[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000-2001, Book III)]
[December 5, 2000]
[Pages 2611-2615]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Teleconference Remarks and a Question-and-Answer Session With




Team Harmony Rally VII
December 5, 2000

    The President. Thank you very much. Thank you, Josh, for that introduction. Your father would be very proud. 
I also want to thank Jon Jennings, Donna 
Harris-Lewis, and Joyce Zakim. To Rick Rendon, 
thank you for helping to organize Team Harmony VII. I also want to send 
you Hillary's best wishes. As Josh 
said, she's a big fan of Team Harmony and the great work you do.
    And finally, I'd like to thank all the students from throughout New 
England for taking part in what I am told is the largest gathering of 
young people against racism, hatred, and bigotry. And of course, I 
welcome our friends from Belfast and Johannesburg.
    The great thing about this modern world we live in is that we can 
have a conversation like this across the oceans and continents, and it's 
just the beginning. When I look ahead to your future, I see a time when 
we'll have unbelievable scientific discoveries. I believe your children 
will be born, literally, with a life expectancy of about 100 years. 
We're unlocking the secrets of the human genes. You will be citizens of 
the world in ways that no one else has ever been because of the way the 
Internet is bringing us together.
    But even though we live in the most modern of worlds, the biggest 
problem we face, as all of you have been discussing, is perhaps the 
oldest problem of human society: People are afraid

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of those who are different from them because of things like race, 
religion, or sexual orientation. And they go from fear to distrust; then 
it's easy to slip from distrust into dehumanization and from 
dehumanization into violence.
    I saw all this when I was a child. I grew up in the southern part of 
the United States when it was completely segregated and where racial 
differences meant everything. I went to a segregated school. It was 
common to sit at segregated lunch counters, to ride even in segregated 
sections of the bus, to go to movies where the seating sections were 
divided, black and white.
    But lucky for me, when I was a little child, I lived for a while 
with my grandparents and then spent a lot of time with them afterward, 
and my grandfather did not believe in this. He was a small grocery store 
owner. Most of his customers were African-Americans. He taught me, 
through his example--and my grandmother, as well--that segregation and 
discrimination were wrong, and it was important that all people be able 
to live in dignity and respect. There is no greater lesson in life.
    I think we can figure out how to solve all our other challenges as 
people if we can only work this one big challenge out, establishing the 
right kind of relationships with one another. That's why in the years 
I've been President, I've worked so very hard to bring us together as 
one America and to work throughout the world to help ensure that all 
people have dignity and an equal shot at life, to work against racial 
and ethnic and religious discrimination, from Northern Ireland to the 
Balkans to the Middle East. We've come a long way on our journey toward 
reconciliation and understanding and mutual respect, but we've still got 
a long way to go. And young people, like you, have a very big role to 
play.
    What is the heart of the challenge? I think it's pretty simple. I 
think we have to do a better job of teaching young people to value 
themselves as inherently worthy and good but not to value themselves by 
comparison to others. Of course, we all belong to groups and cliques and 
organizations. That's a good thing, not a bad thing. Everybody wants to 
belong to some group or another. But it is very important that young 
people be taught, and then that young people teach, that God did not 
create any of us better than any others.
    There are people in life, unfortunately, who just can't feel good 
about themselves, unless they've got somebody else to look down on. It 
is our responsibility to confront this and to stand against it. The life 
we live today is far more interesting, because our societies are more 
diverse. Differences make life exciting. All our nations are richer, our 
future will be more exciting because of our differences, as long as we 
understand clearly that the most important thing we share is our common 
humanity.
    Now, that's what Team Harmony is all about. So I wanted to take a 
few minutes and speak with you, listen to you, and urge you to keep 
talking and listening and reaching out to people who are different from 
you. You may be surprised by what you learn, but you will be confirmed 
in your instinct that our common humanity is the most important thing.
    Not long ago, Hillary sponsored 
one of our millennial events at the White House, and we invited one of 
America's top scientists involved in unlocking the mysteries of the 
human genome. He told us that all humans, genetically, are 99.9 percent 
the same. Then he said that the genetic differences among people of the 
same racial groups are greater than the differences between different 
racial groups. So, we're getting a message here. Science is reaffirming 
what our faith and our values tell us: We do have more in common than 
that which divides us.
    So if you can do something about violence and fear among young 
people, if you can deal with this oldest problem of human society, if 
you can make sure diversity is our greatest strength, then your 
generation will have the brightest future in all human history. You'll 
have the chance to solve age-old problems, to cure diseases, to give 
people opportunities they never could have had before. And we must do 
our part. We're very proud of your leadership in doing yours.
    Again, I thank you for Team Harmony. I thank you for your care and 
concern. I thank you for giving me a chance to come by and visit for a 
few minutes. And now I'll be glad to take your questions. Thank you very 
much.
    Jose Masso. Mr. President, thank you so much 
for joining us this afternoon with Team Harmony. My name is Jose Masso. 
We have a young woman here who would like to ask a question of you, Mr. 
President.

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One America

    Q. Hello, Mr. President. My name is Rachel--[inaudible]--and my 
question is, what advice can you give to the youth of Team Harmony on 
continuing all the work you have done towards creating one America?
    The President. I'm sorry, but I couldn't hear the question.
    Q. What advice can you give to the youth of Team Harmony on 
continuing all the work you have done towards creating one America?
    The President. Thank you very much. Well, first let me say that I 
think that the middle school and high school years, in some ways, are 
the most important time to do the work that Team Harmony advocates and 
celebrates.
    You know, even though I'm not young anymore, I can still remember 
when I was your age. I can remember the kinds of things young people 
worry about. But I'm very grateful that, because of my parents and 
grandparents, I never felt that for me to be okay, I had to think that 
someone else wasn't okay; for me to feel important, I had to believe 
someone else was not important or was insignificant. I'm very grateful 
to my family for teaching me that, and I think that is the central 
message that young people have to teach each other. You've got to 
reinforce the idea that everybody counts, that everybody deserves a 
chance, and that we all do better when we help each other.
    And the other point I want to make about that is that in middle 
school and high school, peers have such an enormous influence over their 
fellow students. If you're here at this conference and you believe in 
what you all are talking about, I hope, when you go back home, you will 
make sure that in your school there is a systematic effort to share 
these ideas and values with other young people, because so many of you 
can have more influence on your friends and classmates than just about 
anybody, even the President of the United States.
    And the most important thing of all is still to get people to be 
proud of their own racial, ethnic, religious heritage, and at the same 
time, being absolutely convinced that other people's different heritage 
is worthy of respect, because the most important thing is our common 
humanity.
    There ought to be a systematic effort to do that in every school in 
America and in every school in Northern Ireland and in every school in 
South Africa and wherever else in the world this is an issue.

Northern Ireland Peace Process

    Barry Tatelman. Thank you, President 
Clinton. My name is Barry Tatelman, and I'm a supporter of Team Harmony. 
We're now going to go to Belfast for a question for President Clinton.
    Q. Hello, Mr. President. My name is Gary--[inaudible]. I'm a 17-
year-old student at--[inaudible]--College in Belfast. My question for 
you today is, you're going to be in Northern Ireland next week. What do 
you hope you will accomplish by a visit?
    The President. I think you asked me what I hope will come out of my 
visit to Northern Ireland. And what I hope will happen is that it will 
encourage the political leaders and the people of Northern Ireland to 
continue working to overcome their differences and to keep moving 
forward on the Good Friday accord.
     So much has already been accomplished. A local government is in 
place that represents all the people; cease-fires are holding; progress 
is made in putting the paramilitary arms beyond use. Significant work is 
being done in the vital areas of human rights, police, and judicial 
reform. We're seeing a lot more investment from America and other 
countries in helping to create good new jobs.
    But if this momentum is not maintained, then the gains would be put 
at risk. The peace process everywhere is a bit like riding a bicycle: 
Both legs have to keep pedaling to keep moving forward and straight, and 
if they don't, then the bicycle could veer off course. And that's not in 
anyone's interest.
    So let me say, we've all got to realize what's at stake here. It's 
easy to just focus on one part of this process, or one issue, and to 
complain. The difficult but far more important task is for everyone to 
keep his or her eyes on the big picture and to work through the issues. 
The hard way offers the hope of peace and progress for all sides. The 
easy way could lead to a cycle of recrimination and potentially even to 
a return of violence and the Troubles.
    Now, I hold no illusion that my visit is going to solve all the 
problems. That is something the parties and the governments have to do. 
But I have taken a deep and genuine interest in supporting the peace 
process since before I took office. And when Prime Minister Blair

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and Prime Minister Ahern and the First 
Minister and Deputy First Minister all told me that if I were to visit, it might help, I 
said, ``Sure, I'll do whatever I can.'' I have worked on this now for 8 
years. I care about it deeply.
    But I would just say to all of you who are watching, we have come so 
far. In a troubled world, the progress in Ireland has been a beacon of 
hope, and we have got to finish the job.
    Eliot Tatelman. Thank you very much, Mr. 
President. My name is Eliot Tatelman, and we're now going to take you to 
South Africa and ask South Africa what questions they would have for the 
President.

South Africa

    Q. My name is Hloni Mongola. I am 15 years of age. It's an honor to 
speak to you, Mr. President, and I hope that you answer our question in 
a positive and a significant way. I'd like to ask you two questions; 
that's if you don't mind. You know that South African youth struggled 
against apartheid, and they won, which we are appreciative of that. Now, 
we suddenly found out that there are no jobs, and AIDS is killing our 
people. We want to find out how you advise us, the youth of Africa, on 
solving this problem.
     And the second question is this: You realize that most of the youth 
in Africa admires you. We would like you to give us three of your best--
[inaudible].
    The President. I can't hear you, but I think you asked me a question 
about South Africa and the AIDS issue. So I hope you can hear me. Let me 
talk first about AIDS.
    I am very concerned about what it could do to South Africa and, 
indeed, to many other countries throughout the African continent. We 
have to work together to fight this epidemic. It threatens all South 
Africans, Americans, the young, the old, black, and white. We are 
working hard here to support your efforts in South Africa with a 
dramatic increase in funding for international AIDS programs.
    But frankly, the youth of South Africa have a critical role, as 
well. First, you have to remember that AIDS is 100 percent preventable. 
You must educate yourselves and educate others and talk about this 
disease no matter how hard it is. If you and all your classmates do 
this, you can protect yourselves and an entire generation. Meanwhile, we 
have to keep working on care, making the medicine more affordable, on 
prevention, on a cure. We have to work on all that. But don't forget, 
before medicine, this is still 100 percent preventable. And that's 
something that those of you involved in this conference in South Africa 
could have a big impact on.
    South Africa's new political freedom is an inspiration to all of us 
in America and, indeed, to people throughout the world. And I know that 
the economic challenges are enormous, especially in terms of 
unemployment. There are differences between what the Government can do 
and what you can do.
    What I would urge all of you to do is to concentrate on getting a 
good education and learning skills that can increase your country's 
productivity. You're the first generation to really understand 
computers, to have access to learning how to run the small enterprises 
needed to build South Africa's rural economy, to have access to the 
language skills needed to help your country trade with the rest of the 
world. If you take advantage of these opportunities, you will take South 
Africa a long way toward being a stronger country with a better economy, 
with more opportunities for young people, and a greater chance to 
prosper in the global economy. I also think you should do whatever you 
can to encourage all the other young people you know to stay in school.
    And finally, let me just say one thing. The AIDS issue and the 
economic issue are related. Money the Government has to spend on AIDS is 
money that can't be spent on education and economic development. And if 
you lose large numbers of a whole generation, they won't be out there in 
their working years contributing to the wealth and strength of your 
country.
    So again I implore you--we'll do what we can to help, but you make 
sure that every young person--every young person--is committed to doing 
what it takes to avoid HIV and AIDS. You make sure that you stay in 
school as long as you can and to keep your friends in school. And if you 
do that, then we'll do what we can to work with your Government to 
create economic opportunity and to bring whatever miracles modern 
medicine can produce to deal with the terrible horrors of AIDS. We'll 
get through this, but you have to do your part, as well.
    Thank you very much.
    Let me say to all of you, I want to thank you for the honor of 
addressing you, but I want to thank you even more for the work you're 
doing and the great spirit with which you're

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doing it. Nothing is more important to our future. I intend to keep 
working with you in the years to come. Even though I won't be President, 
there still may be a thing I can do to help you along the way.
    And to all my friends in Belfast, I look forward to visiting you 
very soon. Keep up the work toward peace. Thank you very much.
    Q. Mr. President, before you go, we would like to make a special 
presentation to you. On behalf of the Team Harmony Foundation, I'd like 
to thank you for being a part of today and for your lifelong commitment 
and leadership.
    The President. Thank you. Thank you.
    Q. Mr. President, for all you have done, to further race relations 
here in the United States through your initiative, One America, we would 
like to thank you.
    Q. And now we have someone in Belfast, correct?
    Q. President Clinton, for all you have done to promote peace amongst 
the people of Northern Ireland, we thank you.
    Q. And now, our friends in South Africa.
    Q. President Clinton, for being a friend to South Africa and for 
your commitment to our freedom and our future, we would like to thank 
you very much. Thank you.
    Q. Mr. President, we proudly present you with the Team Harmony 
lifetime achievement award.
    Q. Here it is. Thank you, Mr. President.
    The President. Thank you. Bye, Jon.

Note: The President spoke by satellite at 12:14 p.m. from Room 459 in 
the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building to the rally meeting 
at the Fleet Center in Boston, MA. The President's remarks were also 
transmitted to participants in Northern Ireland and South Africa. In his 
remarks, he referred to Josh Zakim, son of the late Team Harmony 
cofounder Lenny P. Zakim; Donna Harris-Lewis and Joyce Zakim, members, 
board of advisors, Team Harmony; Deputy Assistant Attorney General for 
the Department of Justice Jon Jennings and Richard H. (Rick) Rendon, 
cofounders, Team Harmony; Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United 
Kingdom; Prime Minister Bertie Ahern of Ireland; and First Minister 
David Trimble and Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon of Northern 
Ireland.