To America
IF there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
I don’t know if Barack Obama’s presidency will be a success. I don’t know if the American economy will allow him to implement his domestic agenda or whether diplomacy and military action will be enough to find a solution to the problems in Afghanistan.
What I think I know is that regardless of how cynical you may be, Barack Obama’s words have a certain truth to them. A strong American democracy is far from inevitable, but last night it showed its resillience.
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very well put Shariq and I agree with each and every word in this post.
Anything is possible in America they say and yesterday was no different.
I disagree with President Elect Obama on a whole host of things including his intent to equate Afghanistan and Kashmir to parts of his economic policy and I never drank the cool aid that many did. But this whole election has restored the faith of millions of Americans in their democracy and the power of the individual.
From this morning, it would be so much more difficult for anyone in America especially a young person to say my race stopped me from achieving what I could.
Less than 150 years after an American President from Illinois signed the Emancipation Proclamation — we have a Black President from Illinois. That is truly remarkable.
I am hoping that the Obama Presidency is a successful one and that he listens as he said he would especially when people disagree with him; and continues to build coalitions of peace and prosperity around the globe.
I still disagree with him on many issues but I hope and pray that he succeeds — if he fails the hope could very easily turn into despair and that is something the world can ill afford.
Again a very good post as usual Shariq and with you I raise my glass to America for once again being the beacon of hope and force for good and positive change.
“…election has restored the faith of millions of Americans in their democracy and the power of the individual.”
In past elections ‘A’ squabbled with ‘B’ and sometimes ‘A’ won and sometimes ‘B’ won. However both ‘A’ and ‘B’ were broadly speaking right wing interchangeble outlooks.
Barack, although he is politically ‘A’ or ‘B’ – (it matters not) – it his person – his body, his physical being, not his policies ( does he have policies?)that decloaked the hidden electrate ‘C ‘, which has now made its presence felt.
He has uncloaked a whole new electorate, and with this victory , ‘C’ will realise it has the power to swing future contests between ‘A’ and ‘B’ who are still the majority of Americans.
America has changed because these ‘C’ are now a political force at the ballot box and their votes are up for grabs in future elections. We will see how ‘C’ is accomodated in American politics. That is the interesting future.
Personnaly speaking I think talk of ‘individuals’ being able to live the American dream is a narrative that has had its day – its has always been right wing narrative that is a sop to cloak exploitation.
justforfun
They’d never elect a Muslim. That’s not possible.
Let’s not forget the controversy of is he or isn’t he a Muslim.
I hate the word Never Platinum.
If African Americans had that attitude we would not have seen this day.
“If your life is such that you’re placing all your hopes in a politician, then may I humbly suggest you get yourself a crate of superlager and a cardboard box and stop wasting everyone’s time.”
Shamit,
Amen. I am still in tears, and I am an old white guy.
President Obama could turn this world upside down. For the better, I think.
Salim
Who in this post or comments have suggested that all their hopes are being placed in a particular politician? Err No one.
This post talks about the American Ideal and the American Dream where everything is possible and whether you agree with Obama or not — you have to give America its due.
*******************************
Just for Fun:
“Personnaly speaking I think talk of ‘individuals’ being able to live the American dream is a narrative that has had its day – its has always been right wing narrative that is a sop to cloak exploitation.”
Well Harry Truman — Colin Powell — Bill Clinton — Barrack Obama — Condi Rice — Babe Ruth — Martin Luther King — Donna Shala — Late Ron Brown — yeah they are all right wing nutters — Oh what about Michelle Obama?
Needless to say I disagree — and it has never been a right wing narrative — it has been an American narrative. A simple example which has been highlighted by me and others on PP –
Majority of the Ivy league Freshman Class come from American public school system and it represents all economic and racial backgrounds — even today. And in today’s world education opportunity is key to success in a global knowledge based economy.
If anything the importance of the reality of the American Dream is more relevant today than it was
ever before.
Where else in the World do you see another Google or Microsoft coming up? Where else in the world do you see a minority candidate being elected to the highest office in the land?
Shariq:
A strong American democracy is far from inevitable, but last night it showed its resillience.
Yes, I agree.
The world’s other largest democracy goes to the polls some in the new year. The contrasts between the just concluded American election campaign and the Indian one, that is underway, could not be starker. There’s a good article by Meenakshi Ganguly (senior researcher on south Asia for Human Rights Watch) at openDemocracy:
In India it’s the politics of division that is far more popular among politicians, not the politics of unity or hope.
Douglas
As always thank you.
Shamit
Aji
“In India it’s the politics of division that is far more popular among politicians, not the politics of unity or hope.”
Brilliant and I could not agree more. Well put
aji, excellent point. i think one thing which could be good for india’s future is the emergence of a national media which helps undercut some of the regional differences in particular. having said that, the differeces also encourage plurality and prevent one group from becoming too powerful.
Excellent result. Its been a long campaign.
Congratulations to Douglas for winning his bet.
Now we have to be both hopeful that he can pull it off, and anxious of what could happen if he fails.
If McCain had won, it would have been the end of the US. The risk now is that its been delayed and the goodwill that Obama has brought that country must not be squandered.
America’s in terminal decline as a superpower but its eventual demise has been postponed for a few more decades thanks to this Obama win and the US electorate seeing some fucking sense after TWO CONSECUTIVE BUSH WINS.
Ok – I suppose I should be the first to stick my head above the parapet.
It’s great that Obama won, and no, the symbolism can and should not be ignored. But isn’t this more-or-less the reaction to New Labour’s victory in 1997? I realise, of course, that no one thinks we have all just moved to the land of milk and honey but I really do fear that some people seem to almost asking to be deceived.
‘I don’t know if Barack Obama’s presidency will be a success. I don’t know if the American economy will allow him to implement his domestic agenda or whether diplomacy and military action will be enough to find a solution to the problems in Afghanistan.’
All very true Shariq (though the words ‘Iraq’ and ‘Palestine’ really need to be in there), what we are seeing is what used to be called the feel-good factor. I hope Obama lives up to even a fraction of the promise, but candidly I am not holding my breath. He inherits difficult problems and many factors are out of his hands. And of course the talk-board chatterati will be sharpening their fangs. I hope the tide does not turn like it did for Blair – but I won’t pretend I am optimistic.
And all of this, of course rather assumes that Obama will not get hit by a terror extravaganza/demands for war/some other divisive crisis.
Let’s not forget, right now Obama is thinking about what every other 1st term president wants – a second term.
I hope his coalition holds, that he is a success and that he learns from his predecessors. But I’m not reaching for the champagne quite yet.
“yeah they are all right wing nutters ”
Shamit – Don’t put words into my mouth – You have written ‘nutters’ – not me – so don’t get hysterical!
An ‘American’ narrative – rather than right wing narrative. If that is what you want to say then fine -I won’t argue the distinction, because American politics is ‘right wing’ – it has been for since its founding fathers – its a simple statement of fact.
To argue ‘Democrats’ are some sort of Left party is a one approach, but in a European context which is where most of us waste our time, its not even close to a generic European ‘centrist social democratic party’ let alone left wing.
“Majority of the Ivy league Freshman Class come from American public school system and it represents all economic and racial backgrounds — even today. And in today’s world education opportunity is key to success in a global knowledge based economy. ”
not quite sure what your point is. Right wing = white = bad ? Non White = left wing = good ? You must mean something else.
Let us just agree to disagree to what Left and Right means.
BTW – I like your list of people, but I’m not quite sure what it is of?
“Where else in the World do you see another Google or Microsoft coming up? Where else in the world do you see a minority candidate being elected to the highest office in the land?”
Hate to point this out (because its not really relevant as the process is different) – but India has a Sikh PM and an Italian woman as a spare if he should quit. But of course you know that already – but still you chose to write what you wrote – nice rhetoric pity it bares no scrutiny.
There will be many other examples – but it is this ‘American’ exceptionalism mind set, that is breaking into your claims – “Only in America” blah blah blah, – this is what is bring America to its knees.
If you are argueing America is the land of opportunity ( but not for all I might add) – then you will not get any disagreement from me – but just remember not all immigrants make it and remember the people and cultures that have been grubbed out to enable that opportunity. Its this ‘exceptional’ rhetoric that has brought America to its knees. It one thing to maker speeches about it, but to actually belive it is madness and will bring no progress.
The progress will come from ‘C’ – this newly discovered additional enfranchized electrate demanding their share of the American Pie. ‘A’ and ‘B’ are still the same and we will see if they lift their boot off ‘C’. Then we will see the the resiliance of American democracy. I hope that it does survive, because if the most powerful nation on Earth is no longer a democracy – then even my bunker will not be deep enough.
justforfun
Shariq
The German economist and sociologist Max Weber once remarked: “Either one lives ‘for’ politics or one lives ‘off’ it.” The problem in India, as well as other democracies in the developing world, is that today people enter politics for the wrong reasons. It has become simply a means to earn prestige, power and money.
aji – The problem in India, as well as other democracies in the developing world, is that today people enter politics for the wrong reasons. It has become simply a means to earn prestige, power and money.
not just the developing world !! Its the motivation everywhere !
justforfun
just for fun
Point taken — I think the analogy of India is not exactly accurate. But some of the points you made do make sense.
I will respond to you in detail when I got a moment.
But thanks
S
justforfun, I understand your point but beg to differ. The first generation of Indian politicians (like Nehru) lived mostly for politics. They were attracted by the authority they wielded, but also they were motivated by a spirit of service and sacrifice. The current generation are more likely to live off politics. Do you know the number of politicians who have criminal records or have been involved in corruption, swindling public funds for themselves or their parties? Some parties have become entirely dynasty-based parties.
It would have been unthinkable ten, twenty or thirty years ago, but if a black man can become the president of America today then, perhaps, there is hope for India yet. I can’t say I’m too optimistic. Things are going to get a lot worse before they get better, if it ever will.
I am ex-static, joyful and in tears. It is America’s proudest moment. Can hear the words ‘I have a dream’ ringing in my ears.
aji – I see your point – I would add that in the de-colonization decades of the 50s and 60s, there were politians all over the British Empire who were in politics for the goal of freedom for each of their respective colonies. For the most part they were honourable people. Often they were lawyers etc, trained in the British Establishment with ideas of “noblesse oblige” that was the politics of Britain at the time.
Times have changed and even here in the UK it is the function of politics is to be at the pig trough long enough to make ‘money’.
“….swindling public funds for themselves or their parties”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayawati
did you have her in mind? I like the fact she is the highest tax payer !! but from a Dalit background I believe. Shamit – please note – “Only in India!! ”
Obama may well be an exception – a man driven by his ideals not self advancement. I just don’t know, but I fear if the story about his half brother in Kenya are true then his personal compassion for his kith and kin don’t say much for his personal morals but I should not belive the tabloids. He would not be the first person to use ‘the plight of the downtrodden’ to make a career. Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper can still induce a vomiting fit from me.
So I stand by my caution – assume they are all in it for the money and power, and my advice – always always vote for the opposition , whatever the choice (except I broke my rule in 92 – I just could not stomach any more Kinnock speeches)
I would have voted for Obama on this basis alone, but in 2012 I would vote for the next guy.
See what you have all done – my promise to not be cynical till Xmas lasted barely 5 minutes.
justforfun
Somewhat ironically, Obama’s victory (and the massive movement amongst the general American public aiming to achieve this) has probably done considerably more to promote the attractions and benefits of democracy to the rest of the world than the military campaigns and political efforts during the past few years.
Which will hopefully be a source of inspiration to ordinary people everywhere, along with probably being a source of fear to people in power with a more autocratic, tyrannical and frequently corrupt attitude when it comes to imposing and applying their respective modes of government.
I am ex-static, joyful and in tears. It is America’s proudest moment. Can hear the words ‘I have a dream’ ringing in my ears.
Well i might sound cynical, but this election says nothing about race relations in this country. America is segregated than ever. Americans’ notion of themselves and the world are sometimes nauseating. Like this one fella who told me he was more of an Englishman than me just cuz his grand mum was born in Cornwall.
I think we might put politics aside – and celebrate the success of an individual, a party, and a country that voted for change. They voted for potential. We’ve had months and months and months of debate about whether Obama represents ‘black, ‘white’ or whatever, and whether change will happen. But just for the moment, I am overwhelmed – as nauseating as it sounds, i am totally impressed – and happy to park my cynicism for a bit!
I can’t see Britain, the rest of Europe or Canada voting a non-white president in a majority white country . I just can’t.
Vikrant, America is not as segregated as ever. There is no data which suggests that that is true. The biggest divide in America right now is a class one and the decreasing chances of people being born into poverty making it.
never say never, halima’pu.
Sid, I would be so, so, so, pleased to be proven wrong!
as if that was all that mattered
Indeed. No doubt embassy’s round the world will be making that point in their own way. And I seriously doubt we’ll see any Neo Con being happy with that!
This has been a remarkable 24 hours, my phone has just had text message after message since 5am this morning. I just had a call from my Dad who started with the words “Yes we can!”.
No doubt the rightwing will desperately try and frame everything about this and our reactions but to hell with it, for now I’m just smiling. Cold light of day analysis can come later…
word.
I’m just letting waves of relief wash over me. A bit like From Here To Eternity, but without Deborah Kerr.
Jon Stewart must be gutted. The victory signals the decline of his career as a Bush-baiter.
“Yes we can!â€.
“Yes we can!”
“Yes we can!”
I am throwing an election party tomorrow, and we’re contemplating wrapping a green sari around some of the girls, cuting out a cardboard crown and holding torches -how many statues of libertie can we fit in one house?
If Obama thought Joe the Plumber was a problem, wait until Bob the Builder sues for nicking his catch phrase.
Not really. There is still Fox News, the Republican party, Sarah Palin, and Joe Biden.
Exactly. Consider how the GoP went after Clinton and you can see Jon Stewart will probably have more material in the next four years.
Leon (29) – ‘No doubt the rightwing will desperately try and frame everything about this and our reactions but to hell with it, for now I’m just smiling. Cold light of day analysis can come later…’
Isn’t that rather a hostage to fortune?
No.
YAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!!!!!!! Finally!!! His speech was the best I’ve heard on TV.
Leon (37) – Fair enough.
I just wish I shared your confidence. I don’t.
Ravi, Leon – yep you’re absolutely right. Four years of semi-coherent anti-Obama FOX News schtik awaits.
Something that is getting a little lost in all this is the campaign, the local groups, the scale and impact of the organisation and mobilisation. The people made this happen, the Obama campaign sent out this email to remind them of that fact:
Congrats to Obama. Hope triumphed over fear last night. One certainly hopes that Obama can keep at least some of his lofty electoral promises in the deteriorating economic circumstances and the vagaries of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Obama is certainly the globe’s choice as leader of the free world. The best man won. I think McCain was an honourable opponent as well.
I never thought I’d see a black man in the Whitehouse in my lifetime. I guess America has matured on the race debate. Perhaps in 2012 we may see a female candidate duke it out. Even Sarah Palin may be acceptable. Her Conservative feminism has gone down well with the Republican base. She needs to reach out in the next 4 years.
Shit @ 1:
‘I disagree with President Elect Obama on a whole host of things including his intent to equate Afghanistan and Kashmir’
Kashmir and Afghanistan ARE SIMILAR in that both the occupying powers, India and the US, are historically responsible for the dire destabalised situation they find themselves in. They’ve also committed pretty heinous human rights violations. Yet both India and the US pride themselves on being democracies. In the long run both of these countries need to be free of their occupying powers and the majority of the peoples in these countries would agree to that.
If free and fair elections were held in Indian and Paki occupied Kashmir then an independent nation of Kashmir is the most likely outcome. The Indian army has behaved almost as badly as the Pakistanis did during their genocidal war in Bangladesh in 1971.
It’s facinating how you’ve taken to your father’s side of the family (always the stronger side in Asian ties) in both following your father’s Hindu religion and the unsustainable Indian nationalist anti-Muslim views on Kashmir. The Islamic position disapproving Muslim women marrying ‘out’ is vindicated.
You are right though – the Bush years have been really good for Jon Stewart, to the point where he would just show a clip of Bush’s latest fuckup, and get a laugh from the audience without actually having to say anything.
I can’t believe the nightmare is over.
I’ve been hearing a lot of discussion today on whether a minority could be elected a prime-minister in the UK. To me, that’s the wrong goal. That’s playing identity politics, something I abhor.
What we really aspire is that a minority candidate who is better than his white opponent, is not discriminated against because of his ethnicity. I certainly do not want a token minority candidate, who most likely is an incompetent one.
What we saw yesterday was that the majority of Americans decided to overlook Obama’s race and voted (after their daily kool-aid
what objectively was the best candidate. There is no evidence that this would not have happened here. It has not happened here because there aren’t that many good minority politicians. On the other hand, minorities here tend to play identity politics, rather than trascend it.
In a related note, I was surprised to hear Trevor Phillips, the chair of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, saying that more needs to be done to help the white working class – this after last year say they don’t care about Eastern Europeans because they only deal with equality when it comes to non-whites. I suspect that Obama’s rise and his narrative is ressonating here.
I can’t believe he won. I cried, Uncle– who’s a registered Republican but voted for Obama–cried, and the whole famiglia cried. None of us that we’d ever see a black president in our lifetime. Uncle and I basically broke down when we saw Obama’s family up on stage.
I am not in the dark about Obama’s politics– I do not think he will turn around US policies that have been deeply engrained for some time, like our foreign policy, health care, and higher education (I was planning on voting for Nader since I agree with almost all of his positions point by point, but then my paranoia of Obama losing the election got the best of me once I was in the voting booth, so I checked off Obama-Biden). But there is no doubt in my mind that this election was pivotal in US history, and it will encourage people to think differently about race, which is still a huge problem in the US. Obama did win, and white voters did elect for him, but in my mind, the racist McCain supporters stand out and I’m cognizant that they still–and will– exist. But slowly it will change, I hope.
I think for many people, Obama represents so many of us Americans whose culture embraces more than just Anglo-Saxon white American values. I know this is purely symbolic, but the fact that he looks like us and felt at one point that the didn’t feel either here or there resonates with many people. His face is the face of many Americans whose roots come from here and there in this increasingly global world. And his political career is different from most American politicians, particularly his work in Chicago. As a “community organizer,” he put democracy to practice, I think. I do believe that he’s been an opportunist in terms of his voting record, and that he’s had to really water down some of his previous politics which I admire… maybe the “real” Obama will come out once he’s in the White House?
In many ways, he does not represent change, AND yet he does. And for the first time in my entire life, I saw positive coverage of blacks in prime time news last night. That is a huge deal. Maybe the mass media will stop portraying African Americans with negative stereotypes!
I was also thinking last night–in a horrible way, I admit– that maybe we needed eight horrible years of Bush to elect someone like Obama. This thought of mine obviously sucks for the Iraqis, Afghans, Pakistanis, Palestinians, etc who have had to pay the price of Bush policies with their lives, but maybe it was this awful predicament we are in that was a catalyst for some sort of change, however symbolic. And he has renewed faith in the American democratic process, which had previously left many citizens disillusioned. Maybe we should think in baby steps for change in America. Who knows– maybe in my lifetime I’ll see single payer health insurance that is guaranteed to every single American citizen, public education is given greater funding, defense budget and weapons production shrink, we are true supporters of the oppressed rather than helping the oppressors, and social-economic disparity is largely closed.
Also, Shariq, America is still segregated. Having lived in south Chicago, SF and the Bay Area and LA, and now the Imperial Valley, I can say confidently that there is immense segregation.
Vikrant:
“Americans’ notion of themselves and the world are sometimes nauseating.”
I totally agree with this. We are seeing that in the coverage of this election, too.
Sorry for the long comment and numerous maybe’s. But I’m quite emotional and optimistic– even if cautiously so!
MaidMarian #14 re: Obama’s victory and JustForFun #15 re: the American Dream myth– I agree with your comments.
My dad is convinced that Obama’s going to get assassinated, and I think the comparisons to Martin Luther King that were on some news channels certainly don’t help in that respect…
Nice post, Desi. I think it will save you some disappointment if you realise that Obama will govern from the centre: which means, he will tilt towards the right from time to time, and it is very likely that he will include Republicans in his cabinet. He is also a pragmatist and a follower of RealPolitiks: he will need to compromise to get laws passed. Though he seems committed to sort the middle-class from health to education, and I expect him to do so.
Ravi:
“and a follower of RealPolitiks: he will need to compromise to get laws passed.”
Yeah, I know.
Oh, and I hope Michelle Obama will be an active First Lady. I like her a lot, and I think she is going to be a great role model. Go home Laura Bush!
If anyone is interested in hearing a radio program on Obama’s victory, and the constitutional mess he needs to sort out that Bush will be leaving us, here’s the link to the podcast:
http://www.jonwiener.com/?p=289
As one guest put it, Obama is the most constitutionally aware president we’ll have, seeing that he taught constitutional law at Univ. of Chicago, so hopefully he’ll be active about that.
Welcome back Desi.
‘In many ways, he does not represent change, AND yet he does. And for the first time in my entire life, I saw positive coverage of blacks in prime time news last night. That is a huge deal. Maybe the mass media will stop portraying African Americans with negative stereotypes!’
That was the most moving of all for me. Here they were reporting from an african-american college in Washington (which highlighted the segregation), and to see articulate young people expressing their joy and aspirations was inspirational. The abiding thought in this household was why it was we never see this side of the african-american community.
“Go home Laura Bush!”
And make sure you take your atrocious sense of fashion with you not to mention your psychopathic husband.
Sahriq,
Having lived in heartland of this country for over last two years has led me to think otherwise. UK is far more accepting and accodmodating of non-white people!
Having lived in south Chicago, SF and the Bay Area and LA, and now the Imperial Valley, I can say confidently that there is immense segregation.
YES!!! Oakland is a world apart from rest of the bay area so is Chicago southside from the northern suburbs. When i was in Berkeley over the summer, a friend of mine almost shit his pants when we accidently landed in Oakland in BROAD daylight! His rationalisation?… There were too many black people around!
Ravi, if it weren’t for you I wouldn’t keep coming back here. You, above all Picklers, understand what the real issues are here. As does Obama, but then he is half-white and therefore has an intuitive feel for the whole (i.e. unlike Mandela, for example, who is a special case apart and remains easily the greatest figure of our time).
Others — and I recognise Sunny has been trying of late — seem stuck in a 1980s timewarp, where symbolism is everything and where the historic battle against racial prejudices is mixed up with an old-fashioned battle for scarce resources along racial lines.
Due to my own prejudices, I suspect that is because they have grown up in ivory towers, far far away from the ghetto.
Keep it coming Ravi.
Refresh:
“The abiding thought in this household was why it was we never see this side of the african-american community.”
I was living in south Chicago (Hyde Park to be exact) from 2005-2006, and I learned that Chicago has a rich black political heritage. I would listen to black radio on the local radio stations talking about the activism and eloquent articulation of different strands of political ideologies. Compare that to negative portrayal of blacks in the MSM, and it used to burn me up. Blacks are by no means the thugs, gangsters, and apolitical people that they have been made out to be. The only black figures to make it into the national conversations in relation to politics were the ones that had very strong views that were at odds with mainstream ideas, and some of Tupac’s lyrics.
After Obama’s victory though, they’ve been depicted as people having political thoughts and people who have fought for equality that so many of us enjoy (on paper, at the very least). The media has heavily focused on blacks who have lived through the Civil Rights Movement as well. Amazing how much of a difference an election makes. Truly an overnight reversal! This election will give enough food for thought for Media Studies for years to come
Vikrant:
“YES!!! Oakland is a world apart from rest of the bay area so is Chicago southside from the northern suburbs. When i was in Berkeley over the summer, a friend of mine almost shit his pants when we accidently landed in Oakland in BROAD daylight!”
Yeah. People tend to get freaked out particularly at the Fruitvale BART station. And just going from the Lake Merritt station to the Fruitvale one is like crossing from one continent to another in some post-modern film. I should have snapped the shots from the BART window– two extremely contrasting pictures.
““Majority of the Ivy league Freshman Class come from American public school system and it represents all economic and racial backgrounds”
Um…really? Majority of Ivy League freshmen come from all economic and racial backgrounds? Which Ivy League is this? I want to enroll in it!
“Somewhat ironically, Obama’s victory (and the massive movement amongst the general American public aiming to achieve this) has probably done considerably more to promote the attractions and benefits of democracy to the rest of the world than the military campaigns and political efforts during the past few years.”
Well, Karzai is not all about throwing hooters to celebrate Obama’s victory. After the congrats, he pointed out:
“In Afghanistan, where American troops are also deployed in an increasingly bitter war, the election brought a rebuke.
“Our demand is to have no civilian casualties in Afghanistan. The fight against terrorism cannot be won by the bombardment of our villages,†said President Hamid Karzai, referring to a string of coalition airstrikes that have caused civilian casualties.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/world/06worldreax.html?ref=world
JustForFun #15:
Can’t agree with you more, coupled with Vikrant’s observation that Americans’ notions of themselves and the world are often over the top. We definitely think we are the exception and the ones to set ALL the examples and milestones in the world, when it is far from true.
Let’s just say that this election was exceptional for Americans given the American context. In fact, quite a few things that have taken place in America are exceptional to us Americans, partly because I think America often lags behind the times and conservatism and the free market have an unhealthy strangle on US society and politics. We’re not as advanced as some other parts of the world, but we’re advancing in terms of our own parameters, I guess.
I’m going to copy & paste my comment from the other thread since it seems to be more relevant to this discussion and some of the points several of you have made:
Absolutely fantastic news. And what an incredible victory speech, eh. Assuming that he can top that (and I wouldn’t be surprised if he does), I can only imagine what his speech will be like on the day that he’s formally inaugurated as President.
400 years of history, people. And over 200 years since the formal establishment of an independent United States. Only 40-50 years or so since the Civil Rights struggle. Think through the experiences of black people in America during this time, and the significance of all this really hits you. As it obviously hit Jesse Jackson, Oprah Winfrey and some other members of the public who were openly moved to tears during Obama’s speech. Even Colin Powell was momentarily overcome during an interview on CNN today. I can’t wait until Obama eventually meets Nelson Mandela too.
And think about this: To really drive the point home, an anchor on one of the main satellite news channels (either BBC 24 or Sky News, I can’t remember which) commented last night that the first 16 Presidents of the United States would have been able to own Obama as a slave. And let’s not forget the history of Virginia, both as a state containing the capital (Richmond) of the slave-owning Confederacy and a massively intransigent region when it came to conferring Civil Rights on African-Americans in the 60s — a state which, ironically and obviously very symbolically, has now been won by the Democrats.
Many in the media have recently stated that Obama could well end up being not only one of the all-time great American Presidents (up there with Abraham Lincoln etc) but also one of the truly great leaders in world history. I don’t know if Obama’s actions in the years to come can match everyone’s sky-high expectations (although for all we know, he might even surpass them) — and I really, fervently hope he really is the kind of person that everyone desperately believes him to be, and that he remains that way even after prolonged exposure to the intoxicating effects of power — but what I can say to him is “Now that we’ve come this far, for God’s sake don’t let us downâ€. Not just because of what has been promised and the hopes that have been raised, but because there are still plenty of malevolent people out there who, no doubt, are eagerly waiting for the slightest “mistakeâ€, to be used as ammunition to undermine him and potentially destroy him.
As a final word, I know it’s probably now a cliche to say this (albeit a valid one), but I keep thinking of Martin Luther King, both in terms of his own life & struggles and his famous speeches. How proud he would have been to see the historical events we’re all now witnessing, not just because an African-American will soon be occupying the Oval Office but also because of the kind of man — and, hopefully, the kind of leader — Barack Obama is.
Desi @ #58
Its a fact — check it out.
And I think I know what Ivy Leagues are — give me some credit.
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Jai @ 61 – Brilliant