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Condoleezza Rice: Commemorating Women’s History Month
At the start of Women’s History month, I want to focus attention on a woman of multiple life roles and many talents: Condoleezza Rice. Dr. Rice is a brilliant scholar, diplomat, political scientist, and is currently the director of the Hoover Institute at Stanford University. She helped to guide the United States through its response to terrorism immediately following September 11.
Dr. Rice served as the National Security Advisor – the first woman to do so – during President George W. Bush’s first term. She then served as the U.S. Secretary of State, during Bush’s second term, the first female African American to do so. Beyond her service to America, Rice served as Provost at Stanford University, again, as the first African American woman.
Rice was told during her teenage years that she was not college material. Condoleezza went on to earn her Ph.D. and became one of the most prominent women of her generation. Rice is also an avid football fan, part of the Denver Broncos ownership group, and is considered to be a concert pianist.
Reading Condoleezza’s book Extraordinary, Ordinary People, I was struck by the acclaim she gave to her parents. Condoleezza’s dad and mom raised her in the Christian faith. She gives them gratitude for all her opportunities and beyond that, their positive spirit. The attitude, the spirit, of Rice’s life is nowhere better explained than when she wrote about racism in her book.
The fact is, race is a constant factor in American life. Yet reacting to every incident, real or imagined, is crippling, tiring, and ultimately counterproductive. I’d grown up in a family that believed you might not control your circumstances, but you could control your reaction to them.
I can think of no better way to begin Women’s History Month than to honor Dr. Condoleezza Rice. For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, president of the Comenius Institute, personally seeking truth wherever it’s found.
First published here at MarkEckel.com.
Published in General
She is also one of the first two female members of Augusta National, along with South Carolina businesswoman Darla Moore.
I heard her speak in 93 or 94… striking. In a way, it’s too bad she has no political ambitions. Kamala Harris: compare and contrast.
Condi’s great.
But I’m afraid I have to dispute the whole concept of Women’s History Month.
The Hoover Institution is a hotbed of sanity in a world gone mad. That it’s located at Stanford makes it all the more remarkable.
We have other good people with political ambition; let this very capable woman continue managing this invaluable institution.
Also I don’t remember as much woke nonsense going on when she was provost of Stanford as is currently occurring, so even if only marginally she was better than her successor has been.
But Condi would like to the Commissioner of the NFL!
I’m going to rain on this parade a bit.
Rice condemned Trump advisor and Hoover senior fellow Scott Atlas for a tweet advising people to “rise up” against Covid lockdowns.
Rice called for “systemic change to make our institutions more just” in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd.
Rice was a major architect of our disastrous nation-building projects in the Muslim world. For full disclosure, I note that I was convinced, and agreed with this policy at the time.
Rice supports the diversity, equity, and inclusion agenda. She even presents an award for this cause, named after her father.
She ain’t one of us. She is a woman of high achievement. So are Nancy Pelosi and Hilary Clinton. Ruth Bader-Ginsburg.
As an alternative, maybe we should honor Phyllis Schlafly. More recently, maybe Mollie Hemingway, Anne Coulter, and Amy Wax.
I know, and I certainly bow to her wishes in that respect. I just think it’s a loss for the country not to have her in government.
There’s no one stopping you from writing your own post honoring Ann Coulter or whoever you want.
I loved Condoleezza Rice. I wonder if she’ll return to the national stage in some fashion. I bet she has a lot of insight into Putin and Russia.
But Jerry, that’s so out 0f character!
She was part of Bush’s disastrous foreign policy.
Yes, we can blame her for the stupid policy of not punishing Iran and allowing them to fight a proxy war with us through Iraq. She’s a perfect fit for the establishment Bush dynasty.
She’s like a female Kissinger, without the German accent but full of the same hubris and snobbery that she and only she fully understands the nuances of world affairs.
I used to like her, but frankly I’m tired of her snobbery and tying our hands when I was in Iraq. We had Iran bracketed from east and west and we did nothing with that powerful position. A pox on her and her coddling of Iran.
She and Cheney were the architects of it– Along with the squeamish Colin Powell.
It really is too bad! I met her briefly in August 2008 when she came to Poland to sign the missile shield agreement with Radek Sikorski. At the time, there was still a lot of talk about her potentially throwing her hat in the ring. I knew she was serious when she said she wasn’t interested and she’s been true to her word. It’s a shame but I admire her even more for it.
What is the point of this comment?
Obviously, I can write my own post.
I can also criticize the woman honored in this post, who I do not consider to be a good example, for the reasons stated. I would write much the same — probably more — if someone wanted to honor Pelosi or Hilary or RBG.