Long Beach, Calif., USA 27 Sept 2006 (Don Jergler/www.presstelegram.com) - His Holiness the Dalai Lama was in Long Beach on Tuesday to offer his vision of how to build a better world: More women must become leaders and schools must teach compassion.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver and Martha Stewart perked up the crowd in the morning, followed at noon by Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, 'Meet the Press' host Tim Russert, columnist Anna Quindlen and ABC President Ann Sweeney. 'The education system has been negligent about our inner value,' he said. 'We have to find ways to educate moral values without religion,' said the Dalai Lama, who was quick to add that it is important to respect all religions as well as the beliefs of those who are not religious. At one point during the speech, laughter erupted when the monk donned a red visor. 'That's your interest,' he said pointing to the lights and the audience. Then, turning his finger to the hat, he added, 'This is my interest.' 'As a man I can honestly say that I've been fortunate to have surrounded myself with smart, savvy, strong, independent and accomplished women,' he said. 'One of the things I've learned (is that) when women on a mission get together: smart men stay out of the way.' The governor was followed by Stewart, who talked about her career from aspiring architect to stock broker to caterer to building a multimillion-dollar image and reputation. flashed a large image of her on the big screens. 'Stop it. Stop. Stop,' she mouthed, as if embarrassed by her daughter's remarks. Maria Shriver discussed her life and transition from television anchorwoman and author to mother and caretaker of her elderly parents. Turning the subject to Schwarzenegger, as a governor who is 'having the time of his life,' she said, 'I think he's doing a great job at that, and I'm really proud of him.'
'She taught me that you don't have to make a lot of noise for people to pay attention to you,' he said.
Columnist Anna Quindlen's message was that one must help people as well as help themselves.
Ferguson brought with her to the podium a little red-headed rag doll, which she said was in her office in the World Trade Center when it was destroyed in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
A firefighter later found it in the rubble and put it in his hat, and it was identified by talk show host Larry King as Ferguson's doll, which she calls 'Little Red.'
'She's a fighter, she's a survivor, she's a woman and she's here to tell the tale,' she said of the doll.
At age 12, Ferguson's mother left her to be with a man in Argentina, she said.
'I never saw her again in England,' Ferguson said, adding that the situation caused her to build a fortress 'and everybody knows it as Fergie.'
She went on to discuss the compulsive eating problem she developed.
'My only friend was food,' said Ferguson, who is now a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers.
Despite, or because of, being left by her mother, Ferguson, a mother of two, said she places great importance on motherhood.
'I believe that mother(hood) is everything,' Ferguson said.
Shriver presented her Minerva Awards for women who made contributions to the state, with a lifetime Minerva Award going to Sally Ride, the first woman astronaut.
Ride, who has worked to encourage girls and young women to study science, gave a can-do speech.
'When I was a little girl, I always dreamed of flying into space, and amazingly, that dream came true,' she said.
People closed their eyes or bowed their heads and took calculated breaths at his instruction. He asked people to either reflect on their religion or to focus on their mother's compassion.
He then exited with thanks to the audience, his hands clasped.
Shriver closed the conference with a few quick words.