AMERICA MAKES HISTORY

‘America Makes History’ was the front page headline of THE HINDU on 6 Nov. 2008 in big capital letters.

It is an achievement of a African American by Senator Barack Obama the Commander – in – Chief going to occupy the White House on 20 Jan. 2009.

President George W. Bush is going to handover the White House to this black man who won the US 2008 election with 364 – 174 majority which was mainly contributed by the young black and white voters of America.

In addition the majority was contributed by the Latinos, Asians and all those who wanted a change in the American Administration.

Finally, the change has come in the form of Obama.

Accepting the defeat with 174 votes, John McCain (72) congratulated Obama and said “the American people have spoken.”

Disappointed McCain realized that Obama is certainly the choice for the post of Presidency.

The ‘Country First’ slogan of McCain and Sarah Palin did not attract the people who were after a great change in American politics which was achieved by Obama on 4 Nov. 2008.

The victory with 364 votes against the 270, required votes is in deed, a monumental historic achievement for Obama.

The victory celebration was held at Grant Park, Chicago, the city Obama loved.

Obama with his wife Michelle and Vice-President Joe Biden and his wife Jill, gave a historic extempore speech on his victory for 17 minutes which I heard in toto in BBC news in the net and down loaded in my computer to hear again and again.

It was so spirited and lively to hear.

Senators Obama and McCain were on the campaign for almost two years.

A long time in deed!

I was watching the campaign closely in the U S for 6 months.

The media make it clear to the public the ins and outs of the candidates not leaving any part of their life.

The American people fully know the life history of their President and his family.

Unlike the election in India, the candidates face each other and address the Nation to tell what they will be doing if they are elected.

Every one feels that the campaign itself will make history because it was longest and most expensive.

Obama’s victory over his own party candidate former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in the primary battle was considered to be another historic event.

Later everyone expected that Clintons may not support Obama.

Also it was expected that Obama may choose Hillary as his running mate.

Both these views did not materialize.

Still Hillary and Bill Clinton supported Obama full heartedly.

Both spoke in support of Obama in the National Convention attended by millions of supporters.

What an interesting politics and party unity!

It appears that splitting a party is not customary in American Politics.

The Republican candidates McCain and Sarah Palin portrayed Mr. Obama as too radical and inexperienced, casting him as an advocate of high taxes and socialism.

Sarah Palin certainly added glamour to the campaign of McCain but her lack of experience and poor performance in interviews discouraged the voters to vote for the GOP (Grand Old Party).

The Alaska’s young conservative Governor came as a storm to support McCain as Vice-Presidential candidate, but the storm lost its strength and turned out to be a drizzle.

The victory of Obama was celebrated all over the world including his ancestral homestead Kogelo, Kenya where his father was born.

It was a great joyful day for Obama’s 86-year-old step grand mother who lives in Kogelo.

“If I go to America, I will probably die of happiness” said the grand mother who is expected to be there on 20 January 2009 to participate in the swearing-in ceremony.

A black man in White House was unimaginable but, it has come true today.

‘Everything is possible in the USA’ said Obama in his historic victory speech.

‘Your extraordinary journey to the White House will inspire people” was the congratulatory message by Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India.

It was really an extraordinary journey for Obama.

He completed the journey successfully without hurting the sentiments of the Republicans.

The policy of Bush was not liked by many Americans.

It was the wrong policy adopted by Bush, brought America into a mess.

Problems of all sorts confronted the ordinary men and women of America which is struggling hard to get up.

Now there is a man with extraordinary vision and power to tackle those problems of America and also those of the world at the White House.

How he is going to bring about the change in America and thus to the world depends on the team he is going to choose.

Let us greet Obama and wish him all success in his future endeavor.