Madeleine Albright at Santa Clara Convention Center (Part 1)

PanAsianBiz ^ | May 9, 2006 | Dr. Bill Belew

[G. Stolyarov II]

Dr. Madeline Albright - former Secretary of State was invited by the Commonwealth Club to speak at the Santa Clara, CA Convention Center today, about 3 miles from the school where I teach so I thought I would drop by and listen in.

Not only was she the first female US Secretary of State and the highest ranking female in American history, Dr. Albright was unanimously approved by the Senate. But, what I didn't know was that her father, an ex-diplomat in Czechoslavakia before getting political immunity here in the States and then becoming professor and dean of international studies at a university in Denver had a favorite student that is quite well known and is making a difference in the world today.

Dr. Albright tells the story that at the funeral of her father amidst a florist of flowers and such was a porcelain vase shaped like a piano with flowers in it. This particular flower was sent by this favorite student who used to be a piano major but was convinced to change HER major and study international relations. The student - Condoleezza Rice.

This one man had an impact on two of the greatest women in US political history. I was pleased to be in the presence of one of them.

Dr. Albright, not likely a Bush fan, showed her true colors in a room filled with California dark blue Democrats when she answered a question about her opinion of our President.

"People who have never had a high level government job don't know how difficult it is and people who leave such jobs soon forget how difficult it was," she said.

As for President Bush - it is too early to tell - she said. There are two and half years to go and a lot can happen in that time. She, for one, would like to give him the benefit of the doubt and hope for the best.

I would, too.

Dr. Albright quoted one of the Gospels bringing a chuckle to the crowd - "Whether you believe the Bible or Batman," she said, "to whom much is given, much is expected. And America has been given much."

We have our work cut out for us in foreign policy and not everything will or does go according to plan...but, America and Bush realize, as does Dr. Albright, that the US is an indispensible nation and that it must be active in foreign policy.

And active we are - for good and for bad.

President Bush has my support.

How about you?

[G. Stolyarov II]

I have also heard Madeleine Albright speak once in Chicago; she is far from a leftist in her rhetoric and tends to use arguments that appeal to center-left and center-right audiences. Certainly, she was one of the more reasonable members of the Clinton cabinet. I do not agree with many of her foreign policy suggestions - but she is civil, intelligent, and tolerant in expressing her views. PanAsianBiz