Slavic women including Donald Trumps first wife Ivanna, had cosmetic surgery in order to look a bit less severe. (And daughter Ivanka reportedly had her nose redone.) Trump has his "type" though. He thinks Slavic women are beautiful. And in recent years the Slavic fashion models have been in great demand. While modeling, a photographer may ask a woman to strike a pose and tell her what to do with her face. Then she gets paid.
Hungarians are not Slavs, but many have married with Slavs for generations, so that ethnically Hungarian women sometimes look more Slavic than those who have not.
Also take a look at Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain who seems in pictures to always be smiling as she both serves her Country and Promotes (Sells) the Royal Family as necessary to Great Britain and much of the world. If you have seen the rare serious look on her face you will know that her natural countenance in profile is more pensive. Her lips do not turn up at the corners when her mouth is at rest. Our First Lady is simply not the people pleaser people think she should be and owns herself more than some people like.
So let's move on to the IMPORTANT ISSUES of this Presidency, because believe me when I say that more people are upset about proposed budget cuts to social services that provide food, medical care, housing, and the like, than our First Lady's face!
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