by Muneeb Ali
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Not everyone shares the excitement of Obama's election. Specially not Pakistanis. And with good reason. Obama threatened to bomb Pakistan, an ally, while trying to sound tough against Hillary. Over time he backed off, became softer, but not soft enough. Pakistanis are worried about becoming the focal point of the war on terror, instead of enjoying this historic moment for what it is. A time when tears are rolling down and a world is healing, you hear voices that nothing will change or, worse, things will complicate. Read "Dreams from My Father". He rose from black, poor ashes and made history. He went to Harvard and became the first African-American editor of the Law Review not because of his family name, but his intellect and hardwork. He raised $640 million not by cutting deals with corporations, but by $10 dollar donations from struggling ordinary people. Today is not just about bidding farewell to W., Redneck hate, preemptive wars, and free (falling) markets, but is also about celebrating our common humanity under a 21st century progressive leader. |
In 1940, German planes were bombing Rotterdam and Eindhoven to pieces. Today, there are no visible borders between the Netherlands and Germany. In a single lifetime they came so far. So close to lasting peace. Europe has learned that the key to security and prosperity is union and not war, America hasn't. Not yet. However, today Americans brought down racial walls. A giant step towards the hope for world peace.
In many ways this world, under the self-proclaimed leadership of America, never entered the 21st century. Just like colonization was not going to work in the 20th century, worn out white-power conservative ideas are not going to work in this globalized world. You cannot be ignorant of the rest of the world and expect to lead it. Barack Obama, with his black skin, Kenyan blood, Muslim middle name, Indonesian childhood, Pakistani college roommates, and sharp intellect, understands this.
He is the first in a new generation of world leaders. A Mandela of the 21st century, an American Ghandi. A living proof of Dr. King's dream. African-Americans who were forced to sit at the back seats of buses, not allowed inside public washrooms or welcomed on dinner tables, today lived to see one of their own getting elected to the most powerful office in human history. Save your pessimistic outcries for some other time. Let them cry and celebrate today. You don't have to believe in the change that is coming. You will live to see it.
In many ways this world, under the self-proclaimed leadership of America, never entered the 21st century. Just like colonization was not going to work in the 20th century, worn out white-power conservative ideas are not going to work in this globalized world. You cannot be ignorant of the rest of the world and expect to lead it. Barack Obama, with his black skin, Kenyan blood, Muslim middle name, Indonesian childhood, Pakistani college roommates, and sharp intellect, understands this.
He is the first in a new generation of world leaders. A Mandela of the 21st century, an American Ghandi. A living proof of Dr. King's dream. African-Americans who were forced to sit at the back seats of buses, not allowed inside public washrooms or welcomed on dinner tables, today lived to see one of their own getting elected to the most powerful office in human history. Save your pessimistic outcries for some other time. Let them cry and celebrate today. You don't have to believe in the change that is coming. You will live to see it.
