Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

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Remarks by Patricia S. Harrison
Assistant Secretary of State for Educational And Cultural Affairs

Fulbright Visiting Scholars Conference (April 4, 2002)

The Fulbright Impact: Transforming Myth into Reality around the World

Good afternoon and welcome to Washington.

I am pleased to be with you today at this important conference, at this important time in world history.

A time when each of us is asking, How can I help? How can I serve?

In terms of the conference theme "The Images of the United States Around the World: Myths and Realities," I cannot think of any group more grounded in reality than Fulbright Scholars.

Secretary Powell said, "As we work together to end the scourge of terrorism, let us also work to create partnerships for peace and prosperity and democracy."

I know that many of you have been in the United States since the start of the academic year — and in fact, you were here on September 11 when terrorists attacked this country.

I know you witnessed, as we all did, Americans, as well as citizens from other countries, in grief and courage going through that terrible time.

Soon after I was sworn-in by Secretary Powell. Last October, I visited Ground Zero — and was so moved as all of us were by the strength and fortitude and courage and commitment of the firemen and policemen and the health care workers — and hundreds of volunteers, many of them Fulbrighters in New York who refused to go home and stayed and helped.

Reality has replaced myth as we acknowledge the extraordinary efforts made by these, our new heroes.

The reality is that these wonderful people have been among us all the time. We just did not notice them.

Perhaps we were too busy following the myth of the movie star as hero, the rock star, and the athlete.

Perhaps we failed to value their contribution until September 11. But we will not make that mistake again.

And that is why since September 11, so many of us have a renewed sense of mission. I know I do.

First Lady Laura Bush said it so well:

"Everywhere I do," she said, "People tell me that they are reassessing their lives. They are considering pubic service because they want to make a difference in their communities."

"Teaching," she said, "is the greatest community service of all."

And this sentiment is not limited to people in the United States. So many of you represent countries whose citizens were killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center and in fact over 80 countries are represented on the Wall of Nations at Ground Zero.

As I travel throughout the world, I am hopeful because I am meeting with so many people who want to be a catalyst for good..

President Bush said, "We gain strength for a long journey" And that is reality — it will be a long journey.

And what should that journey look like? What role does international educational exchange play in public diplomacy?

To me, it means people-to-people diplomacy.

So in that regard, you are all diplomats. Although I do not have the power to officially give you the title of ambassador, as a Fulbright Scholar that's exactly what you are.

You are ambassadors working to increase mutual respect through education and through relationship building — replacing ignorance and fear with understanding and knowledge.

You start as ambassadors the minute you begin your Fulbright Program and come in contact with people in the United States — people who may not understand your culture or your language.

So first, they get to know you and through you, hundreds, and thousands of others who you represent. It truly is an awesome responsibility.

Imagine the young Kofi Annan coming to this country from Ghana and going to Minnesota. Of course, then he wasn't the Nobel Peace Prize honoree or the Secretary General of the United Nations. He was an unofficial ambassador for his country providing the people of Minnesota perhaps the first Ghanian they had ever met. Lives were changed and stereotypes destroyed.

Kofi Annan did not wait to become KOFI ANNAN in capital letters to make his contribution. He started where he was and as he was.

As so do you.

And Fulbrighters always over perform and over deliver. And for that I say thank you. As I look at each one of you here today, I can safely say you represent a multiplier of at least 10 in your effectiveness.

Pretty good for unofficial ambassadors....

What a powerful impact — one person changing hearts and minds.

Wherever I go, when I ask our embassies what they need, they always answer: more Fulbrighters.

The Fulbright community comprises over 250,000 alumni since the program's inception. These alumni represent 140 countries.

They are prime ministers and poets, scientists and senators, journalists and jurists — and of course, educators like so many of you.

Hamid Karzai, the interim president of Afghanistan, came to the United States at the age of 29. So did the United Kingdom's Tony Blair.

Hundreds of Fulbright alumni have become cabinet ministers, business and labor leaders, journalists, scientists, CEOs, university presidents — all opinion leaders and shapers.

To me, a Fulbright Scholar represents the power of one. One person in integrity and commitment, teaching others — not just through words, but also through your actions, your life, your contribution to community and country.

When one of you says, "I have been to America. I know Americans," people will listen. They may not agree with your assessment, but they will believe that your opinion is your own and that your observations are your own. And for that reason, they have validity and integrity.

Mohammad Al Kuhleel, a Fulbrighter from Syria, and a Muslim working on his Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies at the University of Arizona, told the press:

"People who come to the United States to study, like myself, are the link between the United States and our people — and in the end, educational exchange is the ultimate solution to global terrorism."

A powerful idea. Not myth. It is reality.

As we look at the world we live in, and the challenges today's headlines present, I am heartened by the fact that we have over 700,000 alumni of our programs who are living their lives in a way that makes them part of the solution to global problems.

As we look at the international coalition built by President Bush and Secretary Powell, it is important to note how many leaders in the coalition once studied in the United States.

They know the reality of this country and the myths as well.

Last year, the bureau's programs sponsored 28,000 exchanges — as Fulbright Scholars, as International Visitors, as Humphrey Fellows, as English Language Teachers, as high school students, as collegians, as artists and performers and entrepreneurs.

We estimate that these alumni will share their experiences with a minimum of 7 million people.

The Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs believes this is value added magnification — with positive impact that can and does continue for years.

And we must do more. And that is why exchanges must reach younger, deeper and wider.

We must work to education, to inspire, to increase opportunity for young men and women.

As we gather today, the United States is working to resume exchanges with Afghanistan.

We are launching an initiative linking secondary schools in the United States with schools in Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South and East Asia — to exchange students and teachers — to improve the teaching of languages, geography, social studies and culture in America and abroad.

We are increasing the number of current and future leaders who visit the United States for professional learning; we are increasing music education, arts education and sports exchanges to help young people understand each other's cultures better.

In February, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which I have the privilege to lead, launched a photo exhibit: "After September 11: Images of Ground Zero" — a collection of photographs taken by world renowned photographer and New Yorker Joel Meyerowitz.

The exhibit captures the human toll of terrorism but also affirms the resiliency of the human spirit and what people of good will can accomplish by working together.

This exhibit has opened in 23 countries. I just returned from Istanbul where the exhibit was displayed in the Topkapi Palace Museum. Visitors were moved not only the the images of destruction, but also by the images of strength and courage.

These are qualities that are recognizable beyond the boundaries of nationality or ethnicity or race. These are images that connect because they are truthful. These are images that connect because they underscore the need to promote dialogue on building civil societies.

Since September 11, we have focused on building civil societies through an educated citizenry. We recently launched a new initiative: Partnerships for Learning.

The reality is that young people in many parts of the world are underemployed and undereducated. People of goodwill, educators, business leaders, NGO leaders need to work together to increase opportunity, to restore hope to young lives.

Now is the time of either despair or of great opportunity. I know that as Fulbrighters, you will choose opportunity. You were selected as Fulbrighters because although each of you is distinct and different from one another, you share timeless qualities demonstrated by leaders.

You have a strong need to achieve that is coupled with an equally strong need to contribute; you have curiosity; you are risk takers. And you have an open approach to cultural differences.

You are willing to share the benefits of your Fulbright experience with others. Without that sharing component there would be no multiplier effect.

What you do now and in years to come is critical to our communities, our countries and our world. And I have the utmost confidence that you will be agents for positive change.

Secretary Powell believes that optimism is a force multiplier. And according to experts, optimists believe that what they do can make a big difference, that what they do matters.

Optimists show great resiliency in the face of adversity. Some thing that optimism is a desirable distortion of reality. To my mind, Fulbrighters are the ultimate optimists. They can look at a roadblock and believe that it tells them on thing: there is a road on the other side.

I am confident that together we are helping to find the road on the other side of conflict and turmoil — a road of peace and prosperity and democracy.

This is not a myth, but reality — if we work together.

Thank you.

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