The State Dinner for Mexico

Here are pictures and the toast for the State Dinner for the country of Mexico:


US President Barack Obama waves as he stands with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, his wife Margarita Zabala, and US First Lady Michelle Obama, as the Mexican President arrives at the White House May 19, 2010 for State Dinner ceremonies, at the White House in Washington, DC.
----PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images


WASHINGTON - MAY 19: First Lady Michelle Obama and her husband U.S President Barack Obama wait for Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala to arrive for the State Dinner at the White House on May 19, 2010 in Washington, DC. President Obama welcomed President Calderon to the White House today for an official state visit that is taking place amid tension over immigration politics and Mexico's deadly drug war.
---- Mark Wilson/Getty Images

REST OF POST INSIDE (with video)









The party and entertainment tent on the South Lawn of the White House awaits the guests for the state dinner hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for the President of Mexico Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala at the White House in Washington May 19, 2010.
----REUTERS/Joshua Roberts


President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama wait to welcome Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala, at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 19, 2010.
----AP Photo/Charles Dharapak


Speed skater Shani Davis arrives for the State Dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at the White House in Washington.
----AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari


Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., and Dennis Rivera arrive for the State Dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at the White House in Washington.
----AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbar


First Lady Michelle Obama, left, and Mexican First Lady Margarita Zavala, right, walk to the State Dinning Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 19, 2010.
----AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais


Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., and Carolina Reyes arrive for the State Dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at the White House in Washington.
----AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari


Entertainer Whoopi Goldberg and Thomas Leonardis arrive for the State Dinner in honor of Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at the White House in Washington.
----AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari


Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and Sam Sayyad arrive for the State Dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at the White House in Washington.
----AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari


Cory Booker, mayor of Newark, N.J., and Gayle King arrive for the State Dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at the White House in Washington.
----AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari


Giselle Fernandez arrives for the State Dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at the White House in Washington.
----AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari


New Jersey Jets' Mark Sanchez, right, and D'Brickashaw Ferguson, arrive for the State Dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at the White House in Washington.
----AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari


Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi arrive for the State Dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Wednesday, May 19, 2010, at the White House in Washington.
----AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari


White House Chief Usher Stephen W. Rochon, left, and White House Social Secretary Julianna Smoot watch as President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama host Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Mexico's first lady Margarita Zavala for the State Dinner at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 19, 2010.
---AP Photo/Charles Dharapak


US President Barack Obama waves as he stands with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, his wife Margarita Zabala, and US First Lady Michelle Obama, as the Mexican President arrives at the White House May 19, 2010 for State Dinner ceremonies, at the White House in Washington, DC.
----PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images


First Lady Michelle Obama brushes off the tuxedo of U.S. President Barack Obama as they await the arrival of Mexico's President Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala at the North Portico for a state dinner in their honor at the White House in Washington May 19, 2010.
----REUTERS/Jim Bourg


Actor and comedian George Lopez and his wife Ann arrive for the state dinner hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for the President of Mexico Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala at the White House in Washington May 19, 2010.
----REUTERS/Joshua Roberts


Peter Orszag, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Bianna Golodryga arrive for the State Dinner hosted by US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for the President of Mexico Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala at the White House in Washington on May 19, 2010. ----REUTERS/Joshua Roberts


Actress Eva Longoria arrives for the state dinner hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for the President of Mexico Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala at the White House in Washington May 19, 2010.
----REUTERS/Joshua Roberts


U.S. President Barack Obama (R) and Mexican President Felipe Calderon descend the grand staircase prior to a state dinner in Calderon's honor at the White House in Washington, May 19, 2010.
----REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst


Chairman and CEO of American Express Kenneth Chenault and his wife Kathryn arrive for the state dinner hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for the President of Mexico Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala at the White House in Washington May 19, 2010. ----REUTERS/Joshua Roberts


New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and his sister Vesta Richardson arrive for the State Dinner hosted by US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for the President of Mexico Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala at the White House in Washington on May 19, 2010.
----REUTERS/Joshua Roberts


US Trade Representitive Ron Kirk with Ms. Elizabeth Kirk arrives for the State Dinner in honor of the visiting Mexican President on May 19, 2010 at the White House in Washington, DC.
----TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images


US First Lady Michelle Obama and her Mexican counterpart Margarita Zavala walk away after posing for pictures at the White House before a state dinner in Washington on May 19, 2010.
---NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images


US President Barack Obama addresses the state dinner for Mexican counterpart Felipe Calderon at the White House in Washington on May 19, 2010.
----NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images


US First Lady Michelle Obama raises her glass in a toast at a state dinner in honor of President of Mexico Felipe Calderon (2nd L) at the White House in Washington, May 19, 2010.
----REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst


A place setting is laid for the state dinner hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for the President of Mexico Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala at the White House in Washington May 19, 2010.
----REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

And the menu itself:

Jicama with Oranges, Grapefruit, and Pineapple
Citrus Vinaigrette
Ulises Valdez Chardonnay 2007 "Russian River"

Herb Green Ceviche of Hawaiian Opah
Sesame-Cilantro Cracker

Oregon Wagyu Beef in Oaxacan Black Mole
Black Bean Tamalon and Grilled Green Beans
Herrera Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 "Selección Rebecca"

Chocolate-Cajeta Tart
Toasted Homemade Marshmallows
Graham Cracker Crumble and Goat Cheese Ice Cream
Mumm Napa "Carlos Santana Brut" N/V

The State Visit of President Calderon of Mexico

President Obama welcomes President and Mrs. Calderon

The Presidents have a Press Conference:




The First Lady was questioned on immigration:

First Lady Michelle Obama in Mexico

New Issue of the Journal of the Historical Society

Randall Stephens

The new issue of the Journal of the Historical Society has been out for a couple weeks. Editor George Huppert and managing editor Scott Hovey continue to publish high quality, accessible essays with distinctly international/transnational themes. Full versions of the essays can be read at the Wiley site. If you can't access material at Wiley, download some featured essays here.

The Journal of the Historical Society, Volume 9 Issue 2 (June 2009)

"On Primo Levi, Richard Serra, and the Concept of History"
Johan Åhr

"Modernization, Socialism, and Higher Education in Mexico: The Instituto para Hijos de Trabajadores"
Ana María Kapelusz-Poppi

"A Modern Monarch: Dom Pedro II's Visit to the United States in 1876"
Teresa Cribelli

"Havana During the Nineteenth Century: A Perspective from Its Spanish Immigrants"
Translated by Franklin W. Knight
Rosario Márquez Macías

"'French' Immigrants in Naples, 1806–1860"
Marco Rovinello

The September issue of the journal will include essays by Keith Harper on Baptist missionaries in love; Stewart Justman on antisepsis and Victorian reticence; Adam L. Tate on Bishop John England, abolitionism, and Catholicism in the American South; and a forum on The Age of Lincoln, by Orville Vernon Burton with Eric Arnesen, Bertram Wyatt-Brown, Stephen Berry, David Moltke-Hansen.

Israel is Not the Problem

About a week or so ago we suddenly began hearing stories in the news about Israel bombing targets in Gaza, Israel attacking in the Gaza Strip, and so on. The picture that was painted was one of the State of Israel suddenly waking up one morning and deciding to attack, attack, attack for no particular reason. This perception was foisted on the American people by what has become a decidedly anti-Israeli American media. Think about it from any reasonable perspective. How would you feel if Mexico was lobbing bombs and missiles at targets in California or Nevada or Texas, destroying businesses and buildings, killing hundreds of Americans? Then one day the U.S. decided enough was enough, and fought back by attacking strongholds in Mexico where those who were attacking us were operating. Suddenly the world press is all over their broadcast news and in their newspapers with stories that the U.S. was attacking Mexico. How would that make you feel? Do you think that the Europeans and those in the Middle East, Asia, Africa who were reading these headlines and listening to the talking heads on the news broadcasts would get the full picture, or would they simply be left with the impression that the Americans were being bullies with the poor, little Mexicans? That is exactly what is happening with Israel, and it is a dangerous game. The 'Arab-Israeli conflict' as it has come to be known in modern times has no resolution. Despite what peaceniks and politicians will say, there can be no resolution, and the reason is very clear once you understand the two sides to the dispute. On one side you have Israel, which only wants to live in peace and would never do any aggressive harm to any of its neighbors. That is a fact and the utter truth. The only thing that Israel asks in return is not to be attacked, to be left alone and to allow itself to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people, which is the land of Israel's birthright since God Himself set aside the land for that purpose. Whatever your belief in God and His promises, the fact is that the modern State of Israel was formed thanks to an agreement brokered by that group that most liberals love - the United Nations. In 1947 the UN struck an agreement that partitioned what was known at that time as the land of Palestine into two sections, one Jewish and one Arab. A year later, the Jewish section declared itself independent as the State of Israel. The Arab nations surrounding Israel disagreed with the decision, and immediately attacked Israel. The Israelis prevailed in this fight, as well as in numerous other wars and battles over the ensuing three decades. Despite usually being outnumbered and surrounded, Israel has managed to defend itself successfully against the attacks of its Arab neighbors time after time. There remain disputes over sections of territory, notably what is known as the 'West Bank' and the 'Gaza Strip'. Israel sees these as strategically necessary to its defense, because the Arabs have frequently used these areas as launching pads for attacks. The Arabs see them as simply being Arab lands, with Israel having no legitimate claim. Israel has actually caused part of this problem in one way. They had control of these areas, but gave them up in previous 'peace' negotiations. They failed to remember their own lessons, that you cannot negotiate with groups that wish only to destroy you, and you certainly cannot give up land to them that only brings the territory they control even closer to your territory. Here is a basic fact that you need to understand. These Arab lands that surround Israel, from Iran to Egypt, from Saudi Arabia to Iraq, from Lebanon to Syria, do not recognize that Israel itself should even exist as a nation, and they ultimately want it erased from the map. That is a fact that you need to understand. It precludes any longterm peace agreement, because the fact is that no matter what deal these Muslim nations agree to from time to time, they have always returned ultimately to attacking Israel. There has been concern in recent years that Iran or some other radical Muslim group or nation will construct or obtain a nuclear weapon. Should that happen, there is no doubt in my mind that they will use that technology against Israel, it would just be a matter of time. You need to understand that despite the manner in which America's former 'mainstream media' presents the situation, Israel is not attacking anyone, they are defending themselves. Hamas is a radical Sunni Islamic political organization operating in the Palestinian region, and they are aggressively anti-Israeli. They had been lobbing bombs and missiles against Israel for some time before Israel finally responded last week. But you had not heard of those attacks in our American news, had you? That is the fact, and that is the attitude that much of the media here has towards Israel. This was no suddenly aggressive Israeli action, despite the suddenness of the situations appearance in our media. Israel is not the problem, the radical Islamists are the problem - again. Someday America may wake up to understand that we are truly in the middle of a World War, one that will continue against us and other western and non-Muslim nations, even if we pull out of the Middle East and cease fighting from our side. They will not stop, not against us, not against Israel, not against Europe. The radical Islamists are the problem, not Israel, and until we utterly destroy their ideology as we destroyed Nazi ideology, these problems will continue, this war will continue.