Mme. Secretary was a little overbooked last night. As you know, she was in Tampa delivering the keynote speech at the International Special Operations Gala. Meanwhile, she was being honored at two other events. The International Center for Research on Women presented her with their Champion for Change Leadership Award, and the Sons of Italy presented her with their Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service. We need that museum/library in Seneca Falls for all of her honors and awards!
Unfortunately, the State Department has not made the videos embeddable so far, so I hope the links to the videos work. Here are her remarks.
I would be just plain unforgiveably mean not to share this delightful piece from Jessica Pauline Ogilvie at The Gloss. I am sure many of us noticed that popped collar yesterday. Jessica took it to the fashion pages.International Center for Research on Women Champion for Change Leadership Award Acceptance
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateWashington, DCMay 24, 2012
Good evening. I’m sorry I couldn’t join you in person for this exciting night, but I wanted to say how truly grateful I am to receive this honor, and to thank you for the important work being carried out by the International Center for Research on Women.When the ICRW got its start 35 years ago, the challenges facing women and girls were not high on anyone’s list of foreign-policy priorities. But thanks to many of you here tonight, the world is learning that women and girls aren’t just an issue to deal with on the periphery of more serious policy priorities—they are a serious policy priority. The greatest challenges we face as a nation, whether building stability and peace, countering violent extremism, or promoting democracy, depend on the full participation of women and girls.
That’s why I’ve put women and girls at the center of everything we do at the State Department. That means enhancing women’s civic and political participation, strengthening the role of women in their economies, and bolstering their efforts in peace and security issues. It means taking on discrimination and marginalization, and cultural attitudes that treat women as second-class citizens.
It also means building the partnerships and supporting the innovations that will help women around the world live up their God-given potential, whether developing new irrigation tools for women farmers in Tanzania or making clean cookstoves available to mothers in Indonesia. Much of that work begins with the research going on every day at the ICRW.
But we have more work to do. We need to keep meeting the challenges that stand in the way of advancing the lives of women and girls. I am proud to stand with the ICRW in this effort. Thank you.
Link to video >>>>Video Remarks to Sons of Italy Gala
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateWashington, DCMay 24, 2012
Link to video >>>>Good evening. I’m sorry that I couldn’t be there in person to receive this truly special award, but I wanted to send greetings to so many Sons of Italy friends and colleagues. I especially want to thank Vincent Sarno and Phil Piccigallo for the energy and enthusiasm they bring to everything they do, whether it’s raising tens of millions of dollars for scholarships, or supporting charities that find cures for diseases.Now, you may know that I am not of Italian descent. My ancestors came from places like Warwick and Quebec. But that’s what makes this organization so great. You represent the 26 million Americans of Italian heritage -- the students, teachers, doctors, firefighters and so much more -- but your work and contributions don’t know ethnicity, race, or gender. To you, everyone is a son of Italy.
For over 100 years, your members have given their time, money and energy to educational programs, disaster relief and medical research throughout the world. Your members literally met Italians at Ellis Island and told them where they could learn English and how they could become citizens. 100 years promoting civic engagement, social justice and philanthropy has strengthened the fabric of our society.
Italian-Americans have enriched and enlivened American culture in ways large and small. I am delighted to now be a part of this rich history and culture, and honored to receive a lifetime achievement award from a group that has achieved so much in its own right. Thank you again for all that you are doing to improve lives, build bridges of understanding and promote all that’s great about Italy.
F*$k Yeah, Hillary Clinton Popped Her Collar
Honestly, in response to this turn of events, I just feel like screaming a string of celebratory expletives. That’s how I feel. Hillary Clinton popped her collar to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations committee. Popped her collar!
Read the rest ... (you MUST!) >>>>
