To many, money has been everything since the dawn of humanity and civilization, and perhaps since humanity commenced to put a tag price on intelligence, productivity, creativity, trade and social influence. In the United States, wealth is an indication of success and power. In Europe, Africa, the Middle/Near East and many regions of the third world, wealth is simply a financial strength. More people in America would rather listen to Donald Trump screaming: “YOU ARE FIRED”, or lecturing on how to strike a deal and “get rich” than to listen to Bill Moyers, Campbell, Ben Gurion, the Pope, the Dalai Lama, or Bertrand Russell lecturing on African folklore, Indian mythology, state affairs, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and ethics in government relations. Why? Because, Trump might teach them how to make money, how to become famous and steal the headlines! I used to tell my students: "Among the most perfect inventions in history were the tools which preserved our heritage, culture and wisdom, such as the music scale, Alphabet and the terracotta tablets/stones which recorded memorable events of world history...And perhaps, the smile of the woman I love. Among the worst inventions of humankind were: War materiel, biased jurisprudence, Medieval torture tools and the minting of monetary coins. The same thing applies today in America. We will always talk about the famous and the rich. Wealth and money are status symbol. When you have money, people think you are bright and successful. When you lose your assets, social power and position, you become yesterday’s news. You might get lucky and be remembered here and there, but you are no longer a headliner. You become like Australia. Everybody talks about Australia but nobody wants to visit Australia.

CONTRADICTORY, CONVERGENT AND DIVERGENT SOCIAL

The American society has contradictory “truths”, values and ideologies that nourish its social fabric and define its industrial perimeter and moral landscape. Those American values and truths are not ipso facto “La Vérité de La Palice” to foreigners and more particularly to Europeans and citizens of the immense third world and undeveloped countries. In that context, foreigners in assessing and recognizing a person’s importance, value and degree of respectability, tend to take into consideration, very specific criteria and pre-requisites which do not make sense to Americans. For instance, a woman in America who is considered “hot” might be considered in Europe as cold as a French onion soup left over. Especially, if her qualification of “hot” is based upon earning power and gossipy assets. Many of the American ladies who made our list of the most talented and hottest women would not be considered talented and hot in Europe and many parts of the world. Even, the epistemological and terminological use of the word” HOT” is not acceptable and accepted as a “proper and civilized word” in many foreign societies vocabularies. A woman should not be labeled and referred to as “HOT”. Europeans believe that there are so many other attributes, virtues and qualities which should be used instead. Foreigners consider the word “HOT” vulgar and inappropriate, yet it is quite acceptable in America to call a woman “She is hot!” Nevertheless, a great number of the American women who made our list embodies and symbolizes the essence of success, dignity and respectability and would serve as a role model to Europeans, Africans, Middle/Near Easterners, you name it.

Europeans, per esempio, consider former judge and TV personality Catherine Crier as hot as Britney Spears? No doubt, there is a big difference in the personality and character of Mrs. Allot-Marie, Secretary of Defense of France and Jennifer Lopez. There is a sharp contrast in how the magnificently intelligent and bright Monica Crowley and flashy-dashy-scandalous Britney Spears perceives life, relationships and defines priorities. Life, experience, good times and bad times taught us that the most illustrious women in history who remained vivid in our memory, are those who either directly influenced our life, science, welfare, culture, society and future such as Madame Curie, Golda Meier, Ida Lupino, Mother Teresa, Emperor Constantine mother’s Helene, or immensely amused, entertained and intrigued us like Nefertiti, Cleopatra, Marie-Antoinette, Marilyn Monroe, Madonna, Eva Peron, Mata Hari, Marlene Dietrich and even Mae West, Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears!! Many of the famous ladies on our list encompass those qualities, characteristics and “features”. In some instances, I have selected a nominal number of ladies who are not universally known, yet, they have succeeded  in causing their seal and cementing their mark of excellence and superior quality in their fields. Ladies like Linda de Marlor (last year nominee), one of the world’s most flamboyant and experienced tax experts; Nancy Grace and Monica Crowley who are on the top of the list of the brightest and most magnificent women in America. Barbara Cook, the great diva of American concert-halls who is well-known to music lovers in America, yet completely unknown in many parts of the civilized world. Those ladies of excellence who are not worldwide famous were selected, simply, because they are excellent!! Pamela Anderson’s breast is far more famous and “clicked on” than Emma Lazarus’ who wrote    “Give me your tired, your poor…Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” This year's list of the most unusual and outstanding women is colorful and controversial. Big deal!

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