Comments on: Obama Wins http://amreekandesi.com/2008/11/05/obama-wins/ Taking the Tire out of Satire Wed, 16 May 2012 04:39:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Lekhni http://amreekandesi.com/2008/11/05/obama-wins/comment-page-1/#comment-1199 Lekhni Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:08:58 +0000 http://amreekandesi.com/?p=215#comment-1199 My sentiments exactly :) My sentiments exactly :)

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]]> By: Obama Wins « India…From the eyes of a Non Resident Insider http://amreekandesi.com/2008/11/05/obama-wins/comment-page-1/#comment-1170 Obama Wins « India…From the eyes of a Non Resident Insider Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:30:48 +0000 http://amreekandesi.com/?p=215#comment-1170 [...] Continue Reading [...] [...] Continue Reading [...]

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]]> By: amreekandesi http://amreekandesi.com/2008/11/05/obama-wins/comment-page-1/#comment-1168 amreekandesi Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:16:09 +0000 http://amreekandesi.com/?p=215#comment-1168 Quirky Indian: I agree with you somewhat. I have some strong opinions about how politics works in our country, but it's a fact that people like APJ Abul Kalam, Indira Gandhi, Gyani Zail Singh, Sam Manekshaw, to name a few, are/were all icons of their time. Other countries have their own glass ceilings. It is still arguably unimaginable for americans to vote a woman as president. A non american born person cannot even stand for office. India has seemingly risen over such barriers, however flawed the democracy might be. Quirky Indian: I agree with you somewhat. I have some strong opinions about how politics works in our country, but it’s a fact that people like APJ Abul Kalam, Indira Gandhi, Gyani Zail Singh, Sam Manekshaw, to name a few, are/were all icons of their time.
Other countries have their own glass ceilings. It is still arguably unimaginable for americans to vote a woman as president. A non american born person cannot even stand for office.

India has seemingly risen over such barriers, however flawed the democracy might be.

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]]> By: The Quirky Indian http://amreekandesi.com/2008/11/05/obama-wins/comment-page-1/#comment-1134 The Quirky Indian Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:40:16 +0000 http://amreekandesi.com/?p=215#comment-1134 AD - that was a very clever thing indeed..... and I missed it! :-) But that's exactly the point I was making - in our political culture of a complete and total lack of accountability, token national appointments mean the 'appointers' are typically not liable for the unpopularity of their decisions (even during elections, based on our fragmented politics), even if these decisions are not aligned with the wishes of the people, or don't reflect the mood of the people. In which case, it becomes very dangerous to see these tokenisms are reflective of some mythical Indian liberal ethos. I hope things change though! Cheers, Quirky Indian http://quirkyindian.wordpress.com AD – that was a very clever thing indeed….. and I missed it! :-)

But that’s exactly the point I was making – in our political culture of a complete and total lack of accountability, token national appointments mean the ‘appointers’ are typically not liable for the unpopularity of their decisions (even during elections, based on our fragmented politics), even if these decisions are not aligned with the wishes of the people, or don’t reflect the mood of the people. In which case, it becomes very dangerous to see these tokenisms are reflective of some mythical Indian liberal ethos.

I hope things change though!

Cheers,

Quirky Indian
http://quirkyindian.wordpress.com

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]]> By: amreekandesi http://amreekandesi.com/2008/11/05/obama-wins/comment-page-1/#comment-1129 amreekandesi Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:31:12 +0000 http://amreekandesi.com/?p=215#comment-1129 Quirky Indian - I did a clever thing there. I didnt say 'elected' but 'appointed'. I do realise that not all of these people were elected by the public. But that is besides the point. The point is that there have been, and still are, people of diverse races and religions who have been put in very responsible positions in India, which would be unthinkable in other countries. That is the beauty of our country, regardless of the fact that there are a million other things that are wrong. Like they say, nobody is perfect! Amlistening - Very true. All these statistics are just for fun. The important thing is performance. Obama carries a heavy weight on his young shoulders in terms of the public's expectations from him. Quirky Indian – I did a clever thing there. I didnt say ‘elected’ but ‘appointed’. I do realise that not all of these people were elected by the public.

But that is besides the point. The point is that there have been, and still are, people of diverse races and religions who have been put in very responsible positions in India, which would be unthinkable in other countries.

That is the beauty of our country, regardless of the fact that there are a million other things that are wrong.

Like they say, nobody is perfect!

Amlistening – Very true. All these statistics are just for fun. The important thing is performance. Obama carries a heavy weight on his young shoulders in terms of the public’s expectations from him.

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]]> By: amlistening http://amreekandesi.com/2008/11/05/obama-wins/comment-page-1/#comment-1124 amlistening Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:30:14 +0000 http://amreekandesi.com/?p=215#comment-1124 I feel if we need to rise above the color/caste/gender categories, Obama has to perform. I hate the reservation quotas and self pity some people use to get places and then fail the whole or, should I say in Obama's words the, FUNDAMENTAL purpose of the position/seat. So whether a Hillary comes to power or not proving what women can do...... an intelligent/sensible president/leader is the bare minimum requirement and then we can fight over fancy stuff I feel if we need to rise above the color/caste/gender categories, Obama has to perform.
I hate the reservation quotas and self pity some people use to get places and then fail the whole or, should I say in Obama’s words the, FUNDAMENTAL purpose of the position/seat.
So whether a Hillary comes to power or not proving what women can do…… an intelligent/sensible president/leader is the bare minimum requirement and then we can fight over fancy stuff

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]]> By: amreekandesi http://amreekandesi.com/2008/11/05/obama-wins/comment-page-1/#comment-1103 amreekandesi Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:07:53 +0000 http://amreekandesi.com/?p=215#comment-1103 Shefaly - What can i say. Amen! :P Shefaly – What can i say. Amen! :P

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]]> By: Shefaly http://amreekandesi.com/2008/11/05/obama-wins/comment-page-1/#comment-1102 Shefaly Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:21:37 +0000 http://amreekandesi.com/?p=215#comment-1102 @ AD If the next American president is a Muslim woman, I will eat all my shoes! And that is a huuuuuuuuuuuuge feast, I tell you. @ AD

If the next American president is a Muslim woman, I will eat all my shoes! And that is a huuuuuuuuuuuuge feast, I tell you.

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]]> By: The Quirky Indian http://amreekandesi.com/2008/11/05/obama-wins/comment-page-1/#comment-1101 The Quirky Indian Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:23:02 +0000 http://amreekandesi.com/?p=215#comment-1101 Let us not get very self-congratulatory. Except for Mayawati and Indira Gandhi, not a single one of the other 'symbols' was directly elected by the people. How many of these appointments are reflective of what people actually think? For the purists who may say that even Mayawati was not directly elected, let me clarify that she was always the only - and clearly publicised - BSP contender for CM'ship. Similarly for Indira Gandhi, though in terms of sheer achievement, Mayawati wins, since Mrs. Gandhi was to the manor born. I am proud of the fact that Mayawati has made it, but we must be careful of not interpreting the other 'tokenisms' and political accidents as proof that we have arrived. The truth is, we have a bloody long way to go. Cheers, Quirky Indian http://quirkyindian.wordpress.com Let us not get very self-congratulatory. Except for Mayawati and Indira Gandhi, not a single one of the other ‘symbols’ was directly elected by the people. How many of these appointments are reflective of what people actually think? For the purists who may say that even Mayawati was not directly elected, let me clarify that she was always the only – and clearly publicised – BSP contender for CM’ship. Similarly for Indira Gandhi, though in terms of sheer achievement, Mayawati wins, since Mrs. Gandhi was to the manor born.

I am proud of the fact that Mayawati has made it, but we must be careful of not interpreting the other ‘tokenisms’ and political accidents as proof that we have arrived. The truth is, we have a bloody long way to go.

Cheers,

Quirky Indian
http://quirkyindian.wordpress.com

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]]> By: amreekandesi http://amreekandesi.com/2008/11/05/obama-wins/comment-page-1/#comment-1100 amreekandesi Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:01:22 +0000 http://amreekandesi.com/?p=215#comment-1100 Thanks for the additions to the list, Shefaly. Maybe the next american president will be a muslim woman ;) Good point, Dinesh! Thanks for the additions to the list, Shefaly. Maybe the next american president will be a muslim woman ;)

Good point, Dinesh!

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