Condi Was In Korea Today, But Not For Any Useful Purpose

Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, third from left, speaks during the session “Tough Leadership Decisions in Tough Times” at the Global Women’s Leadership Conference at the Shilla Hotel, in Seoul, Tuesday. Other panelists include, from left, Korea Foundation President Kim Byung-kook, leadership consultant Kate Sweetman, Rice, business journalist William Holstein, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley and former Asiaweek editor Ann Morrison. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon

So, um, yeah, there's Dr. Ferragamo at some utterly pointless conference in Korea. What I love, love, love about this shot is all the pink! Will you just look at all the pink, even, apparently, special pink lights shining out of the seats of their chairs, which HAS to be a metaphor for something. And here is what Condi said:

"I know personally how difficult it is to be a woman in a male dominated field... But we should not fall prey to that argument that we should see a woman like you in a field in order to succeed in it. But if there are no women role models, then find another role model anyway," Rice said, during the panel discussion.

Rice, who as a young girl wanted to become a concert pianist, advised women to "to find something you love to do if you’re going to be good at it." For Rice, it was international politics, and she encouraged women to work hard and find good mentors that will help them advance.

And then there was a brief QandA session with the audience, and that was pretty much that. I'm assuming Condi was paid, like, eleventy gazillion dollars for this strenuous appearance. Here's my favorite part:

Cho Eun-hee, the vice mayor who was formerly in charge of the "Women-Friendly Seoul" project, said the city is trying to reflect females' viewpoint and experiences in every single policy.

She showed a photo of a woman's high heel stuck in a gap of a sidewalk, eliciting laughter from the audience. "The project started with applying women's experiences of not wanting their high heels stuck in cracks of pavements, to the city’s policies," Cho said.

So it's good to know that when it comes to chicks, it's still all about the shoes. But you already knew that.

And finally, notice how all (EDIT: all but one) of the women on stage are all "formerly" this and that? Couldn't they find any women currently in positions of power?