The Obama Effect The world sat up shock-surprised to watch the Barack Obama phenomenon dismantling the over two century old tradition of electing the white-man into the Oval Office. The all pervading mantra "Yes we Can" seems to have shaken the American psyche awake to the realities of the actual world that we live in today where the controls over the boundaries and air-spaces have been eliminated and the world has become just one big global entity where the competitive spirit is the only thing that is recognized as the survival of the fittest.
In a way, Barack Obama has proved, in no uncertain terms, that sincerity and the will to move the heavy and mighty road-blocks that may be prevailing in one's path to success, no matter who you are and what social or financial status you enjoy, that success is all yours and that too in land-slide proportions if you are consistent with the sincerity of heart and the love to do something nice for one's country, acceptable to most, especially the younger generation. In the November 4, U.S. general elections, we have seen how these two things have bulldozed the longstanding barriers that kept the Americans divided into camps. It is apparent that the citizens of America will never forget this particular election, which will be etched in the American history for as long as America will live. It is not the person of Barack Obama per se that captivated the hearts and minds of the people of America. It is not the song that Barack Obama has sung of the new policies that need to be followed by the United States of America. It is the effect of the winds of change that have been caressing the people, arousing the desire to see something different to break the centuries old monotony. And Barack Obama has been a lucky, charismatic person for having been there at the right time, offering to the people what they desired and longed for most. It is said that if the Gods of the universe feel fit to even pass wind, the earth will tremble. So it has been with this November 4, 2008 American elections. The world has not only been shaken but staggered in a manner that this was never seem or heard of before. If the winds of change made the usually stuck-up people of America leave aside their infatuations and pride in their age old Republican Party and cross over to vote for a Democrat, a novice at that, this singular action has sent a strong signal world-over that the days of holding the monopoly of Party labels over the people are over. People have become wiser, and they know what they want and how they how it. And if at all they are looking for something different, it is the change in perspective that they are looking for, irrespective of the color of the skin. And far away from the United States of America, Goa is not immune to this captivating flavour. The seed for change has been lying dormant for far too long leaving the stage free and unhindered for the self-aggrandizing actors to hog the lime-light; fill their pockets to the brim and enjoy the pompous grandeur of being in power. But that dormancy is certainly going to be cut short with the winds of change blowing over the entire globe with the United States of America leading the way in the true sense of the word, being the most powerful and one of the richest nations of the world. The secret of the 'Obama Effect' was obvious when Obama spoke the way he did when he delivered his Victory Speech at the overcrowded Chicago's Grand Park when he said these words Quote I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy ... who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep. Unquote In their own way, ten years ago, a few Obamas (sixteen in all) thought it right to sign on the dotted lines of the constitution of Goa's new Regional Party which was designed exclusively through long-drawn deliberations and discussion ways and means to protect and safeguard the interests and well-being of Goa and Goans. Not only that, they went a little ahead to inscribe the seriousness of their determination and resolve, restraining themselves from congratulating themselves on a job well done . considering the very formation of the party was a victory of sorts - with a spirit of self-sacrifice. For them, what Barack Obama said in his victory speech was coming around for a second time when he said thus:- Quote This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other. Unquote What has happened to Goa ten years ago was the beginning of the gentle blowing of the winds of change with the formation of the Goa Su-Raj Party. And ten years have passed by when the initial formative resolve is very much in place not allowing the only institution so vital for Goa's survival to be diluted. And to stick to the basic commandment "Thou shall not give entry to no ex or running MLA into the party." The reasoning behind this was ( and is) that 'lack of progress' of the party, its march ahead is not important but the institution will not be diluted with such entry based on loose foundations. ** (see note) And to match Barack Obama's "It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause" the Goa Su-Raj Party has been giving teeth to the slogan during its election campaigns which says " Small money from a lot of people makes better sense than Big money from a few" Dear Goans, Time has come to capture and harness the 'Obama Effect' for Goa. This realization must dawn on Goa's youth more than any one else, for the future is theirs and theirs alone. They must not fall prey to party labels, family traditions and long time associations but must analyze in depth if these hold any future promise for them and their generations to come. Two recent political incidents that have taken place must be the eye opener for the youth of Goa vis a vis the party labels in vogue since 1961. One: Ms. Margaret Alva, the high office bearer of the Congress Party coming out against her own party by making a qualified public statement that her party has sold its tickets in the Karnataka Assembly elections, and two: Dr. Suresh Amonkar, a senior leader of the Goa-BJP has revolted against the Party through his resignation from the party for having been left out in the Pale bye-polls and has gone ahead to file his nomination papers as an Independent Candidate. So much for the ideologies of these two leading national parties in Goa's electoral battle. These things can never happen and shall not happen in a party like Goa Su-Raj where the procedures are laid out and every one must agree if one wants to be the club member. A serious institution which has the welfare of the people of the state and that of the state itself at heart cannot be seen doing turn-overs such as above. This only signifies that it is 'free for all' and the sentiments portrayed are only superficial, without any depth amounting to nothing but hypocrisy. For Goans in Goa and the world over, it will be necessary and important not only to remember Barack Obama's Victory speech ringing-in the much needed change in the political scenario in the U.S., but also to regurgitate on John F. Kennedy's inaugural speech wherein he had told his countrymen ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU. ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY' There certainly are Obamas and Kennedys lurking in Goa waiting to be recognized and pulled out from the dark to lead Goa and Goans across the river and to a waiting lush green and water abundant Oasis just like Moses lead the Egyptians across the Red Sea. I for one can distinctly see many such Obamas in the distant ravaged Quepem, Margao, Benaulim, Carmona, Colva, Asolna, and from Canacona to Pernem waiting for what it takes to mobilize them into one lethal action to send a signal to the monsters who have been and are devouring our 'governance' head-first, that enough is enough, action which is well whetted with enough self-sacrifices and a will to survive make that survival affordable. And that mobilization must be on a proven and whetted system which is written-down and one that is not half-baked and raw to fall apart at the first sign of victory, to move in different directions as has been happening in Goa since 1961. And if such laudable self-sacrifices from the sons and daughters of Goa cannot make a whole lot of a difference, then we shall never know what will. Let the 'Obama Effect' bring out the best in us, the enterprising Goans. Cheers Floriano Lobo 383A, Pirazona, Moira,Bardez, Goa. *** Note Recently, there was a move by an enterprising leader of a group of concerned citizens (Panjim) to join the party along with other members after all preliminaries were exhausted including presentations of provisions guided by the Constitution & the Road Map for Goa. The last hiccup was that the members of the group wanted to know names of prominent citizens of Panjim who were in the party. This request was declined to the surprise of the concerned citizen. And as an explanation this advice was offered. "You have before you a full-fledged written down "System of Governance" and the window to the pursuance of policies for Goa w.r.t. all aspects. You are a citizen faced with a choice. You satisfy yourself first before you commit yourself. Don't do it because so and so is a member. This 'System' needs the following for life if it is to mean anything. And this 'System' needs to be further improved and improvised.. If you join in because someone of substance has joined, you will want to leave if that person leaves. We discourage 'herd mentality'. We are in serious business of changing Goa's 'dirty politics' to 'clean politics'. Needless to say the response was well taken. -------------------------------------------------------------- ---Wanted for Goa--- honest ' fighters ' NOT honest ' hypocrites ' Contact: goasuraj (The Recruiting Agents) 9890470896 www.goasu-raj.org
