The White House and a woman named Michelle

I have three questions about former, present and future American presidents of the United States of America. First, who is the 35th president of the United States? Answer, I don’t remember his name, but I know he was the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris on June 9, 1961.
Second question is about the present: Who is the 44th president of the United States? This question is easy. He is the man who is married to a tall and beautiful young woman named Michelle. She is the one who gave a reigniting speech about a man named Barack Obama during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her efforts will be the deciding factor in her husband’s re-election.
Now, the final question is who might be the US president four years from now. My humble answer is he would be an American Latino whose name is Julian Castro. He is the Mayor of San Antonio. He was born in September 1974. That was the time when many Saudi military students were taken from Lackland AFB to a tour of the Alamo. At that time many Mexican-Americans (Chicanos) in Houston Street in San Antonio who saw the Saudi young men touring the area thought the Saudis will buy the Alamo. Buying the Alamo by the Saudis was a rumor that was heard by many people in San Antonio at that time. Many Latinos were happy with the rumors. Many of them didn’t like what the Alamo stood for, including the rising American Latino politician’s mother, Ms. Rosie Castro.
There are some common things between President John Kennedy, President Barack Obama and Julian Castro. John Kennedy was the first and only Roman Catholic president in the history of the United States. Barack Obama is the first African-American president of the United States. Julian Castro is the first Latino to deliver the key note address at the Democratic National Convention. Like Kennedy, Julian Castro is Catholic. Long time ago, Catholics and Blacks were not allowed to vote. And finally, John Kennedy, Barack Obama and Julian Castro each had (has) a woman next to him, encouraging and paving the way to make each of them a star. Jacqueline, Michelle and Erica are all tall, beautiful, well-dressed, charming, family-oriented and educated ladies and can reignite joy to any dull political convention.
So, if American women can steer the course of elections, why they are still behind their European sisters. American women started to run for office long time ago, but they were never close to achieving any major post. American women who held high political posts such as the Secretary of State were all appointed not elected. There is no doubt that American women have come a long way in achieving many political gains, but, why the Americans are only ready to see women as moms and not the "commanders in chief."
The early American women were banned from politics. In the past, the future first ladies did not attend conventions. Even some of the candidates themselves did not attend conventions. The candidates would wait for the notification day. Historians say that Mary Lincoln peeked through the window in 1860 to see the event at her home and Edith Roosevelt would stay close to the door to listen to the conversations of the men in 1904. As time passed, American first ladies began to participate in political events. Eleanor Roosevelt participated and met some delegations in 1940. The biggest breakthrough for the first ladies was when Barbara Bush paved the way for other candidates’ wives. She gave a speech during the 1992 Republican National Convention. But, giving a speech is still far from what should have been accomplished by the American women. American women are the most open and most exposed to events in the world. They participate in the public life at a very young age. The education they receive is the best in the world and they are the most active and aware of world events.
So, the question is, how are women like Jacqueline Kennedy or Michelle Obama able to get the admiration of the masses, but can’t lead them. America has many brave women, but I think the American woman's talents are underutilized. The world saw Michelle Obama playing her role as a first lady very well. The White House didn’t change her way of life as a mother of two girls. When Michelle first came to the White House, there were many critics who tried to undermine her as an effective first lady. And these critics even went as far as trying to look for protocol flaw. When she was in the United Kingdom, there were many news report about a minor incident about her hand's movement when she met Queen Elizabeth, but the British press didn’t see any protocol breach.
Michelle Obama in 2012 has a more difficult task than in 2008. Four years ago her husband was a presidential candidate. This year he is the president. That is why she has a very delicate job just two months before the elections. These days, there are many difficult issues which her husband, if re-elected — would face both in the United States and abroad. And as a first lady, she will be part of it. There are issues like abortion, health care, national debt and bringing the American working class to better levels of living standard. Also, there are many issues that have to be resolved internationally, such as trade with China, Iran's nuclear program, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Syria’s turmoil, Europe’s economic crisis and many other problems around the world. If President Barack Obama is re-elected, we will see a stronger Michelle Obama. And who knows, maybe seeing an American woman president is not as far as many think.

E-mail: almulhimnavy@hotmail.com