MADELINE ALBRIGHT

I like our former Secretary of State -- her wise ideas, her ability to speak directly and honestly, and feel she did a good job, communicating America's concern with other countries.

Actually, after I wrote this essay, I put it in my discard pile. Albright is not HOT or even lukewarm these days. I figured most of my readers wouldn't be intrigued by her. I could hear younger readers muttering, "Why read about her --I'd rather hear about Rihanna, or an older movie actress who's singing now, like whatshername -- Gwyneth?"

Well ... Albright has been a major person in the world. She was never very pretty, and now she looks thinner, older, and more fragile, but gee -- her energy is inspiring.

I've always admired her for being tough like TV's "Judge Judy," though never harsh. (Click and read what I wrote about Judge Judy Sheidlin in My Pal the Judge. )

Like Hillary Clinton, Madeline A. seems to have an extraordinarily broad grip on facts, geography, and international politics. Both women retain their femininity, even their sweetness and grace, when dealing with over-bearing macho men. And yes, both these women, major women in the news, in the world, are slipping out of the limelight.

Okay, Albright is more or less retired, but she teaches at Georgetown University, lectures, gives speeches, and writes. Madeline Albright knows when to take a back seat, and she definitely knows when to take over and drive the car.

M.A. has said important things:
"There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women." (Oh boy, do I ever agree -- when I meet a woman like that, I sense it, feel it, and head for the other side of the room.)

M.A. said: "I was taught to strive, not because there were any guarantees of success but because the act of striving is in itself the only way to keep faith with life." (Hey, that's practically my motto.)

M.A. said. "What people have the capacity to choose, they have the ability to change." (Powerful, somewhat complicated thought to dig into -- it helps you discover what's important to YOU and go for it.)

In her published "Memo to the President Elect, How We Can Restore America's Reputation and Leadership," M.A. wrote:
"There is a significant moral difference between a person who commits a violent crime and a person who tries to cross a border illegally in order to put food on the family table. Such migrants my violate our laws against illicit entry, but if that's all they do they are trespassers, not criminals. They deserve to have their dignity respected." (Oh my yes -- this needs to be loudly declared and publicized in all those states that are now jailing immigrants.)

Albright's books. "Madam Secretary: A Memoir," and "The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs," have been best sellers. Also. "Read My Pins, Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box"-- published in 2009, it's reverberating in my mind.

Albright loved to wear pins and chose to wear what reflected her mood -- flowers, butterflies, balloons, insects -- she wore a huge bug pin when she discovered the Russians were bugging the conference room. She tells how her three monkey pins -- see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil -- annoyed Russia's Putin when she told him she'd worn them because of his policy toward Chechnya.

Her pins speak to me in the way that current fashions speak, and tell me what's going on in the minds of the men and women who wear them.

We reach into closets and drawers and grab the clothes, the colors, that say what we're feeling today.

Okay, showing your belly button. the "crack" in back, your muscularity where ever it is on your torso -- showing any of your lovely bulges -- says what's on your mind, and IF that's what's on your mind.

Well ... Sloppy is sloppy; shabby torn holes in your jeans means shabby and torn; and very tight, revealing low cut -- well, sexy is interesting but ...

I'm affected by M.A. Like her, I think it is important for women to help one another -- help males and females -- remind one-and-all, that how you dress, your style, the fashionable way you present yourself, is fashion and fashion is temporary.

So here's why I'm publishing this, here's my big message:

Don't just do what others do, guys.

Pick your pins carefully. BE YOU!