Obama won! Woot!

That, has been my reaction. Both my political and apolitical friends have questioned my exuberant joy at the election of an US President, when, according to some commentators, indications are that his Presidency might put a spanner in outsourcing, bring up old bogeys of Non-proliferation etc., (The Acorn has a fine round-up on related comments here)

Here's why:

• Obama's message is one of Unity, of hope, of Change for the better. Obama's campaign has a positive message at its core. When was the last time you've seen a party/president win on a message of Hope, positivity, in recent years? Not too many times - in fact, it went bonkers in India. (Of course there were the factors of immense press affection in his favour)
  
  
• Obama's campaign, for better or for worse, did not alienate anyone as the "other". That is a significant thing. Having seen America being a totally divided country - and living in a politically divided country myself - its a message that brings hope, that one can look Forward - which's my next point.
  
  
• Obama points to the future, even as he notes the past - he's not hung up on it. Any politician who points to the future, to a New Deal, to hope is a worthy leader - simply because in this world to come with the challenges of Climate Change, nuclear proliferation etc., - its the minimum required to inspire your people and the world that You Can Do It!
  

And not to forget the Impact it will have on India (rest of the world too, I hope)

• People will look towards Obama's win - and end up with the wrong result (like the ToI getting Mayawati). But it does inspire - and democracy will eventually yield to people looking for someone who can Inspire them to look forward with hope, and with the conviction that they can accomplish great feats. (As Tom Alter put it, there's not a single political leader in India who can inspire us to renew faith in the pledge and the goals of our founding fathers)
  
  
• The world requires a US President who seeks to unite the world, who doesnt think Climate Change is a foggy idea of some weird hallucination - and who displays leadership - the courage to make tough choices, sacrifices. If nothing else, then on the Climate Change front.
  
  

If nothing else, Obama's rise gives me hope - for the planet, and consequently for India. And leave aside outsourcing, nuclear non-proliferation for the present - and think of what it would do for a US President to unite 400 million American people behind him. Having been fed on a diet of a Government which can hardly keep itself together, cant keep us safe, cant provide us with basic amenities - it presents a case saying "we can do it too!"

So, I'm happy. Cos Obama restores faith and hope. In democracy.


Tag: Hope, US Presidential Elections, Obama, USA -World Relations, India.