The Flap About Flip Flops

The national champion women's lacrosse team from Northwestern University has caused quite a hubbub over this picture of their visit to the White House. At first glance of the picture it looks fine, but then if you peer down to the front row and their feet - flip flops. This made national news after Kate Darmody, one of the team members, got an email from her brother that stated, "YOU WORE FLIP FLOPS TO THE WHITE HOUSE?" The world is in a tither over this apparent fashion faux pas.

First of all, it never ceases to amaze me that we "gag at a gnat and swallow a camel" on these kinds of issues. I was raised by a father who, to this day, rarely attends church without a suit. Until I reached college, I thought shorts at church were reserved for Vacation Bible School. Although I've become more casual in my attire (I admit I wear flip flops to work because I can) I would most likely not have worn them to the White House. But my mouth hasn't dropped agape at the thought of these girls wearing them.

How is it that we never blink an eye at Paris Hilton using sex to sell burgers? Or Jessica Simpson donning her Daisy Dukes and strutting across the screen? Yet, a group of college women who won a national championship and got invited to the White House gets ridiculed for wearing flips flops. In looking at their attire, a majority of them are more conservatively dressed than their same age counterparts. But, shame on them for going over the line to wear revealing toe wear! People, have we missed the mark somewhere?

The team is auctioning off the flip flops Kate wore to help raise money for a young girl with a brain tumor - so good is coming of all the media hype.

Oh, and for the record, President Bush didn't say a thing. He probably didn't even notice. Chances are daughters Jenna and Barbara have traipsed around the White House in their flops.