Any chance we can get a picture of your ass posted and start a forum on its social signifigance?

I couldn't bring myself to read the article. I 'd feel too guilty. Michelle Obama has conducted herself with dignity , why can't we?

Jackie was trim and perfect, an inoffensive figure who bucked the curviness of the '50s and put American femininity on the treacherous path of smaller-is-better.

...the author resorted to insulting another woman's body type to maker her point. As much as I don't care for Palin and McCain, and have no opinion of Jackie O, it's not as if they had any control over their frames or muscular distribution.

You should derive pleasure from celebrating a range of beauty, not by implying those dissimilar to you are inferior. We're not in junior high school anymore.

This article is yet another reason why I won't be renewing my Salon subscription.

of the time (long ago) when my (then) husband remarked that black women have great behinds. I said, "So do black men." And he said, "They do? And you NOTiced?"

I just read "-- dterrydraw

Again, you're missing it.

It's not about the ASS."

all I have to say in my defense is that I might have realized that so-arcane point if the article hadn't mentioned her ass....how many times?

It seems that I've gone through five degrees in literature and linguistics without being able to recognize a metaphor.

That said?....I'm a surprisingly successful and reasonably happy gay man who would still be somewhat surprised if someone from Salon decided to figure my "joy" (your phrase) in terms of my ass's still fitting into the jeans I wore in college.

Oh, whatever....it doesn't matter. Salon publishes articles about Michelle Obama's butt, and that's just a great thing, right?

Suffice it to say that I think it's patently disrespectful, and leave it at that. I'm old-fashioned that way.

sincerely,

David Terry

Really, Salon? Do you have that low an opinion of us?

This sort of tripe is pretty insulting.

not quite an obama worshipper myself, but i find bringing up michelle's rear for discussion inappropriate; not even hillary has ever been the target of such, er, lower level of analysis (and she is mistreated by the liberal media on a regular basis)...

It was. And I agree with the positive sentiments behind (pun intended) it. I just don't understand why self-confidence requires bringing others down a notch. I guess I'm just extra sensitive as a woman...our parts are always up for scrutiny.

Publicly focusing on one of Michelle's physical attributes (despite good intentions) could have a detrimental effect on the daughers' development.

I think the kids will be fine. As the children of brilliant parents, well cared for, they should have no problem processing this when the finally have to study the history of their parentage.

And I will go on record as saying that I think that the obsessions with Jackie's figure, clothing and actions while a political figure were incredibly damaging to feminism as a movement while she herself was not.

I'm about one more ridiculous article from canceling my subscription--and I have been a subscriber from the beginning of paid subscriptions.

To paraphrase Roger Ebert, a piece of writing isn't about what it's about, it's about how it's about it. This was joyous, celebratory, and funny. God forbid such attitudes would perish from Salon in the service of such self-serious offense by proxy.

And by that I mean, from what is known about the Obamas, what do you think their reaction to this would be? If you answered anything but "a good laugh", I submit you haven't been paying enough attention to their self-possession.

Here's another paraphrase -- as Rob Halford would say, I'm offended by your offendability.

I've never heard of this writer, so went to check out her site and saw this:

--As a journalist, Erin’s passion has always been injecting the personal in features, commentary, criticism and essays. One of her most-remembered pieces is “The Butt,” an essay for the LA Weekly that pondered the many social and psychological ramifications of having the pronounced backside typical of black women ( Erin was the body model for the photos that ran with the story. She thought she would go unrecognized; she did not).--

Erin's "passion" as a journalist is injecting herself [and clearly her butt] into features, commentary, criticism and essays? We don't call that journalism, we call it narcissism.

Check out the photos on her site:

http://www.erinaubrykaplan.net/photos.htm

Honestly, I think if Michelle read this butt piece, she would feel embarrassed *for* Aubry Kaplan, not embarrassed *by* her.

Can you imagine a male journalist plastering his web site with come-hither photos?

Aubry Kaplan seems like the kind of person who needs to be saved from herself. Joan Walsh let her down - bigtime.

That's OK. I just bought a two-year subscription.

Ms. Kaplan feels better about her own body because, finally, someone who looks like her will be residing in the White House.

Personally, I think that's worth talking about. Self-image is very important, and images are very powerful. Anyone who lives in a society like ours that is so dominated by images (just think about it) would be a fool not to realize that. So let's all listen to what Ms. Kaplan has to say.

I'm sorry that so many women (of all colors) feel unattractive because of their beautiful round booties. Listen, ladies, Sir Mix-A-Lot was not a prophet, but a poet, and he was just stating the obvious from time immemorial (despite the conflicted denials of polite society). If Michelle Obama's proud, self-possessed presence in the White House gives you more hope and more confidence in yourself, then I say that's terrific.

i'm amazed at the negative response to this article. as a white woman with a big butt, i thoroughly enjoyed this piece and read it with a big smile on my face.

i can relate to the author's joy that we now have a role model who has a body type that is not typically celebrated in the media and advertising. it's very validating.

maybe those of you who didn't grow up with a big booty can't get it, but to celebrate michelle's butt, and the arrival of such a butt in the white house, is just as uplifting as the fact that it's also the first black family in the white house.

i won't belabor this because i think kaplan already did a better job than i can of expressing this.

but one last stab: to think that a body type that has never exactly been celebrated as the standard of female beauty may now become fashionable is pretty exciting to those of us who have been covering up our booties with long jackets for decades.

i may even start wearing a bustle!