By Staff
I'm not talking about the political kind.
They are one of the hottest summer trends, yet they threw everyone in a frenzy when about half of the Northwestern University women's lacrosse team wore flip-flops during a recent trip to meet the president at the White House.
Of the nine women in the front row with the president, four wore flip-flops, the rest wore heeled sandals.
Team members, who dressed in skirts and dresses, thought nothing of it when shopping for their attire and certainly didn't think it would be this big of an issue.
After the flip-flop no-no was made public and after the girls apologized for what they wore, they began to question and argue that it was actually the University of Michigan's national champion softball team that was way underdressed when they visited the White House. The team wore khaki shorts, polo shirts and sneakers and didn't get nearly as much battering as the lacrosse team.
So why is this being made such a big deal?
Most argue because flip-flops are way too casual to wear in one of, if not the, most formal place in the United States.
Others, like some of the players' parents, were in disgust and said flip-flops deserve to stay at the beach.
And most just said it showed bad manners and was insulting to President Bush.
But it's not like these girls were wearing old beach flip-flops with sand in them.
Flip-flops have actually become a very formal shoe and can be seen matched with anything from a pair of jean shorts to a wedding dress.
And the cost of a good pair isn't just a couple of dollars anymore.
I'll admit, I have a closet full of them ranging from $4 to $54. I did some research on the web and found some as high as $200.
But does a fancy price tag make them a fancy shoe?
Though some may be fancy enough to wear with formal dresses, I don't think I would choose to wear them to meet the President, but then again, if this sandal scandal would have never came up, I might not even have thought twice about it.
In today's laid-back society, it seems pretty much anything flies anymore as long as nothing "private" is exposed.
I've seen the lowest cut shirts and the shortest shorts in some work places and it really doesn't seem to be that big of a deal today.
So, flip-flop or not to flip-flop? That is the question. When should you wear them and when shouldn't you wear them?
Everyone is their own judge on this one. The beach, resturants, weddings, the workplace, unless you're not allowed, clubs, proms, I'd say wearing them just about anywhere is acceptable, except the White House, of course.
Now we get to look forward to all of the lovely books that will be published about when and when not to wear them, I'm sure there will be some no flip-flops in the White House bill passed banning them from there and any federal building.
But then again, did president Bush even have a problem with it? I don't recall him even saying anything about the situation. How can he? Jenna Bush wore flip-flops during her court appearances and is often seen wearing them to state dinners and boarding Air Force One. So is she insulting her dad?
Who knows, who cares really. I do agree that I probably wouldn't wear them to the White House, but I also think it shouldn't have been made such a big deal.
A poll on annoyatorium.com asked the question, "Was it OK for the NU woman's lacrosse team to wear flip-flops for a visit to the White House?"
And the answers…
Yes, they were expensive/designer flip-flops…….14 percent
No, flip-flops are for the beach, not to meet Dubya……28 percent
Aren't flip-flops what most politicians do?………….57 percent
I wonder what John Kerry would have thought about this whole situation?