Opinion> Hillary Clinton> Talking It Over 1999 08 30

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Talking It Over

It really is a small world. Last weekend, I took a historical steamboat along the shores of Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, stopping briefly in the small town of Brunnen. Upon disembarking, I was welcomed by the Mayor, who told me he had been an exchange student in Sioux City, Iowa — imagine that! — and had never dreamed he would be hosting the First Lady of the United States in his hometown.

It was an invitation to speak at the World Economic Forum that brought me to Switzerland. In the mountain town of Davos, business, political, academic and media leaders from around the world met to grapple with the challenges of the 21st century. I listened as leaders discussed strategies to deal with the complexities of the new global economy and the importance of strong and stable governments. I urged them to pay serious attention not only to political and economic issues but also to the growth and nurturing of civil societies. It's our families, religious institutions, voluntary associations and cultures that will ultimately ensure our survival as thriving, free and open democratic nations.

No matter where I travel, I'm reminded of how interdependent we all are, as people and as nations. Particularly in this time of change and uncertainty, we must stand together to face the extraordinary challenges and opportunities of the future — and work together to build democracy not only in our own countries but around the world.

My trip coincided with the 150th anniversary of the Swiss constitution, a document that draws some of its inspiration from our own. I saw the Swiss commitment to democracy on the first stop of my trip, when I visited the Children's Parliament in Lucerne.

The Children's Parliament is made up of 8- to 14-year-olds who meet every week to debate issues and decide how to distribute the funds they are given by the city. While I was there, the members were engaged in a lively discussion of whether they would fund the construction of a dragon maze on a nearby playground. The debate was lively, and supporters of the maze carried the day.

The children follow one unusual parliamentary rule: Anyone who wants to speak must be holding a stuffed monkey.

I was so impressed by what these future leaders were doing — and their ability to argue their positions — that I promised I would encourage mayors in the United States to consider forming children's parliaments in their own cities.

Today, the Swiss are looking into their past to examine the central role of Swiss banks in handling Nazi gold. While speaking to a large audience at the University of Zurich, I had the chance to meet not only Swiss President Flavio Cotti but also a group of high school students from the city of Bern, who have raised money to aid survivors of the Holocaust. These young citizens are determined to make a difference. Their humanitarian spirit reflects the efforts of their own government, along with the Swiss business community, to confront the tragic events of World War II and help the survivors of the Holocaust.

Every country has the responsibility to look its history squarely in the eye — as I believe we are trying to do here with the President's initiative on race, and as other countries like South Africa, Northern Ireland and Bosnia are doing to confront the pain and divisions in their own societies. Such efforts, however difficult, can help heal the wounds of the past and remind people of what they hold in common, instead of what keeps them apart.

In my speech at the Davos Forum, I expressed my hope that, as we approach the next century, business and government leaders will do more to support civil society — in their own countries and throughout the world. Among other things, I hope to see a much greater commitment to investment in opportunities for women, especially in developing countries. Investment in women means investment in family and community — the foundations of a strong civil society.

I am now heading home after a busy three days and looking forward to the state visit of the leader of one of America's closest allies, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and his wife, Cherie, personal friends of ours. Even so, I can't help thinking back to the beauty of my boat ride on Lake Lucerne past the shores of Switzerland's three original cantons, which pledged their "eternal alliance" back in 1307. On the few moments when the clouds cleared, we could see dramatic mountains rising out of the lake and small villages nestled in the hills.

Most of us think only of those snow-capped Alps and deep mountain lakes when we think of Switzerland. But at the same time, we should try to remember that Switzerland — our "Sister Republic" — also has a long history of democracy.