-Dedicated to the ones who believe in change-
It’s a wonderful feeling to reflect back to where I have come from and what has inspired me so far in life to be what I am today. It’s even more interesting to look forward to what is going to be inspirational in future for me to become what I hope to be.
It’s funny to think about what I am about to get started here. But that’s not going to stop me. Because, in the words of my inspirer “I am all fired up and ready to go”.
Barrack Obama. Yes, he is a skinny man with a funny name as himself and rest of the world acknowledges. It definitely wouldn’t be a paradox if I say I am completely blown and deeply moved listening to his speeches and his simple theories to get a nation lil organised. Yes he is a politician, so what and who cares? For me, it’s the man and his ideas that mattered. The last time or the only times that I have sat and watched an Afro American speak for more than five continuous minutes would have been in some Denzel Washington’s or Samuel Jackson’s movie (not even Dr.Martin Luther King). Honestly, a mental picture of an Afro American (male) in my head is Rap, dope, thugs, guns, flashy costume jewelry, disgusting hair make over, full time swearing and then there is 50 cent and Snoop Dog as the epitome.
I am not doing this because my cousin in the US did not know much about Obama, (Neither did she know anything about Mohandas Karamchand Ghandhi) and certainly not because Robert de Niro and Oprah Winfrey have endorsed their support for Obama. I am doing this because I want to do this.
I first heard the name Obama in one of Jay Leno’s show and laughed for the funny name. I really thought he should be a joke to run for president being a black man. But then I got curios and my intention was to find out how he made it this far in the first place. Thanks to the frivolous media and Internet for giving me unlimited access to materials to watch, listen and read everything about this fantastic personality. I was really moved watching his speeches (I have mentioned it earlier I know, this is MY blog remember?).
I am just a regular guy. If he has made the same impact on millions of other regular guys and girls with his straight forward talks, then he should be a genuinely decent person. Wouldn’t he? A simple man from a small town, with a Howard grade in law, working with local communities, fighting for middle class and standing firm against ridiculous war (I hated US from day 1 for this) and the list goes on. After all he is an African American and we are talking about him making it in the USA for real. As an Indian you can be cynical about this coz I know we are good at it.
But I want you to look at what we are missing out as young citizens who feel good (read show off) to talk to friends or strangers on topics like our favourite bands, movies, celebrities, authors even Chinese food and why not a politician? I can confront it’s only because the word politics strongly rings the bell for mudslinging, dirty game for the elderly and not for the youth. It’s understood because it was given to us that way and it’s still dominated by the same old gangsters at different levels in our government. But this theory can change, Yes this should change. To make it easier, “For the people”, “By the people” and “Of the people” is not hard to understand. is it?
The way I see this Democrat…
He is a visionary with sensible ideas that can work and not just blind optimism.
He is diverse, eloquent and an inspiring speaker.
He has inspired not just the young, but even the leaders of different nations.
His ideas and plans for the future are based on the core vales of humanity.
He thinks, talks, delivers and lives exactly like a leader needed for this century (not just America).
His methods to change the perception of politics in people’s mind are admirable.
His principles that have brought millions of people together is to see the change in all verticals (education, healthcare, innovation, science etc,. ) and not just politics.
Forty thousand people gathered in Berlin not because US took care of Albert Einstein in his dying days though he was a German. They gather to listen to a great speaker who really spoke his mind, the speech was septacular.
In simple terms, the whole Obama concept to me is like some of my favourite Bruce Springsteen songs / lyrics, you have to relate it to yourself to appreciate it.
It’s no surprise when I say I have no clue about Indian politics or our constitution. It’s actually cool to say that in my country. But I am aware of at least the basics now because I was inspired to do so. Barack Obama is seasoned and a practical person for this and the next generation (Universally) not just Viva la blah blah blah USA alone…
Ridiculous ideas in people’s mind that are actually following the US elections is, Indian economy and jobs will be heavily hit because of increased taxes on outsourcing US companies and jobs going away from India. Come on now, grow up people. Don’t you see the obvious at all? India’s dependency on the US will finally be over. Of course most of our boys will come back home (Not a negative tone). The talent / resource are in India and it has always been here, it was just sponsored by the US in some form or the other like the BPO, call centres and onsite jobs. Now, as Indians we will figure out how to make use of our talents, create new jobs, improve our communities and work out ways to move this nation from developing status to a developed nation (sounds dramatic is it? that’s the fact, we just need to put our heart and soul in it and believe “YES WE CAN” just like our fathers before. There is nothing to be paranoid about. If 65% of the America are in middle class and have lost million jobs since the IT boom, then what’s the percentage of middle class in India? (I guess its 100%) I am confident there are millions out there as patriots who feel the same way about my country and where we should be heading as one nation.
The irony is that, this election is not just about America. To me, it’s about the ideas and the systems that support a nation to rise or fall. Somehow it has sparked.
It doesn’t matter if I have not come across with the best proposition to convince you on the Obamaisms, but I am glad that I have shared my thoughts about an inspiring personality and will leave the judgement to you.
For the record, below are the links to some great speeches by him. There are millions out there on You Tube, get started with these if the above made sense to you. Try to replace the word America to India in all his speeches it fits perfect.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe751kMBwms – Yes we can
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMbBuEoEYnk – Patriotism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-9ry38AhbU – In Berlin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrp-v2tHaDo – A more perfect union
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj1hCDjwG6M – Father’s day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY – Music video Yes We Can
http://www.barackobama.com/tv/
-Vande Matharam
