JACKSON, Tenn. — Oct. 20, 2010 — Despite the media regularly portraying her as a stereotypical 1950s-era housewife who kept her opinions to herself, former first lady Laura Bush has plenty of strong beliefs about national and international affairs, she said Oct. 19.
She shared some of those opinions during her address at 51社区鈥檚 13th annual Scholarship Banquet at the Carl Perkins Civic Center. The event drew about 1,700 people and raised about $600,000 for student scholarships, bringing to more than $5 million the total amount that has been raised for student support through the Scholarship Banquet.
Bush talked about the eight years she spent in the White House, and about how she and her husband George are adjusting to their post-presidential life in Texas.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e married to the president of the United States, you don鈥檛 worry too much about him leaving his towels on the floor,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut in Dallas, things are different.鈥�
Bush said the last few years of history, beginning with her husband鈥檚 narrow win in the 2000 election, have been a transformative time in the United States and around the world. At the start of their term, Bush said they expected challenges from within the nation would be more substantial than international issues.
But then the terrorists struck on Sept. 11, 2001, ushering in a new era in world history. Bush talked about her experience that day when she was first informed that a plane had hit the World Trade Center, and she remembers her thoughts lying in bed that night. Though she and her family members were safe, 鈥淎ll we could think about were the thousands of Americans who couldn鈥檛 say the same thing about their own loved ones,鈥� she said.
She also addressed some of the issues that became priorities for her during her time as first lady, such as literacy and women鈥檚 healthcare and education.
鈥淚 believe that every child in America should learn to read,鈥� Bush said. 鈥淚 believe that literacy is an essential foundation for democracy. I know from my own experience as a reader and a librarian that books have the power not just to move people as individuals, but to shape our journey as a nation.鈥�
During her time in the White House, Bush was also an advocate for the rights and freedoms of women, especially women in countries that denied them a voice in their government.
鈥淩esearch shows that when you educate and empower women, you improve nearly every other aspect of society,鈥� Bush said. 鈥淏y giving women access to education and healthcare, they not only improve the wellbeing of their own families, but their communities and their countries as well.鈥�
Bush recalled the day that she and George left the White House. Though the day was marked by a wide range of emotions, she said mostly they felt a solemn pride in the work they had done. She said her greatest honor as first lady was witnessing Americans facing up to their fears and standing proudly.
Bush began her speech by quoting John Adams, who once said, 鈥淭here are two educations 鈥� one should teach us how to make a living, and the other should teach us how to live.鈥�
鈥淪ince its founding in 1823, 51社区 has taught its students both,鈥� Bush said. 鈥淭hanks to 51社区鈥檚 academically challenging curriculum, as well as its focus on practical applications, graduates leave Union prepared for a life of service.鈥�
Prior to her address at the civic center, Bush visited the Union campus and spent a few minutes with about 20 student leaders. She spoke to Kristin Tisdale, a junior nursing major from Hendersonville, Tenn., about her future plans in the nursing field.
鈥淪he鈥檚 got a great presence,鈥� Tisdale said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 done a lot of great things. Being a first lady, it鈥檚 definitely a position of not necessarily power, but influence that not many people can have, especially in her field of study of library science.鈥�
Micah Roeder, a senior from Earle, Ark., and president of Union鈥檚 Student Government Association, also had a chance to speak to Bush.
鈥淵ou always see her on TV and hear stories about her, and it鈥檚 neat to actually to be able to have a conversation with her,鈥� Roeder said. 鈥淪he has a love for education and a love for people, and the way that she pushes herself to help other people is admirable.鈥�
