The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Obama wonder

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Wednesday, Nov 12, 2008
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Obama wonder

The article “Obama wonder and Bush blunder” (Nov. 11) was excellent. There is need for a radical change in India’s political leadership. Such a change can be brought about only by the younger generation, the country’s future. I appeal to The Hindu to publish more such articles to create an enlightened awareness among the Indian electorate. When Barack Obama could convince the American electorate and ride to power on the wave of the ‘Yes, we can’ slogan we, the people of another big democracy, should also tell ourselves: ‘Yes, we can.’

T. Ramaswamy,

Chennai

* * *

Mr. Obama’s historic victory in the U.S. presidential election should serve as a lesson for those who seek to divide the country on the basis of caste, religion and region, and spew venom on their fellow countrymen. One hopes the article will have a positive impact on the Indian electorate to elect young, energetic and secular-minded candidates to run the biggest democracy in the world.

Kamal Sani,

Hyderabad

* * *

Mr. Obama’s victory is no doubt a dream come true. But more than that, it is a revolution in the making for all nations. It conveys the message that it is time for change and that change is inevitable. American voters proved it on November 4.

Swathi Sudhakaran,

Waynad

* * *

A lot is being said about Mr. Obama’s election and its implications for India. Before the global financial crisis, India boasted of its super strength and called itself an “emerging economy with a global outlook.” Today, the claim has been exposed. If we are indeed a superpower in the making, why are we worried about Mr. Obama’s policy on issues such as business outsourcing?

Ashok Jayaram,

Bangalore

* * *

It is rather naive to expect the U.S. under Mr. Obama to change its foreign policy. The great American dream has always been to counter any force that seeks to match it economically and militarily. The Bush administration might have been fierce and crude in pursuing its adventurous military agenda and widening its economic power. It is up to the other countries to assert themselves and ensure that their legitimate rights are safeguarded.

N. Sekar,

Salem

* * *

The change of guard in the U.S. could not have come at a worse time for India. Mr. Obama is keen on protecting jobs in America. His foreign policy on Kashmir is not favourable to India. His intention to continue the war in Afghanistan will have implications for India. The economic meltdown has sounded the death knell for the free market policies of the U.S., at least in the short term. The concessions enjoyed by us in the liberal Bush era will be slowly withdrawn. And we need to gear up to meet this.

Raghu Seshadri,

Chennai

* * *

The manner in which the U.S. election was conducted was heartening. There was no pre- and post-election violence. The magnanimity displayed by both candidates, Mr. Obama and John McCain, was a treat to watch. Mr. Obama’s acceptance speech was music to the ears. Mr. McCain was graceful in defeat. His request to his supporters to support Mr. Obama was commendable. On the whole, it was a learning experience and showed the maturity of the U.S. as a democracy.

Mohd. Mubarak,

Ranchi

* * *

Abraham Lincoln’s famous words “… that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth” have become part of history. So have John F. Kennedy’s words: “… ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”

We now have Mr. Obama’s famous words: “There’s not a liberal America and a conservative America; there’s the United States of America. There’s not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America; there’s the United States of America.” These should be extremely relevant to Indian politicians.

N.R. Sathyamurty,

Cuddalore

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