Last night in the presence of 100, 000 screaming crowd in Grant park, Chicago, making the dreams a reality for millions of Americans and in front of billions of ecstatic viewers glued to their TV sets worldwide, Barack Obama created history. He was declared the 44th president of the United States of America.
Now, you may ask, why me, an Indian is so awed by his success as we have many achievements of our own, after being oppressed by the white Westerners because of our skin color for 300 years.
Well his race to the White House was not about race. To my utter astonishment it did matter to a few southern states like Oklahoma, Georgia or the Texan mid-west but for the majority of the Americans who followed the last 21 months of his extra-ordinary campaign, would agree with me that Barack Obama rose beyond class distinction, racial discrimination and partisan politics to say the least.
He emerged at a time when supposedly the greatest nation on Earth fought against a battered existence with millions of job-cuts, thousands of people going homeless, more
suffocating under healthcare debts, two wars, trillions of debt in the world market and the Wall Street crushing---could it be any worse?
Yet, instead of imposing fear and insecurity like the Bush regime, resisting the urge of dirty politics that was so prevalent in the Hillary Clinton campaign, not serenading the past like McCain but looking forward, ignoring the glitz and glamour quotient of Palin and the media, Barack Obama, solely, with his intellect, oratory and vision uplifted the wretched and the confused from the black holes of the past. He inspired. He illuminated. He ushered all to the arduous path to build America again from the bottom-up. He never claimed his fame. He merely acknowledged his duty with great humility.
At this juncture, I could only hope and pray that during my lifetime I’ll be able to witness a true leader, an honest visionary like Obama in my own country, who would preach the mantra of unity in diversity and bring back the lost hope, courage and dignity in the battleground of Indian politics. The stakes were high for him too. The ratios existed. (he got 96% of Black votes, 69% of Latino votes and 68% from first time voters) yet, all he could talk about during his entire campaign tenure was that he is not running for a Black America or a White America but for the United States of America. And, his thoughts reverberated through the vast domains of this effervescent country.
For once this election proved that progressive thinking triumphs over bigoted views, hope conquers over despair, that substance rules over style and honesty still has a place in the dictionary.
So, to my folks in politics back home, if you have your priorities right, we too, can make a difference. Yes, we can!
Now, you may ask, why me, an Indian is so awed by his success as we have many achievements of our own, after being oppressed by the white Westerners because of our skin color for 300 years.
Well his race to the White House was not about race. To my utter astonishment it did matter to a few southern states like Oklahoma, Georgia or the Texan mid-west but for the majority of the Americans who followed the last 21 months of his extra-ordinary campaign, would agree with me that Barack Obama rose beyond class distinction, racial discrimination and partisan politics to say the least.
He emerged at a time when supposedly the greatest nation on Earth fought against a battered existence with millions of job-cuts, thousands of people going homeless, more
suffocating under healthcare debts, two wars, trillions of debt in the world market and the Wall Street crushing---could it be any worse?
Yet, instead of imposing fear and insecurity like the Bush regime, resisting the urge of dirty politics that was so prevalent in the Hillary Clinton campaign, not serenading the past like McCain but looking forward, ignoring the glitz and glamour quotient of Palin and the media, Barack Obama, solely, with his intellect, oratory and vision uplifted the wretched and the confused from the black holes of the past. He inspired. He illuminated. He ushered all to the arduous path to build America again from the bottom-up. He never claimed his fame. He merely acknowledged his duty with great humility.
At this juncture, I could only hope and pray that during my lifetime I’ll be able to witness a true leader, an honest visionary like Obama in my own country, who would preach the mantra of unity in diversity and bring back the lost hope, courage and dignity in the battleground of Indian politics. The stakes were high for him too. The ratios existed. (he got 96% of Black votes, 69% of Latino votes and 68% from first time voters) yet, all he could talk about during his entire campaign tenure was that he is not running for a Black America or a White America but for the United States of America. And, his thoughts reverberated through the vast domains of this effervescent country.
For once this election proved that progressive thinking triumphs over bigoted views, hope conquers over despair, that substance rules over style and honesty still has a place in the dictionary.
So, to my folks in politics back home, if you have your priorities right, we too, can make a difference. Yes, we can!
2 comments:
lets all hope he turns out 2 b the 1 he promotes himslf 2 b.......i wil certainly look frwrd 2 it......
Great writeup Soma
It's really treat to read your articles. I can see a formidable writer in you...Give a try to serious writing!!
I agree with you that, for good or bad change has come.
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