"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times", { This famous 1st line of Charles Dickens ,'The tale of two Cities' is the Absolute perfect way to describe}. And I had the good and bad fortune to be in It. The Year: 2008, the place : United States Of America . The best of economy in recession, the best of health care almost down the drain , The worst 2 wars ever being fought , cannot win cannot afford to lose. And Yet , And yet .. a great spirit of Unity, a hunger that "we shall over come", an eagerness to look forward and propel into the future, this is "The Audacity of Hope" .
A wave called "Barack Obama" has swept this nation . I am an Indian immigrant . I cannot help but wonder, how God placed me in a position like this, to have been born and brought up in the largest Democracy in the world { India } and to have lived through and seen the Greatest Democracy in Action . I would like to believe I was born to be a apart of this greatness .
On Nov 4th 2008 . at 11pm EST Senator Barack Obama of Illinois was declared the 44TH President (elect) of The United States of America. The Roar of Victory in Grant Park, Chicago was heard not only throughout the Country but throughout the world . It is a moment I will never forget ... The television presenters fell silent on all the networks .. it was as if everyone was taking the moment in .. missing a heart beat ....with moist eyes and shaky hands there were applauds. And then it did not matter if you were a Democrat or Republican , black , white , Hispanic or Asian , it did not even matter if you were an American or Not .
I remember 1st seeing The then Senator Barack Obama On CNN's American Morning , it was may be early year 2006 (I cant really remember) . He was being Interviewed by Soledad O'Brian. She asked him , if he had considered running for the President , Obama , with his ever beaming smile said 'No" He had not given it a thought . Even then there was something about him , I cannot say what it was , but it felt like, he was different, extraordinary and yet ordinary , brilliant and intelligent and yet not flamboyant and flashy . I remember telling Nikhil , My husband , " you should hear him speak , he is awesome " , and ever since that day I have routed for his victory, I cannot vote , but tried to convince others who could to vote for him (trust me it did not take much convincing though) . The rest of course is HISTORY !! LITERALLY !
From winning the first primary in Des Moines, Iowa , beating The mighty Hilary Clinton and finally taking a celebrated national hero, Senator John McCain. Obama showed , great caution, stability , respect and humility throughout the process. Against all odds of age, origin, religion and color he emerged victorious . I have never seen a victory speech so humble as his was for a victory that was so thumping and historic .
This commentary is not about, ideological divides, the politics of the United States or even Strategies of winning an elections this is simply note on, how a message of Hope and Change can inspire not one but many generations and change the face of this Nations politics, policies, and culture.
The Story of Barack Obama and his rise from obscurity to being the leader of the free world makes me ask myself , can this really be true ? Can I also make a difference ? Can I touch one life apart from my family and help make a dream come true? Can we love our parents and help their wishes come true, as they did for us when we were kids ? Can we as a people reawaken our conscience and try to work for the greater good ? Can we be inspired to do great things? Can we inspire other to reach great heights? Can we make I, Me and Mine and into We , Us and Ours. ?
YES WE CAN!!!
