~Note: Just about everything you'll read after this point is completely biased since I am a huge fan/supporter of Michelle Obama, so if you're looking for objectivity, this isn't the place to find it :o) Also, there is a little fawning over the fold because I think she's Awesome, so if you don't like that stuff stop reading now~
Mrs. Obama's international platform will support the President's global engagement efforts with an emphasis on engaging young people around the world.
Previewing the First Lady's Visit to Mexico
Greetings all! So as we all have probably heard by now First Lady Michelle Obama is taking the Obama indoctrination show on the road. Specifically she herself has stated "My International Agenda as First Lady is gonna focus on speaking to young people."
But seriously, this is Michelle's first solo trip to do what she's been doing on every other international trip she's taken. Both the President and First Lady have been making an effort to reach out to Young People not only in the United States, but in the world. Remember when Pres. Obama went to Istanbul and had a townhall with students and later when he went to China and had that townhall with the college students?
Personally, I think it's great that the Obamas are continuing to reach out to the Youth of the world.
Specifically, Michelle Obama has decided to make her agenda as First Lady about bettering the lives of children, specifically in decreasing childhood obesity by creating a program called Let's Move.
She's also focused on the intellectual growth and education, something she's been speaking about since the campaign trail where she'd commonly talk about her schooling and how she was told she wouldn't be able to get into Princeton (well, she certainly proved them wrong, she even went to Harvard Law School). Michelle is the perfect example to show how taking your education seriously can lead you to great places in your life.
And here she is on her first foreign trip as First Lady talking to young girls in the UK:
She was even a guest (well, actually Angela Bassett did her voice ~lol~) on the Simpsons where she told Lisa Simpson that it's okay to be smart and to excel in school. (Video at the link)
"I was a high achiever. I got As back when As were hard to get. I was just like Lisa Simpson. Before I was who I am today, I was a nerd. So kids: Be nice to Lisa, because the overachievers will someday be running the country, and you don’t want them to be too screwed up."
~"Michelle Obama" on the Simpsons
I really do love how the Obamas are making it "cool" to be smart again, especially in the Black community where the kids can see someone who looks like them, talks like them, grew up like them, go on to become one of the most powerful persons in the world.
The AP actually has a rather nice Article up about her and her agenda today:
Since becoming first lady in January 2009, Mrs. Obama has made it her practice to involve students in almost every undertaking at the White House. Students helped plant her vegetable garden, professional musicians have been brought in to give students lessons, and she and members of her staff mentor young women.
The first U.S. first lady of color, Mrs. Obama often says magic played no part in her getting to the White House. She now hopes to travel the world delivering "you-can-do-it"-style pep talks to help inspire a new generation of young people to become leaders and problem-solvers in their communities.
Michelle Obama launches solo agenda on Mexico tour
By DARLENE SUPERVILLE (AP)
(Emphasis mine)
Some people claim that Mrs. Obama's agenda wasn't readily recognizable from the beginning, and that she's only just now taking a stand. That's not true, she's been working with children as First Lady almost since she got inaugurated. She even started a mentoring program for young women in the DC area that she hopes to spread across the country.
It's no big secret that I think Michelle Obama is awesome, but I think she just keeps getting awesomer (is that a word?). Her agenda is focused on making the world a better place. (Granted, that should be everyone's goal) You hear it in the video at the top of this diary
. . . because I believe, and so does the President, that for this world to meet the challenges that we're going to face we need this coming generation to know that they're prepared and that they're ready to take on this challenge, and we have to tap into that talent wherever it lives. I think my message to the young people is that Success and Possibility doesn't know a race, a background, a gender, a socioeconomic past. That we're going to need the energy and passion of every single young person, and we're going to have to develop those skills and have those young people believing in their own potential.
I think her trip is going to be another rousing success, and I think that she's going to learn just as much as she teaches while she's there. I'm proud that she is out there representing us on the World stage, it's almost like she's the World's Mother and just wants to take care of and encourage every child/young person she meets. It's no surprise that her favorability rating is substantially higher than everyone else's right now.
Also, for anyone interested, the WH will be streaming Michelle's Youth Forum today at 3:00 PM Eastern in English and Spanish.