Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the Vatican

[Value Buy]

And the world is still standing without an international incident, unless you count Melania not physically throwing herself sexually at the Donald, and the Pope did not smile.
 European leaders at Brussels did not smile after he said pay your way to them.

All in all a very successful week for the President.

Now everyone can get back to the Russian conspiracy theories.

[zibazinski]

Because he's not a smooth practiced politician, he's bound to cause issue in situations that call for a false front instead of telling it like it is.

[Value Buy]

May 26, 2017 8:12:04 GMT -5 deminmaine said:

I'm not sure how you equate lack of failure or catastrophe with success.  He did act like a boorish oaf in Brussels, which may make some people happy. 

But yes, I am glad things went well in Saudi Arabia.  That one had a lot of people quite concerned.

I am equating it with the wailing that occurred with the liberals on this board in anticipation of thermal nuclear war being waged by the Donald, or massive ISIS attacks against us for his words and deeds.

[Opti]

May 26, 2017 9:22:58 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

May 26, 2017 8:12:04 GMT -5 deminmaine said:

I'm not sure how you equate lack of failure or catastrophe with success.  He did act like a boorish oaf in Brussels, which may make some people happy. 

But yes, I am glad things went well in Saudi Arabia.  That one had a lot of people quite concerned.

I am equating it with the wailing that occurred with the liberals on this board in anticipation of thermal nuclear war being waged by the Donald, or massive ISIS attacks against us for his words and deeds.

He didn't go anywhere unfriendly to the US yet. Which was wise. However, it did showcase how women are treated differently in all three places. Ivanka prayed separately at the wailing wall. And it appears Melania and Ivanka went with tradition in the Vatican with the black veils. Per another poster, they are no longer required and I think that set a bad example unless that was the intent.

[Value Buy]

May 26, 2017 9:38:39 GMT -5 Opti said:

May 26, 2017 9:22:58 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

I am equating it with the wailing that occurred with the liberals on this board in anticipation of thermal nuclear war being waged by the Donald, or massive ISIS attacks against us for his words and deeds.

He didn't go anywhere unfriendly to the US yet. Which was wise. However, it did showcase how women are treated differently in all three places. Ivanka prayed separately at the wailing wall. And it appears Melania and Ivanka went with tradition in the Vatican with the black veils. Per another poster, they are no longer required and I think that set a bad example unless that was the intent.

I thought it was still okay to dress in black while having a meeting with the Pope at the Vatican, but not necessarily required. When the Pope visits other countries with the Heads of state, then it is proper to dress according to your country's protocol without being offensive to the Church.

[Opti]

May 26, 2017 9:48:08 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

May 26, 2017 9:38:39 GMT -5 Opti said:

He didn't go anywhere unfriendly to the US yet. Which was wise. However, it did showcase how women are treated differently in all three places. Ivanka prayed separately at the wailing wall. And it appears Melania and Ivanka went with tradition in the Vatican with the black veils. Per another poster, they are no longer required and I think that set a bad example unless that was the intent.

I thought it was still okay to dress in black while having a meeting with the Pope at the Vatican, but not necessarily required. When the Pope visits other countries with the Heads of state, then it is proper to dress according to your country's protocol without being offensive to the Church.

After not wearing head scarves in Saudi Arabia and then wearing the Roman Catholic equivalent in the Vatican, it seemed like a tone deaf moment to me. The women IMO were obviously second class citizens in every country they went, and it was disappointing to see that in the Vatican.

The only saving grace really was that it was their choice to do so, not a requirement.

[Value Buy]

May 26, 2017 9:53:57 GMT -5 Opti said:

May 26, 2017 9:48:08 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

I thought it was still okay to dress in black while having a meeting with the Pope at the Vatican, but not necessarily required. When the Pope visits other countries with the Heads of state, then it is proper to dress according to your country's protocol without being offensive to the Church.

After not wearing head scarves in Saudi Arabia and then wearing the Roman Catholic equivalent in the Vatican, it seemed like a tone deaf moment to me. The women IMO were obviously second class citizens in every country they went, and it was disappointing to see that in the Vatican.

The only saving grace really was that it was their choice to do so, not a requirement.

I have a different perspective.
Saudi Arabia, they made the statement we are who we are to the Saudis.
The Vatican, I think it was more of a play to not upset practicing Catholics in the states and show the utmost respect. Call both moves a political thing for the people back home if you want.
I am not sure, was Melania, raised Catholic?  She may have felt it was proper, and Ivanka could not go without it, under the circumstances.

[Gardening Grandma]

May 26, 2017 9:38:39 GMT -5 Opti said:

May 26, 2017 9:22:58 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

I am equating it with the wailing that occurred with the liberals on this board in anticipation of thermal nuclear war being waged by the Donald, or massive ISIS attacks against us for his words and deeds.

He didn't go anywhere unfriendly to the US yet. Which was wise. However, it did showcase how women are treated differently in all three places. Ivanka prayed separately at the wailing wall. And it appears Melania and Ivanka went with tradition in the Vatican with the black veils. Per another poster, they are no longer required and I think that set a bad example unless that was the intent.

I could care less about whether the women covered their hair in the Vatican or not.  When I travel, I observe the local customs when I visit a place of worship; church, temple or mosque.  I've covered my hair in all three.   


He didn't go anywhere unfriendly to the US yet

Exactly.  In Saudi Arabia, he sold billions of weapons to the Saudis, home of the 9/11 terrorists, and whose country still funds terrorism.  But they aren't on his travel ban....


At NATO he was boorish, shoving the PM of Montenegro aside to get out in front of the cameras.
In Germany he threatened to put a 35% tarriff 

On a brighter note, our former President still maintains high popularity abroad...

"Obama receives rock star welcome in Germany as he appears alongside Merkel and says 'we can't hide behind a wall'"

Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4541136/Obama-receives-rock-star-welcome-Germany.html#ixzz4iCJB3JWO

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany started Thursday in Berlin with the 44th president — the one she has called “dear Barack.” She spent the afternoon in Brussels with the 45th, Donald J. Trump, whose election she greeted with a stern reminder to respect shared values like equality and freedom.

www.nytimes.com/2017/05/25/world/europe/obama-trump-merkel-germany.html?_r=0

[Opti]

I'm not happy with the veil thing, and it is true so far every pic of the Pope by that picture with a woman in it, she is wearing a veil. Yet in other areas with the Pope, it appears not to be required.

Here's a pic of someone else recently visiting the Pope, although she went with all white. (Princess Charlene of Monaco.)

[Tennesseer]

May 26, 2017 9:38:39 GMT -5 Opti said:

May 26, 2017 9:22:58 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

I am equating it with the wailing that occurred with the liberals on this board in anticipation of thermal nuclear war being waged by the Donald, or massive ISIS attacks against us for his words and deeds.

He didn't go anywhere unfriendly to the US yet. Which was wise. However, it did showcase how women are treated differently in all three places. Ivanka prayed separately at the wailing wall. And it appears Melania and Ivanka went with tradition in the Vatican with the black veils. Per another poster, they are no longer required and I think that set a bad example unless that was the intent.

Belgians were not too pleased with trump's visit. And unlike in Saudi Arabia where they are banned, public protests are legal in Belgium.

‘Not Welcome Here’: Thousands March Against Trump in Belgium

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Thousands of protesters took to the streets Wednesday to protest U.S. President Donald Trump's arrival in the city he previously likened to a "hellhole."

"If you don't want Trump in Belgium clap your hands," chanted some, while others opted for "hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go."

Marchers carried colorful flags and banners inscribed with slogans such as "Fight Donald Trump and his billionaire friends" and "stay out of our hole," a reference to an interview Trump gave last year in which he described Brussels as "like living in a hellhole right now."

According to capital police, 9,000 people attended the rally.

‘Not Welcome Here’: Thousands March Against Trump in Belgium

Saudi Arabia bans protest rallies

[Opti]

May 26, 2017 10:00:47 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

May 26, 2017 9:53:57 GMT -5 Opti said:

After not wearing head scarves in Saudi Arabia and then wearing the Roman Catholic equivalent in the Vatican, it seemed like a tone deaf moment to me. The women IMO were obviously second class citizens in every country they went, and it was disappointing to see that in the Vatican.

The only saving grace really was that it was their choice to do so, not a requirement.

I have a different perspective.
Saudi Arabia, they made the statement we are who we are to the Saudis.
The Vatican, I think it was more of a play to not upset practicing Catholics in the states and show the utmost respect. Call both moves a political thing for the people back home if you want.
I am not sure, was Melania, raised Catholic?  She may have felt it was proper, and Ivanka could not go without it, under the circumstances.

Not wearing head scarves wasn't much a statement in Saudi, because its been done before by multiple US women in politics. It was more a statement of how Trump flip flopped from his tweet two years ago if anything.

Perhaps the veils were to appease some Catholics here, I have no idea. Not Catholic and thankfully did not grow up being taught I had to wear a veil to church. In some of my research, it turns out from some female Catholics, it was expected. Melania looked very old country to me in spite of her dress which is Dolce and Gabbana.

Appears there are more Protestants than Catholics in America. I have a feeling I am not the only non Catholic a bit offended by this.

The Pew Research Center's Report of Global Christianity reports that in 2010 in the United States there were 160 million Protestants and 247 million Christians overall (including Protestants, Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, and others).

www.google.com/search?q=number+of+christians+that+are+protestant

[Tennesseer]

May 26, 2017 10:18:25 GMT -5 Opti said:

May 26, 2017 10:00:47 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

I have a different perspective.
Saudi Arabia, they made the statement we are who we are to the Saudis.
The Vatican, I think it was more of a play to not upset practicing Catholics in the states and show the utmost respect. Call both moves a political thing for the people back home if you want.
I am not sure, was Melania, raised Catholic?  She may have felt it was proper, and Ivanka could not go without it, under the circumstances.

Not wearing head scarves wasn't much a statement in Saudi, because its been done before by multiple US women in politics. It was more a statement of how Trump flip flopped from his tweet two years ago if anything.

Perhaps the veils were to appease some Catholics here, I have no idea. Not Catholic and thankfully did not grow up being taught I had to wear a veil to church. In some of my research, it turns out from some female Catholics, it was expected. Melania looked very old country to me in spite of her dress which is Dolce and Gabbana.

Appears there are more Protestants than Catholics in America. I have a feeling I am not the only non Catholic a bit offended by this.

The Pew Research Center's Report of Global Christianity reports that in 2010 in the United States there were 160 million Protestants and 247 million Christians overall (including Protestants, Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, and others).

www.google.com/search?q=number+of+christians+that+are+protestant

Although Protestantism is the largest religious group in the U.S., there are a number of different sects within Protestantism who do not all believe the same thing. If you break Christianity down in the U.S. by sect, Roman Catholicism is the largest sect by membership/identification.

Religion in the United States

[Opti]

I expected Roman Catholics to be the biggest sect. Its just nice to see they are a not a majority of US Christians nor are the Baptists.

[Opti]

BTW, I don't believe the person below given I found a pic disproving what she said. (Black being required).

Per Vatican protocol, women who have an audience with the Pope are required to wear long sleeves, formal black clothing, and a veil to cover the head," Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's communications director, told CNN.

www.refinery29.com/2017/05/155966/why-melania-trump-covered-her-head-vatican-not-in-saudi-Arabia

[Tennesseer]

May 26, 2017 10:37:54 GMT -5 Opti said:

I expected Roman Catholics to be the biggest sect. Its just nice to see they are a not a majority of US Christians nor are the Baptists.

In Europe, Roman Catholicism is the largest Christian sect and account for 48% of all Christians in the E.U. nations. Christianity is the largest religion in E.U. nations.

Not wearing scarves while holding a private audience with the pope may be offensive to more than just U.S. Catholics.
Religion in Europe

[Tennesseer]

May 26, 2017 10:43:13 GMT -5 Opti said:

BTW, I don't believe the person below given I found a pic disproving what she said. (Black being required).

Per Vatican protocol, women who have an audience with the Pope are required to wear long sleeves, formal black clothing, and a veil to cover the head," Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's communications director, told CNN.

www.refinery29.com/2017/05/155966/why-melania-trump-covered-her-head-vatican-not-in-saudi-Arabia

Says nothing of head coverings for women nor the color of their clothing.

Papal Audience & visiting the Vatican Dress Codes

[Opti]

May 26, 2017 10:49:23 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

May 26, 2017 10:43:13 GMT -5 Opti said:

BTW, I don't believe the person below given I found a pic disproving what she said. (Black being required).

Per Vatican protocol, women who have an audience with the Pope are required to wear long sleeves, formal black clothing, and a veil to cover the head," Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's communications director, told CNN.

www.refinery29.com/2017/05/155966/why-melania-trump-covered-her-head-vatican-not-in-saudi-Arabia

Says nothing of head coverings for women nor the color of their clothing.

Papal Audience & visiting the Vatican Dress Codes

I know. I found that link shortly after I saw the Vatican pics. The private audience info must be on a need to know basis, and intentionally not on the website.

[Tennesseer]

Gardening Grandma - As a side note, I probably should have added this link to my posts regarding the protests inn Belgium and the banning of protests in Saudi Arabia. Not sure where the eighteen states' bills stand on this issues. That it was even entertained is worrisome.


Republican lawmakers introduce bills to curb protesting in at least 18 states

[Gardening Grandma]

May 26, 2017 11:09:59 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Gardening Grandma - As a side note, I probably should have added this link to my posts regarding the protests inn Belgium and the banning of protests in Saudi Arabia. Not sure where the eighteen states' bills stand on this issues. That it was even entertained is worrisome.


Republican lawmakers introduce bills to curb protesting in at least 18 states

That is disturbing.
I remember Bush's "Free Speech" zones....

[mmhmm]

May 26, 2017 10:00:47 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

May 26, 2017 9:53:57 GMT -5 Opti said:

After not wearing head scarves in Saudi Arabia and then wearing the Roman Catholic equivalent in the Vatican, it seemed like a tone deaf moment to me. The women IMO were obviously second class citizens in every country they went, and it was disappointing to see that in the Vatican.

The only saving grace really was that it was their choice to do so, not a requirement.

I have a different perspective.
Saudi Arabia, they made the statement we are who we are to the Saudis.
The Vatican, I think it was more of a play to not upset practicing Catholics in the states and show the utmost respect. Call both moves a political thing for the people back home if you want.
I am not sure, was Melania, raised Catholic?  She may have felt it was proper, and Ivanka could not go without it, under the circumstances.

Melania is Roman Catholic, VB. I imagine she wore the traditional color (black) and a veil for that reason. Ivanka probably did the same in order not to stand out. While it isn't required by this Pope people are certainly free to honor tradition if that's what they choose to do, IMO.

[billisonboard]

May 26, 2017 8:06:00 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

And the world is still standing without an international incident, ...

[steff]

Of course he was happy in Saudi Arabia, Ivanka got MILLIONS for her foundation.   Pay for play baby!   

[NastyWoman]

May 26, 2017 10:43:13 GMT -5 Opti said:

BTW, I don't believe the person below given I found a pic disproving what she said. (Black being required).

Per Vatican protocol, women who have an audience with the Pope are required to wear long sleeves, formal black clothing, and a veil to cover the head," Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's communications director, told CNN.

www.refinery29.com/2017/05/155966/why-melania-trump-covered-her-head-vatican-not-in-saudi-Arabia

Black dress and a veil are required dress code for a private audience with the pope although this pope reportedly has stated that he wants to relax this requirement.  Some members of European royalty traditionall wear all white (also according to dress code). I forgot which countries are part of this, but my guess would be those countries that have catholic royalty as opposed to most northern  European countries.

[Value Buy]

May 26, 2017 10:37:54 GMT -5 Opti said:

I expected Roman Catholics to be the biggest sect. Its just nice to see they are a not a majority of US Christians nor are the Baptists.

Why is it nice?
Quite frankly why would anyone care who the "majority group" of Christians are in the U.S.?

[Value Buy]

May 26, 2017 8:34:38 GMT -5 deminmaine said:

But he didn't tell it like it is. He makes it sound like NATO owes us money, which is untrue. The individual member states are not meeting their obligation to spend 2% of their GNP on defense.

They are also not paying their share of indirect costs of NATO