If I Were Hillary . . .

The difference between what we do and

what we are capable of doing

would suffice to solve most of the world's problems.

                   — Mahatma Gandhi

Hillary Clinton is the most admired woman in the world. In a few short weeks, she will resign from her position as Secretary of State. She has said only that she plans to relax, sleep, and recover after an arduous four years during which she has used her gifts and influence to effect change in the world for the better.

We could generate a long list to describe this remarkable woman. But mostly she is known simply as Hillary. The world has watched and prayed for her recovery from a fall — and waited for her to announce what she will do with the next chapter of her life.

Hillary Clinton is in a unique position to promote new respect for women. Prohibitions limiting women are not new. What is new are the current public protests being raised against those who would keep women in subjugated positions.

If I were Hillary . . .

I would use for women the accumulated goodwill and vast network I have cultivated among world leaders. Women's issues have been a passion of mine that has shown through so many difficult situations that I have tackled during my term on the cabinet. 

I want to continue working for women in countries around the world from India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, Egypt and Indonesia to African countries such as the Congo and Sudan. The need is great and perhaps, just perhaps the time is right.

I believe there is much that I can do. I have heard women's brave voices around the world expressing outrage and concerns about their lives in so many different places. I want to use my influence to further their causes.

I watch India aflame with protests over the horrendous rape of a woman on a bus and her subsequent death. In India's contradictory society, where women have held responsible political and professional positions, a highly patriarchal culture still prevails. Now I hear women and men demanding change.

In the troubled nation of Pakistan, the Taliban continues killing girls wanting to be educated, along with women teachers and medical aid workers. While heroic Malala recovers in England from the assassination attempt on her life for being outspoken about girls' rights to an education, other voices continue her crusade. I want to add my voice, because education is key for women in today's world.  Educate a woman and who knows what can happen. And perhaps that is why schools are so feared by so many men.

The extreme sects of the Taliban and al-Qaeda are spreading rumors that vaccinations are a western plot. Their activity is preventing women from bringing their children to clinics to save them from diseases we once thought were nearly eradicated. Or even worse — families are fearful that the Taliban is right. Children everywhere deserve the best chance they might have to live fully, their bodies not crippled from disease — or be condemned to death from preventable diseases.

Wars in undeveloped countries still target women, who do nothing more than try to feed their families. Women, who have not lifted a single gun to fight back against terrorist activity, watch their children starve to death. In Sudan, women are raped as breeding animals to dilute their culture. and the stories of horror faced by women in the Congo are unbearable beyond description. No one, no one should be treated this way.

Recently, an Indonesian town banned women from being passengers on motor scooters unless they ride side-saddle — and the town prohibited them from wearing pants while riding, in order to "protect" them. "We wish to honor women with this ban, because they are delicate creatures." This ban and the reasoning underlying it would be laughable — if it were not so serious and one more step to control women's lives by a distorted interpretation of Islamic law. And I would hardly call myself a delicate creature!

If I were Hillary . . .

It is not just in developing countries that discrimination and violence toward women exist. Women in my own country need to continue to push back against a culture that sees them of secondary value.

During the feminist movement of the 1970's, my generation fought hard to give women opportunities many of their mothers did not believe they should have. The culture at the time wanted to keep us "in the home," while men ran the country, dominated the professions, and much else. Changes during my lifetime have been immense. I am who I am today, because of these many women's voices and actions.

At the same time, the discrimination  faced by women today is more subtle. Women still are  sex symbols, evident if a person watches much commercial TV. We count the number of women elected to Congress, just as we count the number of nonwhite legislators. At least one positive sign is the male politicians who lost elections this past November for comments about "legitimate rape" and the assertion that a woman cannot become pregnant if raped.

I want to continue to model for women in this country how they can serve as leaders and create change. I want our daughters and granddaughters, who have grown up in times of greater opportunities, to see the work that needs to be done and to learn how to take leadership roles. Because my generation sought change. 

******* 

Hillary Clinton's gifts mean she can take on issues that most of the rest of us cannot. For myself, I have waged my own efforts during my lifetime on behalf of women. Empowering women is something I strongly believe is important. Sometimes women have used their influence well. At other times, they have emulated the very males who would limit them. Hillary has the wisdom to do otherwise.

In the voices being raised today, I see hope for a better world for all of us.