I will admit it....... I have been following the US elections like I belong there. I also have been desperately backing Barack Obama to win his elections. For almost two years we have been watching the election fever grip the headlines on our TV screens. I clearly remember the day when I first heard him speak. I knew he had to be my candidate. My candidate??? For what???
Well, I am an Indian and I don't live in the United States of America. To be honest, that Country is not even on my list of 'Countries I would love to visit'. Apart from what I hear on the News, what I have learnt in School, through friends of mine and through movies and sitcoms, I do not know what is going on there. What I have heard so far is not all that pretty either. Why did I then, follow these elections so intently??? Is it because United States of America is termed' Super Power' or, is it because everything begins and ends with the United States in our everyday life?? Is it because of all the media attention???
I remember following the 2004 elections. I can say for sure neither George Bush nor John Kerry took my breath away. I was partial to Kerry because he was a Democrat ( I do not subscribe to some of the views of the Republicans, on certain subjects because they happen to be close to my heart) and I did not want Bush to go into his second term, because I believe he got his chance and blew it. However it was not the same this time around. I think that man, Barack Hussein Obama II with his charm did a 'voodoo' on me.
Barack Obama is multiracial ( not in context, I still don't understand why you would be called black if half or even most of your bones are white ). That itself is racist in my opinion, well read, possesses fantastic oratorical and literary skills, is an amazing father and husband ( I didn't say that ), seems balanced, is passionate about his causes and he also brings in new hope for the country which is now in doldrums. But...why should I care???
He has just stepped on to the centre stage, is yet to prove his mettle on the big platform and most people think John McCain would have been better for India, considering what Bush has done for us recently, and for some of the policies that Obama stands for. Am still wondering why I was rooting for Obama like he were my own. I did not even think he belonged to another World, which could be at loggerheads with mine. I shamefully admit, am happy for Obama and his family, and for the people whose President he is going to be in a couple of month's time. I have carefully not mentioned the word Country or United States of America here, because I cannot relate to him as the President of United States of America as yet. I see him as a charismatic person and, as a leader who leads from the front.
Coming to the Politics of our Country, are we lacking a leader like him?? We have leaders who have been tested, have failed, have been tested again and failed again. We have time and again elected such Politicians to lead our Country. Why??? Silly as it sounds, we do not choose the President or Prime Minister of our Country??? We only elect the Political Party, which would hold the power to keep the Country together. Sometimes we do not know who the Prime Ministerial candidate is, until after the Elections. Manifestos, Sops and Promises are not made in a Court of Law, so are not binding on the Parties who make them. Am I saying there is a defect in our electoral process?? To be honest, I do not know, coz I believe I do not know enough. Shameful again??? If we had a leader like Obama, would our Country prosper?? Am not sure. We have 'Countries' within our Country, and in my opinion the Regional Politics have failed our National Politics as well. Then again, why do we repeatedly elect old and unhealthy Politicians in the name of experience, to be the Chief Executive of our Country?? Why does he have to be the heir to the Nehru-Gandhi Dynasty?? The latter really frustrates me. Take Manmohan Singh, he does not belong to either of the categories, but I don't see him as a leader as well. He is Mr Nice Intellectual Guy in my eyes, who has been pawned by his aides to the gallows. Can our Country with its diverse culture and religion beliefs afford to have a Head of State who is not a 'leader'?
I think it is time for a 'Barack Obama' to lead our Country. And...why do I take him as an example??? I define a leader as a person who has all of his qualities. They may be only on paper yet, but he has made the cut in my view.
Do we have a leader in our midst???
Well, I am an Indian and I don't live in the United States of America. To be honest, that Country is not even on my list of 'Countries I would love to visit'. Apart from what I hear on the News, what I have learnt in School, through friends of mine and through movies and sitcoms, I do not know what is going on there. What I have heard so far is not all that pretty either. Why did I then, follow these elections so intently??? Is it because United States of America is termed' Super Power' or, is it because everything begins and ends with the United States in our everyday life?? Is it because of all the media attention???
I remember following the 2004 elections. I can say for sure neither George Bush nor John Kerry took my breath away. I was partial to Kerry because he was a Democrat ( I do not subscribe to some of the views of the Republicans, on certain subjects because they happen to be close to my heart) and I did not want Bush to go into his second term, because I believe he got his chance and blew it. However it was not the same this time around. I think that man, Barack Hussein Obama II with his charm did a 'voodoo' on me.
Barack Obama is multiracial ( not in context, I still don't understand why you would be called black if half or even most of your bones are white ). That itself is racist in my opinion, well read, possesses fantastic oratorical and literary skills, is an amazing father and husband ( I didn't say that ), seems balanced, is passionate about his causes and he also brings in new hope for the country which is now in doldrums. But...why should I care???
He has just stepped on to the centre stage, is yet to prove his mettle on the big platform and most people think John McCain would have been better for India, considering what Bush has done for us recently, and for some of the policies that Obama stands for. Am still wondering why I was rooting for Obama like he were my own. I did not even think he belonged to another World, which could be at loggerheads with mine. I shamefully admit, am happy for Obama and his family, and for the people whose President he is going to be in a couple of month's time. I have carefully not mentioned the word Country or United States of America here, because I cannot relate to him as the President of United States of America as yet. I see him as a charismatic person and, as a leader who leads from the front.
Coming to the Politics of our Country, are we lacking a leader like him?? We have leaders who have been tested, have failed, have been tested again and failed again. We have time and again elected such Politicians to lead our Country. Why??? Silly as it sounds, we do not choose the President or Prime Minister of our Country??? We only elect the Political Party, which would hold the power to keep the Country together. Sometimes we do not know who the Prime Ministerial candidate is, until after the Elections. Manifestos, Sops and Promises are not made in a Court of Law, so are not binding on the Parties who make them. Am I saying there is a defect in our electoral process?? To be honest, I do not know, coz I believe I do not know enough. Shameful again??? If we had a leader like Obama, would our Country prosper?? Am not sure. We have 'Countries' within our Country, and in my opinion the Regional Politics have failed our National Politics as well. Then again, why do we repeatedly elect old and unhealthy Politicians in the name of experience, to be the Chief Executive of our Country?? Why does he have to be the heir to the Nehru-Gandhi Dynasty?? The latter really frustrates me. Take Manmohan Singh, he does not belong to either of the categories, but I don't see him as a leader as well. He is Mr Nice Intellectual Guy in my eyes, who has been pawned by his aides to the gallows. Can our Country with its diverse culture and religion beliefs afford to have a Head of State who is not a 'leader'?
I think it is time for a 'Barack Obama' to lead our Country. And...why do I take him as an example??? I define a leader as a person who has all of his qualities. They may be only on paper yet, but he has made the cut in my view.
