Global accountability

Barack Obama8217;s victory is due to both his calm and dogged pursuit of a win and the jolt received by capitalism around the world.

Barack Obama8217;s victory is due to both his calm and dogged pursuit of a win and the jolt received by capitalism around the world. The economic crisis in the US, a month before the election, proved fortuitous for Obama. Middle- and working-class American concerns will henceforth define US economic policy for a while.

8212;R. Narayanan, Ghaziabad

Tough task ahead

The American presidential election has evoked unprecedented and overwhelming interest from the global community. Barack Hussein Obama8217;s ascent has left the world in disbelief and the hope of global peace at hand. Despite his inexperience, we believe that Obama8217;s tenure will be immeasurably better than George W. Bush8217;s. Little wonder then that the exuberant optimism about Obama is not limited to Americans. Nevertheless, given the mess Bush leaves the world in, Obama has a very difficult job to do.

8212;Shahabuddin Nadeem, Bangalore

Lessons for us

Barack Obama has become a historic symbol in many respects. However, the credit for his election goes to the people of America. There are some lessons for us Indians here: our need to rise above caste and religion in politics; the need to think freely and openly; the need to look beyond regional politics, and think in terms of not just a national but also a global perspective; the need to keep 8220;mud-slinging8221; low, perhaps even get rid of it altogether; the need to instil a dose of confidence in nation-building; and our dire need for quality education. Perhaps it is also time we had a Dalit PM from one of the national parties.

8212;Anil Chakranarayan, Pune

Beyond rhetoric

Sitaram Yechury8217;s 8216;History8217;s made but8230;8217; offers little more than the usual Left rhetoric about so-called US imperialism and state terrorism. To top it all, Yechury ends his piece by quoting one of the richest men in the world, an absolute dictator who refuses to leave the political scene despite his age. About 1.5 lakh Cubans live in the US, most of them refugees from Fidel Castro8217;s rule. One should sincerely ask why the queue is the longest for US visas everywhere.

8212;Manoj Agrawal, Mumbai

Powerful messages

cinema rarely produces the likes of towering personalities such as B.R. Chopra. His death has ended an era in Bollywood. He got a degree in arts and a diploma in film journalism at a time when there were hardly any graduates in India.

Almost all his films carried a social message, and yet were commercially successful and entertaining. His works remain significant in these times of communal violence and hate.

8212; Mahesh Kapasi, New Delhi