The Audacity Of Hope
The results of the historic US election 2008 are out - Barack Hussein Obama has won the Presidential Election with no doubts whatever. The time for Vote For Change and Yes We Can is definitely here.
The world has been closely following this election and indeed it heaved a collective sigh of relief at the results. What is it about this election that has mesmerized people and why are other countries taking such an interest in what is a US domestic issue? The war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economy and climate change have been the three main issues in this election and they are no doubt what interests the rest of the world as well.
But for me it is the super hero appeal of Obama! That Senator Obama who is an African-American, has 'Hussein' as his middle name, has no political lineage like the Bush, Clinton dynasties pulled it our by sheer hard work, passion, self-belief and intelligence makes him an great hero. We can look up at him and say "Yes We Can!" . And heroes are what we currently lack in these hard times of economic recession and climate change and cynicism! He aspires us to achieve what we set out on! As he said in his historic speech last night in Chicago, the age of responsibility, liberation and oppurtunity are truly here!
I was also thinking how well organized the Obama campaign has been - there have no secret leaks, the endorsements and donations kept coming and the sheer number of volunteers who took part on this occassion makes it a mammoth operation indeed. That it ran smoothly and slickly and made the right moves - have to be attributed to the Senator's ability. It did not also retort to sly campaigning, name calling as the Republican camp has been.
It has been a long and ardorous campaign of 21 months for the Senator from Illionois, first in beating Hilary Clinton for the party ticket, winning over the divides in his own party after the nomination and then the actual campaigning against the Republicans. Let us not forget that McCain was leading the campaign in September. The recession happened and we saw Obama take charge and turn the ballots around. And then personal tragedy of his grand-mother dying stuck just a couple of days ago. He has been in the public eye for so long, each time the cameras waiting to snoop down him when he makes a mistake.
Obama has come out a winner indeed in all this - never losing his temper, being calm and composed, no gaffes, a never say die attitude and a person who carries himself like a President. Are we surprised he won!
On a serious note, I wonder if I pursued something for 21 months with the same commitment that he has had, would I not achieve it?
The world has been closely following this election and indeed it heaved a collective sigh of relief at the results. What is it about this election that has mesmerized people and why are other countries taking such an interest in what is a US domestic issue? The war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economy and climate change have been the three main issues in this election and they are no doubt what interests the rest of the world as well.
But for me it is the super hero appeal of Obama! That Senator Obama who is an African-American, has 'Hussein' as his middle name, has no political lineage like the Bush, Clinton dynasties pulled it our by sheer hard work, passion, self-belief and intelligence makes him an great hero. We can look up at him and say "Yes We Can!" . And heroes are what we currently lack in these hard times of economic recession and climate change and cynicism! He aspires us to achieve what we set out on! As he said in his historic speech last night in Chicago, the age of responsibility, liberation and oppurtunity are truly here!
I was also thinking how well organized the Obama campaign has been - there have no secret leaks, the endorsements and donations kept coming and the sheer number of volunteers who took part on this occassion makes it a mammoth operation indeed. That it ran smoothly and slickly and made the right moves - have to be attributed to the Senator's ability. It did not also retort to sly campaigning, name calling as the Republican camp has been.
It has been a long and ardorous campaign of 21 months for the Senator from Illionois, first in beating Hilary Clinton for the party ticket, winning over the divides in his own party after the nomination and then the actual campaigning against the Republicans. Let us not forget that McCain was leading the campaign in September. The recession happened and we saw Obama take charge and turn the ballots around. And then personal tragedy of his grand-mother dying stuck just a couple of days ago. He has been in the public eye for so long, each time the cameras waiting to snoop down him when he makes a mistake.
Obama has come out a winner indeed in all this - never losing his temper, being calm and composed, no gaffes, a never say die attitude and a person who carries himself like a President. Are we surprised he won!
On a serious note, I wonder if I pursued something for 21 months with the same commitment that he has had, would I not achieve it?