Hips Don't Qualify

Things are sure to get spicier at the White House as pop-starlet Shakira is set to join the ranks of thePresident's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.

Jokes aside, how dismal does the state of the U.S government and its department of Education have to be, in order for it to nominate a hip-shaking pop-star to advice the president in a field so fundamentally important as Latino education?

The most recent census of 2010 highlights that 308.7 million people resided in the United States on April 1, 2010, of which 50.5 million (16%) were of Hispanic or Latino origin. At large the “Hispanic population increased by 15.2 million between 2000
 and 2010, accounting for over
half of the 27.3 million increase in the total population of the United States.”

Hence one would figure that a President's Advisory Commission, seeking sound solutions for such a huge demographic group would fill its ranks with the finest and thorough individuals.

The administration rather has opted for Shakira and her philanthropical record, (Shakira founded the Barefoot Foundation in 1995, which helps fund schools in her native Colombia, as well as in South Africa and Haiti).

It seems as if the White House has decided to emulate the cosmopolitan United Nations by opting for celebrities as their poster boy, or in this case, their poster girl. This becomes evident when one considers the fact that Shakira is currently also the “Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund”.

However the fine difference in this case is that whilst Shakira gets to reel in good publicity for the U.N, she will actually be able to actively participate in the policy making this time.

Also, with her prime residence being located in the Bahamas, one is set to be skeptic as to how knowledgeable a world-touring pop artist is to the everyday hurdles, troubles and cultural barriers many Latino’s continue to experience in the U.S.

In the meanwhile Shakira, who is happy as a clam, has issued a statement, in which she said that the appointment is a “tremendous honor” for her and that she hopes that her “philanthropic experience could be helpful” for the administration.

It is rumored that several female state employees are already eagerly awaiting their new Zumba partner.