November 5, 2008

On witnessing history

Yesterday, I witnessed the unfolding of a new era in American history. My heart elated in joy once the results were final.

Deep in my heart I had hoped for such a moment. As a non-US citizen, I am not eligible to vote but, as a permanent resident, the outcome does matter to me. I don't mind admitting that I was one of those non-believers who didn't think that this country was ready for a non-white president. I shared that sentiment among my close quarters. My opinion was based on how some of my quite sophisticated white friends would hide their biases under the guile of conservatism or by pointing to lack of experience of Obama. If this is the attitude of the Ivy-educated man, how the mass is going to react, I thought.

Einstein always maintained that imagination is more powerful than experience. I wholeheartedly subscribe to that theory. I am glad to see that imagination came out victorious over experience. Imagination to dream over experience of tradition! To paraphrase him again, insanity is when one tries the same thing and expects different results. Why would someone, who in his own admission voted with Bush 90% of the time over the past 8 years, be a better choice to lead us to hope and to a better future?
The country needs a leader who is cool, composed and collected, who comes across intelligent, articulate and visionary. I think Obama can bridge the gap inside and outside the US and provide the thought leadership that is badly missing. This is one guy who understands the Leadership Law of the Inner Circle, that a leader is only as good as the lieutenants he surrounds himself with. Obama has definitely surrounded himself with some very smart individuals.



© 2008 Sanjoy Haldar

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