DATE: Wednesday, July 23, 1997              TAG: 9707230645

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   76 lines

PRESIDENT CLINTON RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS FROM TEEN-AGERS

Here are President Clinton's responses to questions faxed to him on race relations among teen-agers in America.

Since most people who attend the town meetings are adults, how will this format help race relations among teen-agers?

Young people today have far greater choice and opportunities ahead of them than any previous generation. The thoughts and suggestions of young people across our country have always been important to me and will continue to be, particularly with regard to this initiative on race relations. One reason that I named people of diverse ages and backgrounds to assist me as advisory board members is to ensure that as many perspectives as possible are incorporated into this national dialogue. I know how personally I felt about the issue of race as a high school and college student, and those feelings continue to drive me to action today. Young people must be a part of this dialogue if we are to gain a true understanding of the attitudes prevalent in our society today and those to come. I look forward to hearing from young people across the country, in town hall meetings and other settings, as this initiative unfolds.

What can teens do to improve race relations?

There is a great deal that young people can do to improve race relations. Working in your community to improve evidence of bigotry, whether acting against the desecration of houses of worship or emphasizing positive discussions in your home and workplace, we can each set an example by our action. My grandparents, being poor, Southern pro-civil rights believers, were in the minority when I was growing up. Yet, because of their example, I learned to treat people of different races with respect and dignity. Similarly, I think young people today can teach others by their example.

How do you see affirmative action changing over the next several years, and how will this affect the present generation of minority teens?

We face a very different America in the next century. Already, the state of Hawaii has no majority racial or ethnic group. Five of our nation's largest school districts draw students from over 100 different racial and ethnic groups. In Fairfax, Va., alone, students represent over 150 nations and speak over 100 different languages. A half-century from now there will be no majority race in America, and we must embrace such diversity. When we allow people to pit us against one another or spend energy denying opportunity based on our differences, everyone is held back. But when we give all Americans a chance to develop and use their talents, to be full partners in our common enterprise, then everybody is pushed forward. America is moving closer to fulfilling its promise of equality and opportunity for all, and I remain committed to making sure that all of our citizens have access to that reality. I will continue to stand for affirmative action to ensure that Americans of all backgrounds have access to educational and economic progress.

Are inclusive policies going to be beneficial if people are forced to come together rather than coming together voluntarily?

Change comes because we open our hearts and minds. Our society is more voluntarily integrated than ever, with more and more people sharing neighborhoods, work, social and religious activities across racial lines than ever before. I believe that the majority of the American people agree that it is time to take a look at race relations in this country, and already we've had a good, positive response to this initiative from people across the United States.

How will the presidential program to ``lift the burden of race'' help race relations in the future?

The issue of race relations has been prevalent throughout our nation's history. While we cannot expect to resolve it in one year, it is my hope that this initiative will stimulate honest dialogue, improved policy and better relations among our citizens. This initiative will study the imbalances in opportunity that can be attributed to race, open channels for discussion and refocus policy. We will strive to identify and create solutions for improving race relations and the circumstances of Americans of all races. It is my hope that this initiative will enable Americans to redefine the dreams and prosperity of our citizens in multi-racial terms as we head into the 21st century.

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