First Lady Michelle Obama advises public service, not self service

Here's what First Lady Michelle Obama had to say at the 100 Most Influential People Awards in New York on Tuesday.

Her simple, heartfelt message of public service sounded surprisingly like John F. Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you -- ask  what you can do for your country."

She began, "There are few times in history when the saying 'We are all in this together' would be more applicable than now."

Then she recalled, "When I made the decision to leave my job to found Public Allies Chicago, an AmeriCorps program that prepares youth for public service, I realized right away that I had made the right decision. There are few things more rewarding than watching young people recognize that they have the power to enrich not only their lives, but the lives of others as well."

And she added, "But careers in public service are not always encouraged. We push our young people to strive for things, an advanced degree, a job title, a big salary. Rarely do we urge them to stop and think about what their passion is, what kind of life they want to live, what kind of neighbors and colleagues and parents they want to be. In doing so, we, as a society, often miss out on their creativity, their inventiveness, their resourcefulness – and some really good ideas!" 

What do you think? Is she right? Will you encourage your children to serve their community and their government?

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For more of Michelle's remarks and all the latest political buzz, click on over to Andrew Malcolm's at the Top of the Ticket blog.

Photo: Associated Press