THE MAN, Barack Obama, President in waiting - is swearing-in as the 44th President of the United States of America today (20.1.2009).
It may be recalled Tamilnadu Politician "VAIKO" has already published and released a Book on him.
His name means "one who is Blessed " in Swahilli.
He is a skilled Basketball player in school days and is planning to install a Basketball-court in the White House too. He owns a set of RED Boxing Gloves autographed by Legend Muhammad Ali ! (will be more useful in Indian polity).
His wife Michelle is likely to sideline Jackie to become fashion's First Lady.
Obama's first book "Dreams from my father " - most evocative, lyrical ande candit autobiography, suggests that throughout his life, he has turned to books as a way of acquiring insights and informations from others - as a means of breaking out the bubble of self-hood and also the bubble of power of fame.
His collection does include "Spider-Man", Conan - the Barbarian comics & Hary-Potter Series and his favourite film is Casablanca and the One who flew over Cuckoo's Nest !
The presidencies of James Earl Jones in "The Man", Morgan Freeman in "Deep Impact", Chris Rock in "head of State" and Dennis Haysbert in "24" helped Americans imagine Obama's transformative breakthough before it occured.
Actor Tom Hanks (President - Independence Day) did attend the Sunday night celebrations at the Lincoln Memomorial in Washington.
Reading List that shaped Obama includes ::
The bible Parting the waters - Taylor Branch Self-Reliance - RW Emerson Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography Team of Rivals - DK Goodwin The Golden Note book - Doris Lessing Lincoln's collcted writings and Shakespere's tragedies - among other ones.
Today is History's date with Hope.
He has pledged : As we walk, we must walk together.. and as we go forward in the work of renewing the promise of this Nation, let us remember that our seprate Goals are really one !
let us Wish him all the very best ... and in turn Wish ourselves So!
Yes, Welcome Obama and God Bless you, the Country you are going to preside over and the World at large.
The expectations are higher, making your job tougher. As much as excited about your arrival to America's presidency I am as much worried about all the looming problems that are going to shower on you, along with our best wishes for you. The favorite chant "Yes, We can" only gives me a hope to look into the future with warming thoughts that Yes, of course we can cross all that had caused a deep gash in the American spirit. We have our Hope and Confidence in a better tomorrow.
Let the country flourish, Let the world bloom into a better place and let humanity reign supreme.
Yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr's birthday and over 68% of the americans believe that his "I have a Dream" will come true and Obama becoming 44th president is another milestone towards it.
The speech he gave after won the election was one of the inspiring speech I have heard in a while, most of them quoted from Lincon's speech after he won it seems.
Yes indeed a very historic moment, the post swearing in speech was also very well written and very memorable. Especially moving when he said his father could not even get a job as a hotel waiter in this country where he is president now. Inspiring story, let us hope it leads to an inspiring presidency also.
Yes, a great moment. We may envy but please do remember our last President was from the southern most tip of India, from a minority, a totally backward area, parents/siblings uneducated. The fact that he got educated in itself is a miracle and to become President is a truly inspiring tale. We might not be at the "US Electoral" process level yet but there are great things happening here too.
My clients in the US hav of late been asking me what i think about thier new president elect. They also mention that they are happy America has finally left behind its discrimination and elected a colored person as its President. But i honestly dont think so. If the US has left its past behind then Obama's election should't have been such a huge fuss. Is the fuss because of his color or because he is a truly capale?
There was a South African politician speaking on BBC yesterday regarding what Obama's election means to his country and continent. He said it doesn't matter because either way American politicians want Africa to have its problems. Bush or Obama, White or Black, it doesn't matter to the Africans. Their survival in itself in a miracle.
Rahul/Venkat, Obama's father was from very humble origins in Kenya. Many black americans trace their ancestry to Kenya. It is not really far fetched that those people from there are descendants of slaves. Perhaps if one lives here it is easier to appreciate how difficult it is for someone with non white skin color, moslem ancestry and just first generation american who lived around the world shoudl make it to the highest and most powerful office.
I dont' deny at all that we have people like that in India too. What we do miss in India is the grace and good will as SPS pointed out, even if people are rivals they maintain courtesy and respect for the office.
We dont' lose anything by appreciating or learning from other countries, while keeping regard and respect for our own, do we?
History has been made today, it just shows how America stands tall over all its issues.
Crown jewel of the speech, a quote from history:
"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive ... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
By, the founding fathers who fought for our American freedom.
Thank you Mr.President, these are words we needed as CPR, now please get our hearts to beat.
There are homeless people, jobless people, the world looks up to you for the eagle must and will soar with great respect, yet again.
"Thank you Mr.President, these are words we needed as CPR, now please
get our hearts to beat." very well said!
I am sure Obama will take steps in the right direction, and we will reach and rediscover the American Dream, one step at a time. May be slow, but definitely.
Thank you SPS, that is very good to know. Somehwo when I think if Indian parliament i am reminded of suitcases of currency that happens during vote of confidence, people yelling and shouting at one another on the benches..I have the greatest regard and respect for Pres. Kalam - and the effort it must have taken for him to reach the office of President though, no arguments in that regard.
Was attempting to clarify to Venkat and Rahul - black is usually a reference to skin color in this country, regardless if one parent was white or grandparents where some other color. In general public a person like Obama will be considered and treated like a black guy. Racist issues are not that different from casteist issues in our country. Even after so many years of freedom we cannot discuss casteism among educated, well spoken individuals here without stirring some very passionate emotions and America is no different. Unless we show some real regard for incidents such as this as Rahul's american customers did, the old wounds are going to stay unhealed.
> > Was attempting to clarify to Venkat and Rahul - black is usually a > reference to skin color in this country, regardless if one parent was > white or grandparents where some other color.
Understood malathi but imagine obama had to endure an assault from both ends. rev. jesse jackson once said he was not "black enough"
remarkable man obama.
venketesh
In general public a > person like Obama will be considered and treated like a black guy. > Racist issues are not that different from casteist issues in our > country. Even after so many years of freedom we cannot discuss > casteism among educated, well spoken individuals here without > stirring some very passionate emotions and America is no different. > Unless we show some real regard for incidents such as this as Rahul's > american customers did, the old wounds are going to stay unhealed. > > Malathi > --- In [email protected], "Sivapathasekaran"
Tangentially ... Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam & Dr Manmohan Singh - Two highly qualified people in the highest office of a democratic country. What did we achieve?
We are a very old civilization, if history has taught us anything, it is to fight (within ourselves) and survive with the ruling class, be it gajini or asoka or RRC or vajpayee or kalam.
On the other end of the spectrum, look at what one president of the US could do - Bush :-) he rearranged the world order - almost single handedly ...
a small correction a person whose father would not being employed but who would not be served in any of the restaurants...
Dear All We cannot compare Manmohan singh and Kalam to Obama....they were political nominees though had accomplished in their feilds from humble background
Ravi, perhaps you mean 'messed up world order' single handedly when it comes to Bush? :)
Yes lot of people like Jesse Jackson want to be politically correct with regards to Obama's degree of blackness and there may be a point there. There is still a huge and phenomenal degree of racist cynicism among majorite white/republican dominated parts of this country on what can this guy do - he is considered a black guy by most whites, in general so the political correctness hardly matters. The fact that he made it is amazing and does seem very very inspiring.
Two people to watch for - in the future - Sanjay Gupta, the indian american CNN doc tipped to be surgeon general, and Bobbie Jindal, another indian american and governor of Louisiana who is tipped to run for Republican nomination in the future. Let us wait and see. It is a changing world, definitely.
Dear Kathie..goodness... I dont' support Bobbie Jindal...I was just saying he is someone to *watch for* - GOP is trying to pitch him as a big guy in the future.
Yes the inaug was most inspiring..am assuming you also heard of ice storm here in KY. We have been out of power for day #7 now and it is sub zero temps. Am writing from a hotel and hoping we get back to normal soon.
Take care, I will write more to you on the music CDs soon after life gets back to normal here.
Dear Maloo, Sorry to hear about the Kentucky weather situation. How's livingin K. generally, after India? [sorry this is off topic, but we're mutual fans of classical music, which does fit 'Ponni' topics] Kathie
Dear Kathie, I will catch up with you on this offline...lots to say..am here 15 years now so it is not like new or anything but sharing of thoughts, yes certainly.
I just got back home today after power was restored. This is the second huge outage we have had in 6 months. Huge loss of food and expense to people getting by.