Why can’t our ‘leaders’ speak like Barack Obama? (View From India)
__________________
VIKRAM MUTHANNA writes from churumuri: Barack is back, and what a victory speech he gave us!
I say ‘us’ because the speech had something for all of us, in India too.
Like many of us Indians, as I watched Barack Obama’s victory speech on Thursday morning, I was left feeling envious — envious of Americans for having elected for themselves such an inspiring leader as their President.
I was left asking, “Why can’t I have a Prime Minister like him? A Prime Minister who inspires me, makes me feel like I matter, arouses a renewed sense of patriotism even in this severely fractured democracy that is India?”
. . . More importantly, what most of us would have noticed during the American presidential elections is the role of the family. We Indians never tire of saying that Americans are very detached from their families and add how we are such a family-oriented culture.
But every US President is judged by his family life. Every US President brings up his family in his speech, and never fails to mention the family values they imbibed in their formative years.
On the victory night, Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden both had their families on stage.
In fact, Obama said:
“and I wouldn’t be the man I am today without the woman who agreed to marry me 20 years ago. Let me say this publicly. Michelle, I have never loved you more.”
Then he acknowledged his children saying:
“You’re growing up to become two strong, smart, beautiful young women, just like your mom. And I am so proud of you.”
In fact, not only did Obama thank his family, he also thanked and praised his opponent Mitt Romney’s family when he said:
“The Romney family has chosen to give back to America through public service. And that is a legacy that we honour and applaud tonight.”
Now we have to ask, for a people who claim to be so much more ‘family-oriented,’ how many of our leaders have ever brought their family to the public fore to feel one with the people?
How many of our leaders have thanked their wives for their success (may be they don’t want to create ripples by picking one over the other)?
How many politicians have thanked their children for tolerating their absence?
None.
read more: http://churumuri.wordpress.com/2012/11/10/why-cant-our-leaders-speak-like-obama/