Hail to the Chief
I recently saw a poll asking people if they would like their kids to grow up to be president. If my memory serves me (and don't quote me), only 46% said yes and 52% said no. What happened to the other 2%, I don't know.<Side tangent: I am always curious about the "I Don't Know" categories in surveys, especially when it is a simple Yes or No question that does not involve any specific knowledge of a subject. I'm a little worried for these people -- buying coffee must be an arduous task. But I digress...>Any-catty-statement, the majority of Americans did not want their children to grow up to be President. I must say that I am in that group. In the current political climate, where everything is suspect, even one's birth, where a political rival is a mortal enemy, and all is fair in hate and war, I don't dream of them becoming President.Which is sad. Because once upon a time, I dreamed of becoming President. In an ill-fated conversation with my father, I announced this to my family. In 1984, Geraldine Ferraro made history by becoming a Vice-Presidential candidate. I was so inspired that I proclaimed that I would be the first female president of the United States. To which my father said, "No, you won't".Yes, he did. And this weighed heavily on me for many years. I believed that my father thought I was incapable of being President. There are few things more painful than thinking that your parents don't believe in you.Flash forward 24 years. Hilary Clinton is a viable candidate for the Democratic Presidential nomination. Dad and I have a discussion. I "casually" mention that I had wanted to be the first female President but he didn't think I could be. He looks at me surprised."It wasn't that I thought you couldn't be President. I just never thought that you would be the first. I was sure that we would have elected a woman by now". So there you go. For almost a quarter of a century, I thought that my Dad didn't think me worthy.Why did I believe that? Did he say it wrong or did I hear it wrong? Does it really matter?So here I acknowledge that I don't dream about my children being President but not because I don't think they are worthy. They are. Therefore, my children will never know that I feel this way. If they dream it, I will support it. And I will say, "Yes, you can".