Image Credit: Sister72

Has America really created history by electing an African American to lead?

400 years after Africans were brought as slaves to the US we see a Barack Obama (not totally of African origin again) being elected as President of the US of A.

Well India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Srilanka have had female Prime ministers decades back. Does that make us the most progressive in women issues? I guess not. So how does Obama being elected as the President of US of A make it a world different for the African Americans? He has not had an upbringing similar to the people living in the Bronx. We do not know the depths of his understanding of world issues, let alone American issues yet. Why all this noise before we see if change is a reality.

I do not distrust Obama or demean his capabilities as a president. I think he’s like any other American President, with fair enough foreign policies. But give the guy a chance to prove himself before you say he is the best that can happen to the world. I understand the emotional journey most African Americans are going through during this phase. It was there for the world to see in Rev Jesse Jackson’s eyes as Obama gave his acceptance speech. It’s what they have been waiting for and have voted for this time. I hope that this emotional phase doesn’t fade away and Obama realizes the hopes and expectations people have bestowed him with.

Financial turmoil, troops in Iraq, job uncertainty are all waiting in the fragile American economy for Obama to embrace them. He needs great thinkers, the best of politicians and law makers to crack their heads in the exact opposite direction of the republicans. If he continues with the bail out of financial institutions, well that’s being done already. Let’s wait and watch if the American troops will be called off from Iraq as he promised. He says he will create more jobs in America for Americans. I really don’t think it’s a matter of panic for us. We are reading too much into it currently.

He has put something close to everyone’s heart ahead. He wants to adequately fund schools and get highly qualified teachers for the children. Now that’s a start. He too wants to invest in other sources for fuel. We all want to. Huge amount of tax cut being offered to the working class Americans. That’s a relief. Who wouldn’t want that? He claims to be a very transparent politician.

He will be tested the hardest.

Congratulations Barack Obama and have fun leading!!!

Popularity: 12%

Barrack Obama has been elected the President of United States of America. John McCain called Obama earlier and conceded defeat.

While I watched Obama win today, I recollect some of the points that were being discussed about Obama in the media. Here are some excerpts…

• Obama is about transcending beyond race, gender, geography etc. Business community may not favour him but the fact is the business community respect him for the way he ran the campaign like a  true champion – totally professional !
• Obama is the man. He has united the whole of the United States of America.
• Obama made more people become citizens. He is expected to change the tone of the country – economics, politics etc.
• The healing touch, education has just begun. There is a long way to go through now. The amount of pigment in your skin does not decide who you are or your greatness.
• In his biography he had said he is a blank screen where people stared and gave in their opinions. Now he has proven again to the world the audacity of hope.
• The parents now can say to their children – “If he can, so can you. ” This is the rise and fulfillment of an uncommon dream.

Now as he finished Presidential speech in Chicago, Barrack Obama conveyed that he is the President of those who voted for him and those who did not. He is here to bring about a change.

We hope he indeed brings a change to the United States of America which in turn will trigger positive changes for India.

Obama’s election is not just America’s moment of glory but also a defining moment for the world. The world watches for him to deliver and so is India.

We, at IndiaSpecial, wish him all the very best.

Popularity: 13%

Image Credit-Verde

The Presidential Election of the most influential country in the world is only a few days away. As many observers have noted, it is a historic election since the winning ticket will either have the first African-American President or the first woman Vice President. The election results will have implications beyond the US boundaries since both the campaigns have been promising a fundamental change in the way US conducts its domestic and international affairs. Understandably, the whole world is following the election with great interest.

Several polls and surveys have been conducted in different countries across the world to find which Presidential candidate is popul in these countries.  A BBC poll conducted in 22 countries revealed that Democrat  Barack Obama was preferred over Republican  John McCain by a 4-to-1 margin. A survey conducted in Germany showed that 72 percent preferred  Obama over  McCain.  It is not surprising that when Obama made a speech in Berlin, 200,000 people turned up to listen to him.  The most comprehensive poll was conducted by Gallup. Gallup’s polls indicate that Obama is the overwhelming favorite in Europe, Africa (Obama’s father was a Kenyan), most of Middle East Asia and Developed Asia (Japan, S.Korea, Singapore and Australia).

Now here comes the most interesting part.

9 of 10 respondents in both India and Pakistan did not have an opinion/preference for either candidate. In summary, 7% of Indian respondents favored Obama and 2 % favored McCain. The response of Indians in the Gallup poll is remarkable considering the fact that India and US are moving closer to each other at economic, political and cultural levels.  It is very much possible that the 10% who expressed their preference are from urban India who have personal stakes in the US election (probably their near and dear are in US).

. So, which candidate is good for India ? Obama has expressed the view that firms outsourcing jobs outside will not get tax breaks.

Obama is also reported to have voted to reduce the number of visas for foreign workers. This might have a negative impact on Indian IT firms. Obama is cautious about free trade whereas McCain is a strong supporter of free trade and has fewer difficulties with outsourcing. Obama also supports subsidies for American farmers.

It is not just Obama,  his Democratic party has always been less enthusiastic about free trade and favor protectionism. It was during the presidency of Bill Clinton(considered to be a pro-Indian President), another Democrat, that US imposed sanctions against India for conducting the nuclear test. And it was a Republican President, George Bush, who redefined US’s relation with India and took it a much higher plane. He played a crucial role in ending India’s nuclear isolation. It is doubtful if Republicans would have imposed sanctions against India if they were in power. So, in general, Republicans are perceived to be better for Indo-US relations.

Eminent “Economic Times” columnist Swaminathan S. A. Aiyar discusses these issues in further detail and cautions Indians not to be too excited about an Obama victory. He sums up saying that an Obama victory will be great for US but not necessarily for India. Interestingly, Swaminathan Aiyar’s article was partially reprinted in the US newspaper Wall Street Journal as an argument against electing Obama. Wall Street Journal is a conservative and pro-Business newspaper owned by media Mogul Rupert Murdoch (The same guy who introduced Star TV in India) and is unabashedly anti-Obama.

To his credit, Obama recognizes the increasing influence of Indian-American community in US politics. He said that he supports the Indo-US nuclear deal, greeted the Sikh community on the tercentenary of Guru Granth and claims that he has a Hanuman idol in his home as a lucky charm. (This news led Hanuman Bhaktas in Delhi to conduct a 11 day pooja and sent a 15 kg idol to Obama)

Only time will tell how the result of the US presidential elections is going to affect the world in general and India in particular.  Let us hope that whoever wins, the effect on the world is a positive one. In the meantime, let us enjoy the nail-biting finish to the presidential campaign on November 4^th.

PS:  Will we see an Indo-American as a US president soon ? There are already talks about Bobby Jindal’s suitability as a probable Republican Presidential candidate in 2012. Here are the arguments for and against his candidature

It is definitely getting interesting!!

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