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Journalism of Courage
As millions across the globe saw American President-elect Barack Obama address his nation at Chicago’s Grant Park after John McCain conceded defeat post provisional results, expatriate Americans living in Mumbai commemorated the historic moment in a get together organised by the American Consulate’s new Consul General Paul Folmsbee at the popular Hard Rock Café, Worli.
At a glance, the whiff of excitement could be felt among the Americans as Barack Obama spoke, “Change has come to America.” And most missed being home to celebrate one of the greatest campaigns the world has ever seen. “While I was in the States about six months ago, the real excitement only began in the last couple of weeks and I felt so detached,” said Marika Clark, a California resident who voted for Obama. “All I could do is read up the New York Times everyday and follow what’s happening,” said Clark, a Harvard Design School graduate who works for an architecture firm in India.
Although Obama was the flavour of the moment, to these young American it was not just Obama’s call for change that inspired people but also the way his entire campaign was managed. “He chose not to divide the country into reds and blues (republicans & democrats) and had the best candidates and advisors working for him,” said Murphy. “After all a President is only as great as his advisors,” he added.
However the diplomatic lot practised their restraint in the usual manner. “It’s an affirmation of civil rights that has a connection with India,” said Counsel General Paul Folmsbee comparing Obama’s civil leadership to that of Martin Luther King who was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. “In Obama, we have America’s first African-American President and if McCain had won we would have had America’s first female Vice President,” said Folmsbee.
“While I’m very pleased with the results, I appreciate the way Senator McCain made a gracious exit and expressed his goodwill towards Obama who was also not overtly triumphant,” said Paul J. Houge, Deputy Director at the Office of Press and Public Diplomacy. “Above all we’re relieved that this election did not turn out to be as difficult as that of 2000,” said Houge pointing at the extremely narrow gap between incumbent President George Bush and his Democrat challenger Al Gore.
But it’s the average American who has reasons to celebrate after years of George Bush’s faulty foreign policies. “Bush would perhaps become the most hated American President ever with his crazy war spending etc.,” said Clark. On Obama’s election: “It’s the most important day in the history of America and it feels like wow,” she said.
