Female Heads of State -- Here and There

Hillary or Condi in 2008?

Some people say Hillary already had a Presidential role as an active First Lady. But some people say Nancy participated in Presidential decisions before her. And what about Edith?

It was well-accepted that Edith was a close advisor to her husband Woodrow during and after World War I, and she controlled access to him after his stroke. The only Presidential business was accomplished through Edith Wilson

We know women have led countries in the past – Cleopatra and Catherine the Great are among the leaders of big and powerful countries. But these are modern times and this is America. Women couldn’t even vote for President until 1920, how could a woman serve?

There have been serious contenders in recent times. In 1964, Margaret Chase Smith announced her candidacy for President as a Republican in 1949. The Democrats actually nominated Geraldine Ferraro for Vice President in 1984. And Elizabeth Dole made a good run for the Republican nomination in 2000.

Yes, America is easing into the reality of a female head of state. Maybe we’re almost ready to show the international community that women can lead a country.

But wait. Maybe the international community already knows. Some examples --

Golda Meir of Israel, Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain, Simone Weil of the EU, Gandhi in India, Bhutto in Pakistan. Iceland, Norway, Yugoslavia in the 80’s, Turkey, Ireland, Poland, Panama in the 90's.

This week Chile elected Michelle Bachelet and Sri Lanka is headed by Mahinda Rajapaksa. But Sri Lanka has experience with women having elected Sirimavo Bandaranaike three times since 1960.

Maybe it’s time for the United States to catch up with the rest of the world and elect a woman president. Or, here’s an idea – Let’s elect the BEST PERSON who may be a woman or a man, of any race or any religion, but just the Best Person. Using the criteria to elect the best person, we are ready for a woman President.

Yea! It's about time.