New Choices

Intro

Even though the United States is home to a diverse population, the government is dominated by Caucasian men. Very few people of color even are considered for office. And although the US population is more than half women, women do not make up anywhere close to half the government.

The campaign for the next US President (2008) has already started. And leading the pack of candidates are Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. This is the first time in US history a woman and an African American have received such serious consideration for the highest office in government.

Listen to Marni and Amanda chat about the next US election for President.

Dialog

Amanda

Marni

Marni:  So what do you think? Do you think that the US… I mean, I think we’re ready for… to have a female president.

Amanda:  It’s so interesting because people ask me all the time, “Do you think America’s ready for a female or a minority male?”

Marni:  Mm hm.

Amanda:  Which is more likely to happen first? And I’m not sure.

Marni:  I’m not sure either. But I think that’s so exciting that, that, you know, the prime Democratic candidates… there’s a woman, an African-American male…

Amanda:  Absolutely.

Marni:  And, you know, I…

Amanda:  And who woulda thought?

Marni:  Yeah.

Amanda:  The same year.

Marni:  I think… well, and I think it’s actually probably… it is time because we’ve seen the repercussions of having this sort of old, good old boys, the old white men running…

Amanda:  Absolutely.

Marni:  ... the country and…

Amanda:  Year after year.

Marni:  Yeah. And what, you know… our standing in the US is… or standing in the world I should say, is really not so great. And so I think it’s time that we have just completely different ideologies in the White House.

Amanda:  Absolutely. And, you know, whether or not they have a chance of winning is not so important. It’s just the fact that they are actually in the running and America is considering this as a possibility…

Marni:  Exactly.

Amanda:  And that’s a huge step.

Marni:  It is a huge step. And it seems so strange that our country hasn’t gone there…

Amanda:  It is… that we’re a little backwards.

Discussion

Discussion - Join the discussion to learn more and make friends.

Marni and Amanda don’t know who is more likely to win the election, a woman or an African-American man.

They both seem to agree that a government full of white men doesn’t seem to be working. Maybe it is time for a new perspective in the White House.

Would your country elect a woman or a person of color to be the country’s leader?


Links:
The official English, baby! 2008 presidential election page.
English lesson on women leaders around the world.

Comprehension Quiz