Barack Obama: Just 'Rockstar' President?

The day Obama won elections, if I remember correctly, filmmaker Spike Lee speaking to MSNBC said in a rather light hearted conversation that whenever America finds itself in trouble it gives the charge to a black guy(I cant say in which context he said that but he said it).I know Obama winning the election has a lot more to do with other factors than that, but he becoming the President of the United States despite being black did play & is playing an important role in changing the way how the US would be perceived by the world after the "disastrous" George W. Bush administration.That Obama was 'best' of all the candidates & that he himself did not bank upon the fact that he was black is a different thing.

Anyway this post is not about what Barack Obama was before he won elections.In the wake of his 'address to the Muslim world',this is about what is President Obama like & what he has achieved in the last six months.Before I start with it let me say I'm curious as to why Obama didnt mention India when talking about/to 'the Muslim world'.India has the third-largest Muslim population after Indonesia & Pakistan(source: Wikipedia).Also comparitively, Muslims in India have had a rich history, have been more prosperous even than in many of the Muslim nations & have been an important part of the society & am not just talking about vote bank - of course that doesnt imply Muslims havent had & continue to have problems & issues due to their faith, especially in the post-Independence India.Personally, it dissapointed me that Obama didnt talk about how Indian Muslims have always been a significant part of the immensely dynamic & complex Indian culture.

Now coming back to the topic - Obama is like an American rockstar who has the advantage of reaching out to the world & create a fanbase by performing onstage - which is not a bad thing to start with if,when needed, he is as forthcoming when it comes to going beyond the ‘rockstar’ thing.Only, here performance has more to do with oratory skills & political reading of the situation than skills related to music, but the effect on the audience is the same though less hysterical(no offence to the head banging,clothes tearing fans of rock music..hehe).From the time he has appeared on the world stage its his speeches & interviews that have been a highlight.Media is a powerful tool in this age where a film made by a British director,backed by American studios,starring Indian actors with obviously a story set in Mumbai,India sweeps the Academy awards(though its merit as a film is a different area of discussion, & no points for guessing the film), leaving behind American filmmakers & that too no less than the likes of David Fincher & Ron Howard.Barack Obama knows the math of visual media & is a remarkable speaker.He knows what he is talking about, how to talk about it & to whom he is talking to.He knows his audience & he 'strums' his 'compilations' one after the other drawing claps,whistles & cheers from the audience at the right pauses(oops I mean places!).

On a more serious note, Obama knows how to relate to the people he is talking to.He connects because he talks about common aspirations,common tragedies,common history & so on.He talks about 'the common man'(I know this term has been molested by people from all walks of life but believe me Im trying not to do it).An American walking down the street may have strong objections to the Muslim presence in his country but when he really gets down to the business of life all he/she wants is a peaceful existence, irrespective of the 'Muslim presence' factor.Same goes for a Muslim guy - he may feel threatened by the 'kafirs' but when he is at home all he thinks about is, how to make life better & peaceful.And same goes for the follower of every faith & even for those who dont follow any.People are same everywhere, its their circumstances that make them what they are perceived as.

The problem starts when we define people only by their faith,race,nation etc.The recent attacks on Indians in Australia is an upsetting reminder of that, that there is still a long way to go before the world calls itself ‘civilised’.It must also serve as a lesson to us Indians for our own racist tendencies.No one person can embody one single ideology completely.There are various factors working behind it.Religious extremism is not the result of religion but of politics.Isnt it?Unfortunately,religion becomes a tool to counter that politics.Mend your approach to politics, & then at least we can have hope.Politics of inclusiveness over politics of the tribe, politics of reconciliation over the politics of confrontation,politics of the present over politics of the past & politics of getting back to the people over the politics of getting back at them.

Obama, though only 6 months old as the President of the US, has inspired far reaching optimism among the people and thats quite a promising start when you are talking about a political leader.Doesn't every nation like to have a leader with the qualities Obama has come to be recognised with?Of course I am also turned off when media calls Rahul Gandhi 'India's Obama'.Rahul Gandhi & for that matter anyone who is called 'somebody's Obama' has his/her own identity & could be even better but the media need tags because sometimes it helps in making their work easy – and when they are less imaginative.

However,Obama's ideas & policies haven't transformed into results yet but I think everytime he speaks, he is able to create an atmosphere that generates positive energy & therefore, hope, and that is very crucial.Unless you mobilise people to action & more importantly in democracy, positive action, you cannot evolve into something better.

There were few things he said in his speech today at the Cairo International University which I dont agree with but unlike any other US President in the past & as far as I can remember, Obama seems promising to me.Its refreshing that he has that 'rockstar' quality but for a President who has inherited the America of Reagan,Bush Sr. & Bush Jr., that is not going to be enough.Good luck to the ‘rockstar’ in President Obama.

Peace :)