2008.06.25: June 25, 2008: Headlines: Directors - Gearan: Figures: Directors: University Administration: Election2008 - Clinton: Women's Issues: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Mark Gearan writes: Don't underestimate Hillary Clinton's accomplishment

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Directors of the Peace Corps: Mark Gearan: January 23, 2005: Index: PCOL Exclusive: Peace Corps Directors - Gearan : 2008.06.25: June 25, 2008: Headlines: Directors - Gearan: Figures: Directors: University Administration: Election2008 - Clinton: Women's Issues: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Mark Gearan writes: Don't underestimate Hillary Clinton's accomplishment

By Admin1 (admin) (70.250.245.178) on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 4:17 pm: Edit Post

Mark Gearan writes: Don't underestimate Hillary Clinton's accomplishment

Mark Gearan writes: Don't underestimate Hillary Clinton's accomplishment

Sen. Clinton's campaign and magnificent speech ending her campaign showed the country what was possible. Eighteen million voters agreed, and I had thought that long-held gender limits were coming down. As a reader, I was disappointed that the editors missed a truly historic moment and, rather than fairly reporting the events, chose to send a less-than-subtle message to young girls. But as a citizen, I am proud of our democratic system that allowed for 54 spirited contests, 22 substantive debates and millions of citizens involved. And as a father of two girls, I am grateful to Clinton and Obama for showing them and other young Americans what is possible with hard work, integrity and commitment. Mark Gearan, President of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, was the 14th Director of the Peace Corps.

Mark Gearan writes: Don't underestimate Hillary Clinton's accomplishment

Don't underestimate Hillary Clinton's accomplishment

Mark Gearan • Guest essayist • June 25, 2008
If anyone ever doubted the challenge Sen. Hillary Clinton faced as a woman seeking the presidency, one need only look to a recent headline on a story covering the end of her campaign. The political tombstone on the final coverage of her historic bid for the White House and the suspension of her campaign when she endorsed Sen. Barack Obama read: "Finally free from pressure, Clinton lets loose. She drops her androgynous image to revel in how far women have come" (The Associated Press, June 8)

Androgynous image?

What was the headline writer saying? Was it the now famous pantsuit she brought into fashion? Did the writer view the prospect of a female commander-in-chief as so gender-bending that he (she?) put this descriptive into 16-point type? Perhaps it was the editor's inability to imagine a woman dealing with the economy, gas prices, the housing crisis or the environment? Or was it the fact that a woman successfully competing in a heretofore male endeavor of running for president was so, well, androgynous?

It made me think about the remarkable effort Clinton waged and the challenges she faced with the media and the American public seemingly unable to put her historic bid for the White House into some context. "Iron my shirt" read a poster at an event; "cackle" was the description of her laugh; "she devil" said one cable news anchor.

In observing all of this, it must be stated that Obama faced his own set of challenges with his barrier-breaking bid for the Oval Office. Scurrilous use of images and rumors questioning his faith, patriotism and heritage were profoundly unjust.

Sen. Clinton's campaign and magnificent speech ending her campaign showed the country what was possible. Eighteen million voters agreed, and I had thought that long-held gender limits were coming down.

As a reader, I was disappointed that the editors missed a truly historic moment and, rather than fairly reporting the events, chose to send a less-than-subtle message to young girls. But as a citizen, I am proud of our democratic system that allowed for 54 spirited contests, 22 substantive debates and millions of citizens involved. And as a father of two girls, I am grateful to Clinton and Obama for showing them and other young Americans what is possible with hard work, integrity and commitment.

In upstate New York, we are privileged to be surrounded by a proud history. From Elizabeth Cady Stanton in Seneca Falls to Harriet Tubman in Auburn to Frederick Douglass in Rochester — we know the progress that has been achieved in the past century. Sadly, the headline and the perspective it represents proved yet another reminder of the work ahead for real, meaningful inclusion.

Gearan is president, Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, Ontario County. He formerly headed the Peace Corps and served in President Bill Clinton's administration.




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: June, 2008; Mark Gearan; Mark Gearan (Director 1995 - 1999); Figures; Peace Corps Directors; University Administration; Election2008 - Clinton; Women's Issues; New York





When this story was posted in July 2008, this was on the front page of PCOL:


Contact PCOLBulletin BoardRegisterSearch PCOLWhat's New?

Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers RSS Feed
Dodd vows to filibuster Surveillance Act Date: October 27 2007 No: 1206 Dodd vows to filibuster Surveillance Act
Senator Chris Dodd vowed to filibuster the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that helped this administration violate the civil liberties of Americans. "It is time to say: No more. No more trampling on our Constitution. No more excusing those who violate the rule of law. These are fundamental, basic, eternal principles. They have been around, some of them, for as long as the Magna Carta. They are enduring. What they are not is temporary. And what we do not do in a time where our country is at risk is abandon them."

Peace Corps News Peace Corps Library Peace corps History RPCV Directory Sign Up

May 1, 2008: This Month's Top Stories Date: May 2 2008 No: 1242 May 1, 2008: This Month's Top Stories
Condoleezza Rice Visits PC Headquarters 28 Apr
Bush hosts PCVs at White House 29 Apr
George Derrick is Oklahoma's first PCV 27 Apr
Debate is Brewing over Older Volunteers 25 Apr
Peter Spiro Scaled Corporate Ladder at Microsoft 24 Apr
Ukraine PCV terminated after testing HIV positive 22 Apr
Strauss writes: PC never lived up to purpose or principles 22 Apr
Atlantic Publishing needs your help on PC book 21 Apr
Nicole Nakama follows in footsteps of Father as PCV 21 Apr
Jerry LaPre writes: The Children of Sierra Leone 21 Apr
Robert Blackwill quits lobbying firm 19 Apr
An Interview with Christopher R. Hill 18 Apr
Harris Wofford introduces Obama's Speech on Race 18 Apr
Matthews could Challenge Arlen Specter for Senate 16 Apr
Lee Myung-bak invites 1500 RPCVs back to Korea 15 Apr
Peace Corps looks forward to returning to Kenya 11 Apr
Kathleen Stephens Quizzed by Congress 11 Apr
Campbell murder trial ends; Verdict set for June 30 9 Apr
Dodd Calls for New Strategic Partnership in Americas 9 Apr
Jake Hooker wins Pulitzer Prize for "A Toxic Pipeline" 9 Apr
Sirleaf welcomes return of PCVs to Liberia 8 Apr

New: More Stories from March and April 2008

March 31, 2008: This Month's Top Stories Date: May 1 2008 No: 1238 March 31, 2008: This Month's Top Stories
John Nichols writes: Tom Petri Challenges Abusive Secrecy 15 Mar
Timothy Shriver writes Baseball and 'Sarge' 31 Mar
Barry Kitterman writes "Baker's Boy" 30 Mar
Nathaniel Spiller writes: Friendship Thrives in Senegal 30 Mar
Garamendi Addresses California Democratic Convention 29 Mar
Melinda Palma lunches with Bush in Ghana 28 Mar
Peace Corps Director Tschetter leads by example 28 Mar
Bush presents Service Award to Lydia Humenycky 27 Mar
Suspension of Kenya Program under review 23 Mar
Patricia 'Pan' Godchaux rejoins PC after 40 years 23 Mar
James Rupert writes: Parliament to Rein In Musharraf 23 Mar
Embassies pay for devalued dollar 22 Mar
Sargent Shriver at Fund Raiser for Best Buddies 21 Mar
Terry Thomas strongly opposed to war in Iraq 19 Mar
Tony D’Souza's new book is "The Konkans" 18 Mar
Larry Kaplow writes: US taking notice of ordinary Iraqis 17 Mar
Bruce Cumings says North Korea tough to invade 12 Mar
PCVs Participate in ‘Walk the Nation’ in Swaziland 10 Mar
Theroux says India as hospitable as ever 8 Mar
Tony Hall talks about hunger in Bonita 6 Mar
Hill says relations with North Korea possible 4 Mar

New: More Stories from February and March 2008

What is Wrong at the US Embassy in Bolivia? Date: February 10 2008 No: 1227 What is Wrong at the US Embassy in Bolivia?
Last summer Peace Corps Inspector General David Kotz cited the lack of cooperation from the US embassy in Bolivia in the search for missing Peace Corps Volunteer Walter Poirier III. Now a member of the US Embassy Staff in Bolivia is accused of asking Peace Corps Volunteers "to basically spy" on Cubans and Venezuelans in the country. Could US Ambassador Philip S.Goldberg please explain what is going on at the embassy that he has been running in La Paz since 2006?



Read the stories and leave your comments.








Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Directors - Gearan; Figures; Directors; University Administration; Election2008 - Clinton; Women's Issues

PCOL41566
42


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: