Obama: bravo to all Americans

PARA one of New York Times editorial, ‘President Obama’ (Jan 20), states: “There was no shortage of powerful imagery on Barack Obama’s inauguration day, starting with the confident man who defied all political conventions — that he was too young, too inexperienced, too black or not black enough — to stand on the steps of the Capitol and take the oath of office in a city and a country that are still racially divided in many shameful ways.” The last sentence above reminds me of my walks down the Charleston SC beach in 1969 with almost all African Americans I crossed, shaking my hands profusely. All carried a big smile and had that gleam in their eyes that conveyed their feelings and earnest hopes of something good about to happen waiting around the corner. Only one out of dozens that must have shaken my hands spoke more than Hi, Good Day. And all he said was, “We will have freedom and equality – but the Gandhi’s way.” Bravo to the African Americans for their pursuit in patience and bravo too for the white Americans who brought about this monumental change that bodes well for the future of mankind. Most of all, bravo to Barak Hussein Obama who at the pin nacle of his victory did not forget the old bearded Abraham Lincoln who more than a century ago, by abolishing slavery, took the first step towards freedom and emancipation of African American. Human nature creates a feeling that by shaking hands with me those unknown hopefuls of Charleston SC made me a part of their struggle. VICE ADMIRAL (r) IQBAL F. QUADIR Karachi