“My parents elected me president of the family when I was 4. We actually had an election every year, and I always won. I’m an only child, and I could count on my mother’s vote.” Condoleezza Rice
My main mistake in choosing role models is that I used to mainly choose male role models but now I try hard to share the role models I choose with females. My favourite female role model is Condoleeza Rice and every time I write about her I have to google her name so I spell it correctly. She grew up in segregated America so knows about how racism works against African Americans particularly women.
“What you know today can affect what you do tomorrow. But what you know today cannot affect what you did yesterday.” Condoleezza Rice
I have used this quote before by Rice but seeing I have been going through hell sometimes this year burning up over mistakes I have made it rings true with me. It’s not easy growing up and even harder doing it in public. I might be pushing fifty but in many ways I am only just beginning to grow up as I have been kept immature as my mother has such a strong umbrella of love over me. Patch Adams says that mothers love is best but I feel grandmother’s love is strongest. Condoleezza is sort of like a grandmother to me with her kind wisdom and steady firm but fair hand.
“The essence of America – that which really unites us – is not ethnicity, or nationality or religion – it is an idea – and what an idea it is: That you can come from humble circumstances and do great things.” Condoleezza Rice
This is a very wise quote and Condoleezza is a strong role model for women in the world especially African American women.
She is not only a wise kind diplomat and best politician but also a fantastic classical pianist and my favourite drawing I have done of her was about twenty years ago when I drew her playing the piano in North Korea and what a powerful gesture of peace and goodwill to heal the sometimes difficult relationship between North and South Korea but also with the rest of the developed world.
“I’ve been in enough positions to respect people with different views.” Condoleezza Rice
I feel that Condoleezza is expert at dealing with difficult problems and I can tell just by looking at photos of her that she is courteous and firm handed but fair in dealings with world leaders.
“You aren’t going to be successful as a diplomat if you don’t understand the strategic context in which you are actually negotiating. It is not deal making. It’s not.” Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza is an expert diplomat and she would never raise her voice or lose her temper but just talk through differences of opinion politely and with great respect.
“Condoleezza Rice (/ˌkɒndəˈliːzə/ KON-də-LEE-zə; born November 14, 1954) is an American diplomat and political scientist who is the current director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. A member of the Republican Party, she previously served as the 66th United States secretary of state from 2005 to 2009 and as the 20th United States national security advisor from 2001 to 2005. Rice was the first female African-American secretary of state and the first woman to serve as national security advisor. Until the election of Barack Obama as president in 2008.” Wikipedia
Condoleezza has done a lot for African Americans and paved the way for the Obama family on the opposite pole of politics in America.
“The day has to come when it’s not a surprise that a woman has a powerful position.” Condoleezza Rice
She has also done a lot for women in powerful positions not only in America but around the world as well.
When I was living in Busan South Korea I saw her biography in all the department stores but it was in Korean so I didn’t grab a copy.
However I am trying to save money by ordering books I want to read at my local library and I have ordered in Rices biography.