But countries and their media tend to give more credit to themselves than they deserve. Just like we in India took pride in the diverse minority power troika of Manmohan-Sonia-Kalam, it cannot mask the utter lack of equality of opportunity in the country.
While Obama's election is being hailed as bridging the racial divide, fact is that that any white male half as good as Obama would have won as a Democratic candidate (and Obama had to be that much better than a white to do it). If it was not for the anti-incumbency wave against the Republicans bolstered by the greatest shrinking of American personal wealth in years, Obama wouldn't have had the kind of resounding win he did. As somebody said that "when your house is on fire, you don't care if the fireman is black or white". Not many cared if thr President would be ideal company for a backyard beer and barbecue. So there isn't enough evidence that this marks the end of racial bias. Also let's not forget that he is only the 3rd black senator. Arguably this election will help in dismantling racial barriers and prejudices much faster than anything else would have.
But there's no case whatsoever for US bashing . Obama is the first black Head of State in the entire developed world. A sobering thought for Europeans so fond of deriding America for being "racist" among other things. It also underscores that no other country on the planet offers the equality of opportunity that America does
And now for a little pat on our own back. While we are still some time away from a popular elected Prime Minster with Hussein in his or her name, there is probably no country as accepting as India of people of any background in positions of power. If only we could find more like Obama who did not exploit their identities for political advantage!
I agree and hope that this election will dismantle racial barriers. It was also evident in Obama's speech though he has never used his race as a weapon. My favorite part of his victory speech was "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." As regards voting for a president with whom we can have a beer, well, we know where that took us!
ReplyDeleteYes, this is a moment to celebrate years of racial injustice - the years of the Klan, Jim Crow - it is a beginning. That beginning will now have to resist against settling for an administration which is essentially centrist and a return to the Clinton era. Obama won the election because millions came out to vote for "change they could believe in" - but if the Rubins and the Lawrence Summers are going to be economic advisers, change will be elusive. Biden, as a foreign policy hawk, does not inspire much enthusiasm either and if we have Hilary herself as Secretary of State - well, that is the end of any progressive agenda on international affairs! Remember Madelaine Albright's famous words - "We think the price worth it"?
ReplyDeleteSo, although this moment in America's political history holds much hope and the election represents disgruntlement with loss of jobs, lower standards of living, poor health care etc. these battles will have to continue and all progressives who have supported Obama will have to continue to try to get the attention of the president and his cabinet.