Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Republican Party should change

Republican Party in presenting its nominees for the Presidential Elections, has shown its inability to change from its age old conservative reactionary policies which had made America unpopular. The Republican Administration lacks progressive ideas. It cannot get away from its conceited, aggressive confrontational mentality.

The Republican Party lacks men and women who could inspire change and hope for the future. As science and technology keeps on advancing into the fathomless Universe, discovering new planets and star systems, the old Republicans remain bogged down in the morass of their old world mentality

Under George Bush America became a bully. It pushed aside the UN, and the opponents of its reactionary methods and bungled into Iraq. Having not learnt any lesson from its failed adventure into Iraq, it tries to enforce its nuclear non proliferation policies with force, and aggressive diplomacy. It uses threat, inhuman policy of trade embargo, and economic sanctions to force other governments to accept its policies. The most unpopular, barbarous and the longest trade embargo against Cuba show the American intolerance of governments that do not fall in line with its policies.

Republicans have no future for world leadership, its political bankruptcy within the American Society is seen in its having had failed to present a younger candidate on whom the nation could place its hope, and recover the lost popularity of America among the nations of the world, and propose more human policies which are acceptable to a new world order.

The Republican Candidate John McCain at 71 does not inspire confidence and a credible leadership. He is for war and a leadership with force- another Bush in the making. People have had enough of war. It is time that America has a young leader who has new ideas and new values, not to threaten and subjugate leaders of other Nations But a leader who could unify the world opinion for peace and progress. A leader who could work with others in an atmosphere of friendly cordiality. It is not necessary to be aggressive even with one’s enemy, a leader with a friendly disposition could bring peace and order, through persuasion changing the cruel to be kind , vindictive to be compassionate.

In a world given to terror, ruthlessness, animosity rigorous competition for leadership, the Republican Party cannot offer peace and reconciliation. Fidel Castro is one of the 20th Centuries’ greatest political leaders, who despite enmity of developed nations made remarkable advancement in social welfare in Cuba. On the news of his retirement, the Bush administration demonstrated its inability to be polite, diplomatic, friendly, or even democratic, by reiterating its continued economic sanctions and trade embargo against Cuba. What a good neighbourly thoughtfulness !!! Is this the type of leadership that we are going to have in electing a Republican President ?

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama

Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama


By Charles Perera


The American Presidential Election campaign is on . After Iowa the Attention is focussed on Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the nomination of the Democratic Presidential Candidate. After Nevada Hillary Clinton is the fore runner with Obama not doing so badly as the second on the run. Though South Carolina is not a decisive vote , but its large black voting population will be a challenge to Obama. Even if Obama were to get a significant lead in South Carolina that would not assure his nomination, the battle is still not over.

In South Carolina Hillary Clinton has found a dynamic campaigner in Bill Clinton. But , the fault with his speeches to please the gallery, are that they make him out to be the candidate. It should be only the candidate who should attack the opponent, therefore, it leaves a bad taste when some one else campaigning for her does the personal attacks. It is best that Bill Clinton plays down his role a bit to remain in the back ground, to assure the voters that it is a candidate opposed to George Bush that is seeking nomination.

Hillary Clinton should be more flexible, and take on more confidence. Her speeches should come more from her heart than from her head. That is how she made herself more voter friendly, and sincere to win votes in Nevada. She is a pleasant candidate, and she seems to be doing well. The media will not be kind to a woman presidential candidate, being more chauvinist- favouring a masculine leadership. The way to out do it, is to appeal more to the women voters. The women voters are prone to stay away from voting , thus remaining as the floating vote in an election. If they could be motivated to caste their vote for feminine leadership in politics, the day would be won for Hillary Clinton.

Hillary Clinton should speak more on black people emphasising the necessity to be open to them to give them more of the chance so far denied to them. She should speak of the, ghettoes, the poor , the underprivileged, and dropouts. The presidential campaign should be to bring together all Americans. The American Indians are left in the cold, how is the future America going to improve their conditions of living, and give them a share in the building of a future American Nation. These are matters that seem to have been left out.

America has also taken over the responsibility for a large numbers of South East Asian Immigrants. Is America going to pursue a segregationist national system or bring all together into a vast American nation ? These may perhaps be issues that are important to be taken into consideration in a Presidential election campaign.

The world societies have so far been planned and organised by men, and they have created monsters more than angels. It is time to give the women the responsibility to put right the mistakes made by men. A Woman President in the United States of America would be a great change both for America and the world at large, and perhaps a woman could give the much needed peace, and to extend non-competitive generosity to developing nations, to scramble out of their poverty, and backwardness.

The American Political system has so far been aggressive, egoist and conceited. They have to get away from this mental frame, and develop a leadership of politeness, cooperation,
tolerance, and understanding. For that America needs a leadership that could think differently, act differently , and speak differently. For that reason Hillary Rodham Clinton may be the ideal President for USA for the twenty first Century.

The American Democrats should not be carried away by the importance of the candidate to be nominated by them as one as the probable first woman, or the other the first black to be the President of America. Because that would be a short sighted decision, what is important is to select a candidate who could defeat the Republican candidate to become the next Democratic President.

The American people are on the whole conservative and they are still not prepared to vote for a coloured person to be the President of USA. Though a woman may have much less a chance to become a President in a male chauvinist American society, Ms.Hillary Clinton is representative of the white America, therefore, given a choice between a black man, and a white woman as a Presidential candidate the majority of the white Americans may vote Hillary Clinton.

Therefore, if the USA is not going to be burdened again with a Republican President the Democrats should choose Hillary Clinton as their candidate.