Witness to History!
| This morning when my 6 year-old daughter woke up for school, she came downstairs and the first question she asked, “Abbu who won…did Obama win the elections?” I paused for a moment to realize that we are in a defining pivotal moment of our lifetime. |  |
| Once in a life time a generation is given an opportunity to witness the history in making. We all have heard stories from our parents and grandparents of the partition and migration from then Indian-Subcontinent, to present-day Pakistan; the landing of the first man on the moon; the JFK’s assassination; surrender of Pakistan army in then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Those were the living history moments for past generations. But this generation – our generation – hasn’t lived a historic moment of that proportion in decades that we remember. What happened on Nov 4th 2008 is arguably the most significant moment of our life-time, and of the generation that is 6 yrs old now, but would live and engage with the future history that is being written. I feel what this moment truly entails is yet to be realized to its fullest effect. Triumphs of those who are less fortunate or less significant have been recorded in recent memory with crowning of people of color or minority or the ‘other’ gender. Examples of Nelson Mandela’s splendor rise from the gallows to almost legendary status, and Benazir Bhutto’s historic election in 1988, a true significant event in the annuals of Pakistan’s history, are among those. |
| But today is a world divided on ideology, engaged in a fierce battle to define whose God is bigger then the rest, a planet in which there is only one major ‘super power’ that controls the new world order and has struggled with inner bias till the middle of the last century; and a society in which the ‘haves’ still outpace ‘have-nots’. The world’s economy facing its greatest despair for over a century, lives and possessions of millions in danger on far reaches of the world, and relations and interactions of long term allies and enemies are in new undefined territories. |  |
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Question to ask is, could there be a more unique moment to resolve the world equation with a catalyst that is as promising as intelligent, sober and inspiring, but above all, represents the ideals of the 80 percent occupants of the whole world (and not just the West and USA) who are struggling but are ready for the change against the other 20 percent who are elite yet are confronting to resist. |
| Senator (now President) Barak Hussein Obama’s victory is an achievement larger than life. One paper reported this as Obama’s victory over slavery. It is but more than that. It is on a whole, a victory for America’s over its history… a victory for hope against disparity… chance for the new world of ideas to succeed against closed minds that can not challenge the boundaries of new horizons. |  |
| It is up to us now to engage in this moment as it is as historic as it will be in our lifetime or that of our children. Let us be a witness to re-affirming of beliefs of a higher guidance and of the narrative that if there is ever a true higher purpose in life there would be always be ways to achieve it. |
Categories: No Cream No Sugar, Race for Whitehouse
In my opinion, Obama is personally a very intelligent person and he ran whole campaign very carefully and successfully. He deserved that victory. But the things to be seen is how he runs his nation along with Global-American issues.
I agree about the magnitude of the occasion…but a certain element of counting ones chickens is taking place around the globe…surely we have to wait and see what Mr Obama ACTUALLY achieves during his presidential rein to actually judge the significance of his election.
As with everything in the world currently..media furore takes over and everyone, and i mean EVERYONE gets wrapped up in it….inshALLAH Barack does good but lets hope and pray he lives up to what the world expects.
GO OBAMA…BOOO the excessive MEDIA !!!!!
PS. I am not a cynic bhai…just a realist, trust a brit to put a downer on the proceedings.
PPS. UK was going crazy about Tony BlIAR (purposeful spelling error) when he took his post less than a decade ago…look at where he took us and his Illiterate redneck brother across the atlantic who he just loved to stand shoulder to shoulder with.
ObaMubarak. haha.
My 8 year old Daughter had to go through actual voting in her class and she along with all kids was asked to vote for their candidate
I don’t know why My daughter voted for Obama even though we never talk politics at home
So I asked her why did she picked Obama
Let me give you some background that we live in Texas which is a Republican state and I couldn’t understand why would my kid pick up Obama as her candidate?
So this is what she told me,
” All people (kids) who are white picked up McCain and all kids who are not white such as Urdu (she calls herself Urdu) are voting for Obama”
I was amazed to see this divide at this young age but I don’t blame these kids obviously what they hear at home they reflect that in their own little lives …
I never taught my daughter about race and she was confused in the beginning because first she thought that she was Pakistani, but I told he that she was American born in Schaumburg, ILLINOIS (Suburb of Chicago)
But then she said “how can I be American?” because she thought that Americans are Christians, white and speak English only …(that was the large picture of America in her mind)
Initially she found comfort believing that she was Pakistani like her parents..
Later she realized that there are more kids like her, and she got even more confused because she saw that some kids are like her in looks but their parents speak different languages at home and they practice different religion (Hinduism)
So finally my daughter concluded that “we are Urdu race, and we are Muslims”
and on top of that “we are Americans”
And I agreed with her on this…
So back to Election
Now we are in Texas and all but 5 kinds in her class were none white so she told me that Indian, Chinese Urdu and Spanish vote for Obama and White vote for McCain…
So who won I asked?
She had tears in her eyes and said “All kids who voted for Obama cried”
Why? I asked!
She told me that “All kids were bragging and making fun of us” because Obama only got 5 votes and McCain got 15″
I asked her “Did you cry as well?”
She said “No! I already knew it that Obama will not win” (she always gets 100 in math)
Next Morning when she was ready for School I called her and gave her a big hug and gave her a good news and told her that “Guess what! your candidate won the real election”
She did not believe it and I showed her Obama’s winning speech that I had recorded only for her.
She was extremely happy to see her City Chicago and glad to see that Obama won..
I told her to go to her School and boo these kids who were picking on her and ask them “who is the winner now?”
Believe it or not America is changing.
We are the future of this great country
Atif
Sometime ago a Chinese diplomat was asked about his opinion on the French Revolution… he curtly responded… “we are still awaiting the outcome”.
I will take the middle and echo the same… lets not all drink the kool aid just yet…. but so far, the accomplishment looks great!
Recently acquired US citizenship, it was my chance to vote this year – I decided to do a bit of reading on the man – Obama. Reading his memoir – Dreams for my Father, I realized how important it was for America to have a President like Barack Obama who understands the meaning of life as it is lived elsewhere, seen the hardships, understands what it is like to not fit in, to live in humility. They don’t teach you that at Harvard. An average American, the Joe of America and all who just hear the word “raise taxes” but do not bother to hear more will NEVER understand the deep rooted problems the US economy faces or why America is where it is today as Joe has been presented with luxuries of life, where a poor’s meal consists of Double Cheeseburger with Coke and housing with of a microwave and 20 inch TV as basic necessities. The more i read the book, the more I hoped this man would lead US to more ground level reality. And thank God, for the Blessed – Barack. We hope for change and many more changes to come.
The world needs a dose of Hope… and I think we got a big one on his victory. Every thing in our lives depends on the outlook we have for our future… and brighter it is the better it will be for the future.
Lets just Believe that he is the Man to guide the future of the world, and the rest will follow.
Bilal Syed:
You may be right ins suggesting that what we hope is not what Obama may actually be able to achieve in his 8 possible years; something that he himself is aware of and made a point to mention in the acceptance speech. The occasion is larger then life for just his very election and the rallying of people “across nations” behind him… especially given the hostile world in last few years…
As for BLLiar (and his red-neck brother across Atlantic), you are on the money. But in my opinion BLLiar (or Benazir for that matter) never presented a convincing at any level case through their writings, sayings or actions that they had even 1% of leadership acumen that Obama radiates….. is my point !
I tend to agree with Bilal that this may very well be a watershed event in US’s history. After all, just because a black person (please do not take this in any negative tone) becomes the CnC of the nation’s military doesn’t mean that he or she for that matter, can be a great decision maker. Being an emotional person that he his, Obama may very well prove to be a mistake made collectively by the American voters.
For the sake of our world, I just hope to be proven wrong.
To Think that Obama is a fairy god mother, or an tree-hugger would be a mistake. No president will ever take the country away from the path from Global leadership and strength hold.
War is as natural as child birth. War is neccessary. The “wars” are little battles for US. What I expect is that they will be fought differently. Perhaps with little damage to innocents, and perhaps more diplomatically.
He is not of the “cold war” generation,lets wait n watch but yes for sure he will be a better president