Two men of colour changing US political landscape

Mar 02, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,

On the night of February 24, 2009 prime-time television in the United States and around the world was monopolised by two men of colour.

This night was another recording of history in the books of the U.S. It was the night President Barack Obama delivered his maiden speech, as President, to the U.S Congress. In his speech, the president focused primarily on the current economic challenges which currently confront the U.S and the world.

As he identified the many demerits the situation presents to the government and citizens, he offered bold initiatives to bring about positive results, while at the same time offering the American people “realistic optimism”. With the identification of every challenge he alluded to, he explained the specific steps his administration will undertake to address same. As President Obama pledged to steer his country out of its economic woes, he reminded the people that they will have to make hard choices and personal sacrifices. Many critics described the President’s speech as honest, optimistic, and brilliant.

As he made the impact of the crisis real to the nation, he offered hope and sure-up optimism, and reminded the American people of how the country was able to overcome prior economic catastrophes, such as the Great Depression of the 1930s, but stressed the need for fiscal discipline.

A large part of his 55-minute speech was dedicated to convincing the Congress and the American People of the need for the economic stimulus plan he had signed into law a few days earlier.

After the Obama speech, as is customary in U.S politics where these major speeches are delivered by the head of state, the opposition party is expected to respond. So, on this night first-term governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal, was identified to deliver the response to Obama’s speech on behalf of his Republican Party. Jindal, a 37-year-old Indian American, is described as a rising star in the Republican Party, and a governor poised to convincingly be re-elected to serve a second term as governor of his state. Jindal’s accomplishments and his rise on the U.S political landscape at such a young age demonstrate his tremendous talent. Speaking out of the governor’s mansion in Louisiana, Jindal struck a calm, careful and comfortable note as he espoused his party’s conservative principles. Responding to Obama’s plan to inject massive spending to jumpstart the economy, Jindal countered with a position to restrict spending. He stated that, while his party is willing to work with the Obama administration to get the nation back on the road to economic recovery, the Republican Party also has a plan to deal with the economic crisis which confronts the nation.

Jindal also, in a witty and skilful manner, used the opportunity to speak directly to the American public, as he acknowledged that the actions of the Republican Party over the past few years did cause citizens to lose trust in his party. He, however, stated that his party is willing to do all that is necessary to regain their trust.

I believe that Jindal’s speech was also genuine and bold. As I watched and listened to these two political giants of the 21st century, I am pleased that at least there are emerging political figures who are bent on demonstrating a strong degree of honesty and sense of respect for the ordinary people. Their individual stories of how they rose to fame are both inspiring and interesting. Jindal spoke of how his parents migrated from India to the U.S in 1971, at a time when his mother was four months pregnant with him.

Bobby Jindal is touted as a possible presidential candidate for the Republican Party in the 2012 U.S national election. Should he in fact secure his party’s nomination, it will be interesting to see how he matches up against Barack Obama. These two men of colour have certainly changed the U.S political landscape.

Barack Obama, the first African American President of the United States, and Bobby Jindal, the first non-white to be elected governor of Louisiana and the first Indian American to become governor of a U.S state.

Lurlene Nestor

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Two men of colour changing US political landscape

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