A different sort of flip-flopping at the White House
Just a peek into the conception (reg. req.) of one of those stories that mean nothing but get good play, including on our front page this morning. Can you wear flip-flops at the White House?
Chicago Tribune editor Ann Marie Lipinski: "I stared at the shoes and thought, `Hmm, that's an interesting choice,'" she said. "I ripped the picture out, set it aside and wondered if there was a story there, or if I just needed to get some sleep."
In the office the next morning, she showed the photo to one of her deputies and simply asked the woman if she noticed anything unusual. The editor failed the flip-flop Rorschach, "and I thought, OK, I guess I'm the only one," Lipinski said.
Of course she wasn't.
Eric Zorn: Were there more consequential stories that day? Was the Flip-Flop Flap a frivolous fuss during fundamentally serious times? Sure. But we need those stories, and it's always a sad day when we can't stop to enjoy them.
Comments (7)
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John,
The issue of flip-flops is not entirely a new one.
Earlier this summer, we spent a good deal of time at our leadership team retreat discussing my school's policy on flip-flops.
Our dress code does not allow them.
The best reason for not allowing them is because they're potentially unsafe.
The way many middle school students move, act, and play (particularly on stairs) can combine with the less sturdy nature of flip flops to create a greater than acceptable risk for serious accidents.
Our principal has also raised the issue of how flip-flops are arguably a bit too casual for the school setting.
If you believe that how you look influences how you work, then having the dress code as a means of restricting overly relaxed appearances is perhaps worthwhile also.
But it gets more complicated when you consider the diversity of footwear out there.
You get into the trickier issues of defining and identifying what constitutes a "real" flip-flop.
Some "flip-flops" fit more securely than others, and some "flip-flops" look better than your average tennis shoes.
Teachers and other staff members become deputized as fashion police.
We actually discussed making posters that would show what's acceptable and unacceptable for students (and staff) to wear on their feet.
And if you want a more complicated, more controversial school issue, let's talk about cell phones . . . later.
Sincerely,
Hardy
Posted on July 23, 2005 6:29 PM
I am baffled that this story has the legs it does.
Posted on July 23, 2005 8:40 PM
Speaking of legs, Patrick, and anyone else with a 20-something young 'un, when my daughter got her (wonderful exciting fun creative) new job in Durham, immediately after she signed the papers, she was asked if she had questions. She said that she had one. Could she wear flipflops?
The answer was a resounding YES and there was happiness.
It seems that for that generation we will never be and never were, flipflops are a sort of badge or right or comfort that we will never understand. But it was the difference between a place saying they were creative and being creative to her.
Flipflops walk the creative talk.
Posted on July 23, 2005 9:07 PM
I think Monica Bellucci wears flip-flops in a few of those pix at Gate City, Patrick.
Posted on July 23, 2005 10:07 PM
We have quite a number of people wearing flip-flops at the office.
They'll be leaving in a few weeks, but ...
Posted on July 23, 2005 10:23 PM
A story about flip-flops is a welcome reprieve from the endless onslaught of car bomb, subway bomb, suicide bomb stories. But the REAL story is that not one of those girls was baring her midriff! How did that amazing feat escape the media's attention? I think the ladies looked lovely. And FlipFlopGate has had more than its 15 minutes...
Posted on July 24, 2005 7:32 PM
Amen on the middriff comment, Missy. I can't believe this story is taking up people's time, energy, and money (you pay for that newsprint, remember).
Posted on July 28, 2005 9:47 AM