First Lady Greeted by Screams of Delight from Mexican Schoolchildren
EmailABC News’ Yunji de Nies and Karen Travers report:
First Lady Michelle Obama kicked off her two-day visit to Mexico with a mixture of culture, policy and song and dance.
At the Escuela Siete de Enero, an elementary school in a low-income neighborhood in Mexico City, the students screamed with delight when the first lady stepped out of her vehicle.
“Mi-che-elle,” the children chanted loudly. There were large signed with the students’ handprints that read “Bienvenida Sra. Obama” – Welcome Mrs. Obama.
The first lady was given flowers and kisses on the cheek from a young female student.
While she is not here touting her “Let’s Move!” campaign, Mrs. Obama did observe a phys ed class and even joined in for some drills, a follow the leader-call and respond dance.
The students rewarded the first lady with a large conch shell that they had used in the dance routine.
“That was beautiful. I loved the singing, I loved the dancing,” Obama said at the conclusion.
“I loved to see you all moving and exercising. So just know today you made your country proud. Everyone here today got to see the best of Mexico’s young people.”
Obama said that of all the things she does abroad, what she likes best is getting to see smart intelligent students.
The first lady did her version of a ropeline – complete hugs instead of handshakes.
With Mexico’s first lady, President Felipe Calderon’s wife, Margarita Zavala, Obama toured the Museo Nacional de Antropologia, which holds the largest collection of ancient Mexican pieces in the world.
The first ladies were treated to a performance by the National Program for the Promotion of Music, which encourages artistic expression in young Mexican children. The National Children’s chorus, which is made up of kids from around the country, including some with special needs, performed.
The two first ladies met for about 45 minutes this morning at Los Pinos, the official residence of Mexico’s president.
According to aides to Obama, the two discussed drug addiction treatment and early prevention programs as well as the importance of the humane treatment of unaccompanied migrant children.
“Mrs Obama and Mrs. Zavala underscored the importance of engaging families and communities in tackling the challenges facing young people in both countries as a key to helping build a better future for the United States and Mexico,” a statement from the first lady’s office read.
Later today Obama will deliver a speech at Universidad Iberoameriana, the signature event of this two-day trip.
In her remarks to university and high school students from in and around Mexico City, Obama will address the role that students can take in their communities and their development into leadership positions.
-Yunji de Nies and Karen Travers
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Why do we care????
Posted by: wis134 | April 14, 2010, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm
wis134, some of us care for the same reason that those who followed any news of the previous First Ladies did: it is a glimpse of what it is to be the First Lady, her responsibilities and her priorities. It is certainly more important than a story about a famous movie star or pop idol, as First Ladey, Michelle Obama is representing us when she travels.
And isn’t it neat to see the different ways foreign countries regale our official visitors? I’ll probably never have the extra money to travel, but it is fun to imagine! Stories like this feed my imagination some interesting details.
ABC, thanks. I read a lot of serious
news stories but it is fun to lighten up once in a while!
Posted by: Lydia | April 14, 2010, 5:48 pm 5:48 pm
Posted by: wis134 | Apr 14, 2010 5:12:21 PM posted: “Why do we care???”
Let’s see…discussions about children of undocumented workers, physical education, and drug addiction treatment.
Thankfully, the world actually does have women in public positions who “care” about these issues.
Posted by: CenterOne | April 14, 2010, 5:55 pm 5:55 pm
“ABC, thanks. I read a lot of serious
news stories but it is fun to lighten up once in a while!” – Lydia
Once in a while? !
Pffftttt ! ! ! !
ABC News lightens up each and everyday.
Personally the never ending stream of Obamaville life-style stories gets nauseating.
Posted by: Noz | April 14, 2010, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm
BARF!!
Posted by: Scott | April 14, 2010, 6:23 pm 6:23 pm
“BARF!!” – Scott
: o )
Permit me to elaborate.
BARFITY! BARF BARF!
Posted by: Noz | April 14, 2010, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm
Posted by: Noz | Apr 14, 2010 6:29:32 PM
American so smart . .. him intelligent!
Posted by: tierra | April 14, 2010, 7:43 pm 7:43 pm
Gone are the days when the First Lady, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, actually worked tirelessly to accomplish anything of value.
Long after Mrs. Obama is gone, kids will still be eating the wrong foods, not exercising enough, avoiding their homework, being dragged across the border, or whatever the flavor of the month is.
I commend her for trying though. Unfortunately, DC is all about the pomp and circumstance and has been for a long time.
So Jake, does this story fall under “power, pop, or probings”?
Posted by: For the Record | April 14, 2010, 8:13 pm 8:13 pm
Posted by: tierra | Apr 14, 2010 7:43:06 PM
Cmon tierra, admit it, you laughed or maybe it was a slight giggle but you found it a little funny, right?
Posted by: Noz | April 14, 2010, 10:04 pm 10:04 pm
Gone are the days when the First Lady, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, actually worked tirelessly to accomplish anything of value.
____________________________________
I think Mrs. Roosevelt herself would have some disagreement with you – and chide you for your cynical negativity.
Posted by: tierra | April 14, 2010, 10:31 pm 10:31 pm
I think Mrs. Roosevelt herself would have some disagreement with you – and chide you for your cynical negativity.
Posted by: tierra | Apr 14, 2010 10:31:45 PM
So educate me, eh? List some major FLOTUS accomplishments in the past 50 years. I know they all have their causes and they do decent work but have any really stuck? Mostly it seems to be all about the “pomp and circumstance” of Washington and the WH. Then again, maybe that’s enough.
Posted by: For the Record | April 14, 2010, 11:34 pm 11:34 pm
So educate me, eh? List some major FLOTUS accomplishments in the past 50 years.
_______________________________________
Why don’t you go through them all and list them and then point out how pitifully little they accomplished. It’s your gripe, not mine.
Posted by: tierra | April 14, 2010, 11:44 pm 11:44 pm
Why don’t you go through them all and list them and then point out how pitifully little they accomplished. It’s your gripe, not mine.
Posted by: tierra | Apr 14, 2010 11:44:33 PM
Fair enough.
I just thought you were channeling Mrs. Roosevelt (disagreeing with me). My gripe. Yes. But you chose to respond.
I suspect FTR-DS.
Posted by: For the Record | April 15, 2010, 12:12 am 12:12 am
Now, if she would only stress the importances of family and culture on the other side of Mexico, and not the the United States.
Posted by: Mim | April 15, 2010, 10:16 am 10:16 am
Though Hillary Clinton’s health care reform efforts did not result in legislation, she helped raise national awareness about the need and the problems of the growing number of uninsureds in America. She also addressed an wide range of medical problems– helping along the Children’s Health Insurance Program in 1997 and successfully advocating for an increase in the research funding for illnesses such as prostate cancer and childhood asthma at the National Institute of Health. She also spoke about the illnesses that were affecting veterans of the Gulf War, with the possibility of their suffering the toxic side effects of chemical “Agent Orange” used in warfare. She also worked with Secretary of State Madeline Albright and became an important international advocate of gender equity in economics, employment, health care and education, speaking out about the treatment of the treatment of Afghani women by the Taliban. Like Eleanor Roosevelt, she also authored a book during her time as first lady called It Takes a Village, about policies geared toward children and families. And she attended the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, where she delivered a highly praised speech regarding violations of women’s and children’s rights.
Besides Eleanor, Hillary is my favorite but Laura Bush also took up advocacy of women’s rights in Afghanistan. And she established the Women’s Health and Wellness Initiative. She brought serious attention to the issue of heart disease in women, an issue that had been ignored for years and years, as well as breast cancer. She also made several goodwill trips to Africa– and took a strong interest in Burma, visiting there and speaking out in support of pro-democracy groups there.
Rosalynn Carter traveled to several Central and South American nations, meeting with political and military leaders– and many first ladies have served as goodwill ambassadors around the world. Betty Ford didn’t travel a lot during her brief time as first lady but she did raise awareness of breast cancer and addiction/alcoholism and was an advocate for equal rights and the women’s movement.
I don’t think its fair to just diss first ladies and act like they’re irrelevant or shirk their roles. Its an odd role– not a job one is elected to– but one I think many of our first ladies have taken seriously and done something with. It’ll be interesting to see what our first First Gentleman does with the role– but I actually admired Laura, Hillary and others.
Posted by: progressive mama | April 15, 2010, 10:40 am 10:40 am
My last post was in reference to For the Record’s posts on First Ladies, and I wanted to mention that there is a national first ladies library (hat tip to their website for a list of accomplishments and good will trips)
I had an aunt who was rather obsessed with First Ladies and gave me books about them every Christmas :>)
Posted by: progressive mama | April 15, 2010, 10:47 am 10:47 am
Other news has michelle oBama declaring it is safe to travel to Mexico. She said she would encourage Americans to come to Mexico.
.
All her liberal followers should immediately take her advice and go hang out for a week in Mexican border towns. Make sure you wear your Rolex visibly so you know when happy hour starts.
Posted by: gk | April 15, 2010, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm
Earmark spending (pork) is down 40 percent from 2006, when the Republican-controlled Congress spent a record-high $29.5 billion on earmarks.
Posted by: tierra | April 15, 2010, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
“Besides Eleanor, Hillary is my favorite but Laura Bush also took up advocacy of women’s rights in Afghanistan. And she established the Women’s Health and Wellness Initiative. She brought serious attention to the issue of heart disease in women, an issue that had been ignored for years and years, as well as breast cancer. She also made several goodwill trips to Africa– and took a strong interest in Burma, visiting there and speaking out in support of pro-democracy groups there.”
Laura Bush steered quite a few admirable projects as First lady.
Yes her work on Bush’s anti gang initiative drew some guffaws but at its heart she was advocating education as a solution.
Posted by: Ryan C | April 15, 2010, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm