Black is Beautiful

If Barack Obama has made history, he can change it too. Yes, he can

Sanjay Kapoor, Hardnews, Delhi

On November 5, 2008, Barack Obama, 47, was elected as the 44th President of the United States of America. The rest of the world, it seems, had already decided on him. As someone pointed out on the day of the voting, the world became America. Understandably, spontaneous celebrations broke out in different countries as if they had elected their own leader. Only in a small corner in India's ruling quarters at Raisina Hill in Delhi, which had publicly expressed their ‘deep love' for the discredited George W Bush, there seemed unease over this pleasant change. Hardnews gathers that this unease has lessened somewhat after it became clear that Hillary Clinton would be the next US Secretary of State. Clinton, in recent years, have made a few trips to India and has some close Indian friends like Sant Singh Chatwal and Vinod Gupta. Chatwal, also, has close ties with India's ruling establishment.

Obama's victory gave expression to the yearning of the angry masses who wanted change. And this stretched beyond the American geographical zone - even as Bush became a hated figure worldwide. Expectedly, for the first time in many years, the pre-poll surveys conducted to find out the ultimate winner coincided, both in the US and rest of the world. It was apparent that inward looking America had finally globalised in its understanding what was good for them and the world. Indeed, their pain and anxiety at what the warmongering Bush had done to their lives was little different from those in the countries who had suffered from his militaristic neocon agenda.

That the majority of the votes went to Barack Obama, despite his colour and Muslim middle name ‘Hussein' in a largely white country, is a clear indication that the people of the US were willing to jettison past prejudices and stereotypes to back a person who rode on the plank of changing the way the country conducts itself.

Obama, a Chicago-based lawyer and a Senator of Illinois, ran a perfect election campaign. His masterful control over language and brilliant eloquence provided him the glitter and charisma that was starkly missing in his opponent. Republican candidate John McCain, despite his personal glory during the Vietnam war, just could not measure up to the high and taxing standards set by the senator from Illinois. McCain looked a person from a different age and time who seemed incapable of finding quick and efficacious solutions to the huge baggage of problems and blunders that Bush was leaving behind.

The democratic candidate showed poise, patience and intelligence to respond adequately when Wall Street collapsed. He displayed qualities of a leader who does not get fazed when the midnight call comes to convey a crisis. His decision to back the $700 billion bailout package, despite deep opposition from Main Street, showed he had the courage to take a stand and conduct himself in a bi-partisan manner. Obama looked very presidential during the run-up to the day of polling and that is what provided the necessary leaven to beat McCain.