| For the first time in our nation’s history, we | | | | for attending school: “This is not a culture. This is |
| have an impassioned feminist at the helm of United | | | | not a custom. This is criminal.” She denounces |
| States Foreign Policy. Her name is Hillary Rodham | | | | those who commit the atrocities and says “They |
| Clinton. | | | | want to maintain an attitude that keeps women |
| Following her confirmation hearing for the post of | | | | unhealthy, unfed, uneducated.” Clinton says their |
| Secretary of State, Clinton’s thoughtful and | | | | actions ”result all too often in violence against |
| comprehensive approach to global conflict resolution is | | | | these young women.” |
| already being hailed as ”Smart Power”. That | | | | Hillary Clinton vows that protecting women and their |
| comes as no surprise to those who have been | | | | human rights will not be an adjunct, but central to her |
| following this superwoman’s career and have | | | | foreign policy. As Secretary of State, she hopes to |
| long admired her brilliance. | | | | persuade other governments that “we cannot |
| Hillary Clinton doesn’t just have a head for | | | | have a free, prosperous, peaceful, progressive world |
| leadership, she has the heart for it, too. In describing | | | | if women are treated in such a discriminatory and |
| her approach to foreign policy, she is inspired by the | | | | violent way”. She embraces it as a |
| ancient Roman poet Terence who, though born a | | | | ”pledge” and considers it a matter of national |
| slave, rose to become one of the great voices of his | | | | security. |
| time. He said, “In every endeavor, the seemly | | | | In 1995 in China, Hillary Clinton said the famous |
| course for wise men is to try persuasion first”. | | | | words, “Women’s Rights are Human |
| Hillary reflected, “The same truth binds wise | | | | Rights”. Now, as Secretary of State, she will be |
| women as well”. | | | | able to make her vision of a better world for women |
| While some foreign policy conflicts might be open to | | | | part of America’s 21st Century global initiative. |
| negotiation, Hillary’s view of the crimes against | | | | “Our foreign policy must reflect our deep |
| women around the world is uncompromising. Unlike | | | | commitment to the cause of making human rights a |
| predecessors who might have delicately avoided or | | | | reality for millions of oppressed people around the |
| even accommodated such traditions as ones we | | | | world. Of particular concern to me is the plight of |
| should not presume to judge, Hillary’s | | | | women and girls, who comprise the majority of the |
| condemnation is bold and clear. She decries the | | | | world’s unhealthy, unschooled, unfed, and unpaid. |
| practice of acid burnings in Pakistan and the | | | | If half of the world’s population remains |
| punishment of women for divorce. She promises that | | | | vulnerable to economic, political, legal, and social |
| under her watch, The Office of Human Trafficking | | | | marginalization, our hope of advancing democracy and |
| and the Women’s Office will have a place of | | | | prosperity will remain in serious jeopardy. We still |
| special emphasis and the mistreatment of women will | | | | have a long way to go, and the United States must |
| not be relegated to “auxiliary” status in her | | | | remain an unambiguous and unequivocal voice in |
| State Department. | | | | support of women’s rights in every country, |
| She said of the Taliban fighters who targeted girls | | | | every region, on every continent. |