South Asia Student Leader Conference

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the South Asia Student Leader Conference. The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu is thrilled to have gathered young people from around the region for a weekend we hope will be filled with exploration, dialogue, learning, teaching, sharing, and self expression.

We want to discuss with you--the future leaders of South Asia--what it means to be a leader in today’s globalized world, what it means to practice nonviolence, what it means to serve one’s community, what it means to be principled, and what are the rights and responsibilities of a citizen in a democracy. The theme of our conference is "change through dialogue." Some of you might think that is code for "not burning tires and throwing stones," but our focus is not on telling you what NOT to do. Rather we want to establish a dialogue on our understanding of citizenship and give you tools to use as responsible leaders.

Those who understand modern history know that young people energize democracy. Your voices are valuable. You are the conscience of your organizations. You push the leaders ahead and above you. You are the engine of change. You are leaders already.

I wish I could be here for every minute of the conference this weekend, but instead I will leave the speaking and workshops to the experts. That said, you’re not off the hook just yet. Let me share some personal thoughts with you this morning. For me, leadership is about three things: courage, vision, and respect for those you lead.

Courage is a given. The road ahead is not always easy, and it often takes guts to say what you really think, to stand aside from the crowd, to take a principled but unpopular stance. Courage of course has the classic meaning of physical bravery. More importantly, though, courage is sticking to what you believe is right despite all opposition.

I was in Beijing right after 1989’s Tiananmen Square incident. We saw students standing in front of tanks to show their government and the world that they wanted democratic change. We saw them doing it peacefully. They refused to budge in the face of certain danger, and we saw several give their lives for what they believed in. Being in China immediately following that worldwide event helped me understand what political bravery is really about.

Last month in Iraq we witnessed courage no less inspiring. Millions went to the polls in spite of threats; candidates campaigned despite suicide bombings.

Yet courage does not have to mean facing death. Often people who speak out risk only ridicule or public criticism. Facing that with dignity is also courageous.

Bottom line: Never fear to be yourself.

Vision.  Vision is more than knowing what you want to achieve, it is communicating that to the people you wish to lead. It is being decisive and confident in yourself.

One of the most famous visionaries in American history has to be Dr. Martin Luther King. February is actually Black History Month in the United States--a time when we remember and honor African-American history and the leaders who pushed change within American society. So it is most appropriate to invoke his name today.

On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC in 1963, Dr. King famously envisioned a world where his children could hold hands with white children, where freedom would ring from every state, where black people would have the opportunities that the white majority enjoyed. While the United States is still not perfect and must continue to pursue racial equality and harmony, the United States Dr. King envisioned four decades ago has mostly materialized. And he not only had this vision--he made it happen. Moreover, he articulated his vision so well that millions of people joined him.

Bottom line: Know what you want and inspire others to want the same thing.

Finally, respect. Leaders must respect those whom they lead. That means listening and building consensus. While this is painstaking and difficult work, it makes leadership all the more rewarding.

A good example is our American Congress. Elected representatives often go back to their home states to talk with voters and find out what they want. In this way, the public is actually driving government because though the leaders have a voice, they speak with thousands of other voices behind them.

True leaders do not force their will on a reluctant public. True leaders convince their public that their vision is right.

Bottom line: Never underestimate those whom you lead.

The events of the past week here in Nepal remind us that it is always the right time for concerned people to come forward. It also reminds us that the road to democracy is not smooth.

Yet I have seen fledgling democracies take hold in places such as Taiwan and Morocco. I have seen young people fight for democracy in China. I have seen it here. We know that democracies are difficult to manage. As Winston Churchill once said, "Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried."

In a democracy, processes are slow. It can take our U.S. Congress months, even years to debate a bill and make it into a law, but going through that process is necessary. Debate--free speech and listening to others express their opinions--is necessary.

Bottom line: Silencing voices never leads to constructive outcomes.

Well, with those words, I wish you good luck this weekend. While the United States Government is sponsoring this conference, it’s really your conference. You will make the experience worth remembering, you will make it special, you will create leadership networks, you will make friends, you will inspire us, I am sure.

Please use this time to learn, teach others, and express yourself. Have a wonderful time.

Thank you.