Everyone and then his Aunt are writing about Obama. It would be amiss if I dont add my bit.
I somehow dont go gaga over Obama becoming the President. Though I am aware of the racial prejudism that exists in USA, despite their claims to the contrary, that makes it extremely difficult for an Afro-American to become its President, it is worthwhile to note that Obama HAS NOT become the President through a social movement.
During my time I have seen major events happen that has had a profound influence on a country and even the world at large. The collapse of the Berlin Wall, the disintegration of USSR and the dismantling of the Aparatheid regime in South Africa. At a less important level, the replacement of monarchy with an elected government in tiny Nepal.
Obama's election pales in comparison to this. His only virtue is that he is half black. The blacks have rather adopted him after the event. He has never led them nor is he representative of them nor has he a track record of doing anything for them. So if the blacks are going to assume that Obama presidency will change their life, they are sadly mistaken. This is akin to the Dalits in UP thinking their life will undergo a sea change if one of their own ilk, Mayawati, becomes the Chief Minister. And we know her track record.
To tell the truth, Obama has won by default. George Bush had become so unpopular (with the economic crisis being the final nail in his coffin) that if the Democrats had fielded a Broom instead of Obama, it would have won convincingly. McCain just did not stand a chance. And Obama's rhetoric about change will remain just that, a rhetoric. Appointment of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of States and retention of Robert Gates as Secretary of Defence is indicative of his reluctance to take on the system. He got a golden opportunity to make a clean break from the past, but he has not opted to do so. And it shall be increasingly difficult for him to do in the future once he gets into grip with the nitty gritty of governance.
The initial noises Obama made about Kashmir, his focus of Afghanistan (which naturally means more aid to Pakistan) and the Democrats known antipathy towards outsourcing has made him wary in the eyes of India. It is not likely to be a smooth sailing for India, unless we decide to stand up and be counted. But then will we?
