Special Election...Special Night...Special Moment in History

It was a special moment last night. When Barack Obama was elected as President of United States, it wasn't just another election, a symbol of multiple things. It wasn't just a democrat winning over a Republican. It was something much beyond all obvious.

His quick rise to the top demonstrates his own extra ordinary abilities, like exceptional thinking and eloquent skills, knowledge of the pulse of the nation and firm awareness of the modern technology. But even Mr. Obama will tell you that this victory is less about an individual with extra ordinary abilities winning the elections, but more about the true democratic and progressive nature of a nation. It is a symbol of the things to come in the 21st century.

150 years ago, the same nation was on the verge of divided into two. For some wanting to keep the ability of maintaining supremacy over fellow humans just because they belonged to a certain race. 40 years ago, this same nation was in a major turmoil to allow the same race to be with them in the same neighborhoods and same schools. Today the nation overwhelmingly (may it be Popular vote or may it be electoral vote) has chosen a person having half blood of the same race.

This ability of this nation to accept and adopt a change is commendable. It is a true demonstration of a democratic victory. And it is no wonder that it comes from a nation that has given this world the timeless definitions of Democracy and Human Rights.

Although my excitement around this is how this does all relate to me as a person, as a foreign individual to this nation. To me this is a victory of progress over dogma. This is a victory of open mindset over prejudices. Obama not only is a representation of African American community but is a representation of youth. He also represents multi-nationality with a biological father from Africa, a mother from America, his part education done in Indonesia where his step father belonged.

Much has been spoken around his Muslim connection, which unfortunately people were misusing to denounce him. But for whatever truth there is to that connection, it also is a victory for Multi-religionality. In the times when lines are being drawn between religions in this country and world at large, this will be an excellent example to demonstrate.

When our prejudices cloud our thinking and people who have interest in keeping us within those prejudices keep us pushing in them; it is essential for the world at large to have such symbols which will help us rise above these clouds. The pro-verbial melting pot is not just going to be a reality for this nation but will be the mantra of the global village at large in this coming century. Sound examples like these are thus very relevant for me and the future.

Thus I feel the victory is so very important and goes easily beyond the victory of “Blue” over “Red”. When our children and grand children will look behind, we can be very proud to tell them that we witnessed this history. The way we witnessed History in 1996 when a Dalit became the president of India in the form of K R Narayanan. He like Mr. Obama never played the Dalit card to his advantage. Both individuals wanting to prove that they are there despite being Dalit or Black not because of it.

On a warm August day in 1963, the great Martin Luther King Jr. had said "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character...." Today is proven to be that 'one day'...

Tomorrow I can see my son openly calling an African American person 'Black', just because of his color and without a hint of any derogatory connotation to it. That to me is a big leap in future.

I can’t conclude my musings here without mentioning two equally strong observations. One on how graceful and truthful one can be in defeat when Senator McCain addressed his supporters.

And second how cruel destiny could be that the lady who made Obama who he is today and will probably go down in history as the greatest symbol of beyond-the-race culture, Obama’s dear grand mother, pure white by ethnicity passed away just one day prior to his election.

A grim reminder of the ultimate truth in life, but also a reminder that the progression never stops. A reminder that once a nation decides to change, it changes. And makes Mr. Obama’s message more universal and transcending boundaries … “YES WE CAN (CHANGE)”