In my living memory, I cant think of a singular event that had collectively lifted the hopes and spirits of so many millions around the world as this one on 20th Jan 2009 – the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of USA.
Different people attribute different reasons for the significance of this event – most common one being the fact that Obama is the first Black man to ever call the White house his home – but to me Obama’s meteoric rise means much more than a defining milestone in America’s quest for racial equality. It’s a re-affirmation of what one can achieve through instilling positive hope rather than fear in millions of people.
And its in this aspect that Obama stands in stark contrast to his predecessor President Bush and infact, to scores of other politicians all over the world in what they routinely do when faced with a truly challenging crisis of any kind. They choose to manipulate millions towards their way by whipping up fear and paranoia – its truly difficult to unite people though positive hope and collectively solve the issue at hand.
When America was in grave crisis after Sep 11, 2001 Bush tried to invoke the prospect of Mushroom clouds hanging over American cities to advance his cause and gain consent for his disastrous wars. He time and again invoked the same fear to push to Americans in to a collective state of numbness and convince them to surrender their freedoms one by one. This was evident in numerous episodes - torturing scores of prisoners in Guantanamo bay and other secret prisons all over the world, spying on millions of Americans without their knowledge or proper legal means, letting thousands of young Americans die in a meaningless war started to settle personal scores. These and other unpopular policies had caused people within and outside America not only to hate Bush but more importantly to diminish people’s faith in democracy and free society.
However Obama presented a positive message of hope, a message of reconciliation – a promise to go back to all that America ‘s founding fathers wanted America to be – a land which would guarantee life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
Obama should be acutely aware of the fact that the people now have very lofty expectations that he will back up all those inspirational speeches with concrete actions. However In one area he already has been the beacon of hope to millions around the world and a welcome departure from all shades of polity all over the world – when it comes to solving complex problems, its better to unite people through positive energy rather than invoking the negative emotions of fear and insecurity.
And I do fervently pray god that HE guide Obama towards success without swerving from the path that he has chosen for his journey.
God Bless America and President Obama ..and all of us!!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
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