First of all, I'd like to say that I'm a big fan of Michelle Obama.
She's a great woman, and planting a vegetable garden sends a message I like (not to mention the fact that it's fun).
Having said that, could somebody please explain to me why "Michelle Obama's Vegetable Garden" made the headlines on the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF [link in German]) today?
What exactly is the news value for non-blog-reading-international-politics-craving Austrians? (Actually, what's the news value for blog-reading-international-politics-craving Austrians? I read about this yesterday.)
Why should we care about this? And what's next? More flag pins?
Edit: Just to let you know...it was Dijon mustard.
She's a great woman, and planting a vegetable garden sends a message I like (not to mention the fact that it's fun).
Having said that, could somebody please explain to me why "Michelle Obama's Vegetable Garden" made the headlines on the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF [link in German]) today?
What exactly is the news value for non-blog-reading-international-politics-craving Austrians? (Actually, what's the news value for blog-reading-international-politics-craving Austrians? I read about this yesterday.)
Why should we care about this? And what's next? More flag pins?
Edit: Just to let you know...it was Dijon mustard.
"She's a great woman, and planting a vegetable garden sends a message I like ..." and the message would be? I'm a good wife and I tend the garden? As the president's wife (not to mention intelligent elite-university graduate) she could use her time for something the community can benefit from... sending such messages is not exactly what I consider useful. She could employ a gardener (well, probably she does after the media has left) if the White House really needs a garden.
ReplyDeleteThe message I got was in two parts.
ReplyDeleteFirstly (and most importantly): I will do whatever I enjoy, no matter what anyone thinks, or who watches. That takes guts if you're in a situation where people critically examine your biceps.
And secondly, there seems to be a growing disconnect between food and where it comes from in the urban US (or in most urban areas, to be fair). There was a story last week about people who complained about a grocer putting vegetables on display in their street - they didn't want to have to look at stuff like that. I think it's important to have an idea where your food comes from, and what it takes to produce it.
Second point taken.
ReplyDeleteFirst point... I think you're wrong on this one. I don't think Michelle (I can call her Michelle, can I? Because I think her fabuous!) did it "no matter who watches or what anyone thinks" because she invited school kids to help her and got good media coverage with this action. She did it because she wanted to *show* something, not because she wanted to *do* something.
*agrees to disagree*
for me gardening is... well, an idle rich thingy.
...forgot the "l" in fabuluos :P
ReplyDelete