Justin Sullivan of Getty Images captures a superb slice of history at the Democratic National Convention in Denver: Moe Spencer, a delegate from Washington, being comforted by a colleague after the nomination of Barack Obama as the party’s candidate for the November presidential elections.
Besides the symbolism of being in the midst of a man who could be America’s first black president, Obama’s 46-minute acceptance speech apparently left many in the 80,000 audience teary-eyed with the promise of hope and change he held out.
When was the last time something in Indian politics left us reaching for our handkerchieves? When was the last time an Indian politician had us sniffing in joy? And when was the last time our netas moved us with their words, forget their deeds?
Photograph: courtesy The Virginian-Pilot via Innovation in Newspapers
Also read: Why are our brave, macho men crying so much?
Why are you asking questions which have no answers?
We Indians do not cry with Joy.
Only with pain. Here the politicians have been partisan and Nation’s interest is never paramount.
Parties come to power based on differences and Nation hood is weak.
We have not a staged of redefining the nation as yet.
Four years ago when Sonia renounced the post of Prime Minister.
oh, MMS’s speech at the end of nuclear debate was also quite moving, even though he didn’t get a chance to read it.
Even our journalists are no match in professionalism to their American counterparts. The Indian reporter doesn’t know much more than mocking at the politician…. The ‘Poison of Ridicule’ that runs in the veins of English educated Indians, as Swami Vivekananda puts it.
When Dodda Gowdru went to parliament to defend his son.
i was crying when the deve gowda’s family members stated that they would get 120 seats in the elections.
The last time the nation cried was when Nehru gave a stirring speech to announce the shooting of Mahatma Gandhi with the words “light has gone”.
Now we do not bother to hear the netas who are interested in dividing us based on caste, religion, language, class, region, etc.
I cry when I remember Churchill’s prophetic words
good
The last year I was moved to pride and elation was when Golden Quadrilateral was brought to a reality and when we conducted nuclear tests in 1999. The deed of Vajpayee in bringing about a change in Diplomacy and Modi changing Gujarat to a role model state. All readers – do not underestimate or feel low. Please look at the diamonds in politics we have had.
The action of Vajpayee in preventing nuclear sanctions, Narasimha Rao’s order to open up economy, getting back our pledged gold from UK, Indira Gandhi’s answer to Pak in 1971, Indira Gandhi’s speech to US president in 1970, Green revolution, White Revolution….
To be honest, it’s possible only in a nation as divided as USA. One half opposes the other hallf on most of the issues. So, people and politicians are all very passionate.
In our case, there are too many variables and regional parties and local leaders are more influential than one central figure.
Well, two different systems – that’s all.
Democratic party convention was a huge party. ‘Party’ as in ‘dance party’, ‘booze party’, ‘get-high-and-go-crazy party’, ‘try-to-score party’.
The guy in the picture is probably drunk; some men become emotional and weep when they are too drunk.
Anyway, I am sure NTR and MGR had similar effect on many people.
@Anjan
“The last year I was moved to pride and elation was when Golden Quadrilateral was brought to a reality and when we conducted nuclear tests in 1999. The deed of Vajpayee in bringing about a change in Diplomacy and Modi changing Gujarat to a role model state. All readers – do not underestimate or feel low. Please look at the diamonds in politics we have had”
hehehe..you are reading wrong blog dude.
We had 2 people dying of heart attack last week during Chiranjeevi’s speech. Just that we din’t have a camera to capture it.
Let’s see what Obama does if he comes to power. This guy can speak very well. And all people at convention are Democrat supporters. Even AB Vajpayee could have done this.
Strange post. Everyone knows that our politicians are masters in speech. People would massively fall towards politicians for their touchy, sky high words during elections. Everytime a politician gives his speech, people think that politician is a transformed one and is going to transform the society. Common man is a sheep and politician is a shepherd.
Brilliant! Simply spellbinding is what i can describe on his speech. The impenetrable frigidity built over lack of emotions just melted without my control.Tears were rolling down..not because he gave fish or taught fishing….it’s simply because made everyone believe they can fish.History in the making..for sure.
Only the politically naive will cry at what politicians say. Indians are politically savvy.
The politicians are a reflection of the society! If we do not have politicians of Obama’s calibre, It is because we the people of India are not of a similar calibre. Forget the illetrates, even top notch scientists at our esteemed Defence labs swear by caste and language. They will only support and promote persons belonging to their caste (even Sub Caste).
Our Hallowed IT Companies that swear by MERIT are no different. Caste plays a big part in getting good projects and oppurtunities. I had almost lost confidence in myself until I migrated to USA, by accident.
Not that there is no evils here, but atleast If You Perform and work hard, you are not discriminated against based on your caste , race or nationality.
It is the same story with the OTHER-HALF. Caste determines who you vote for!! Barack Obama could not even win a Gram Panchayat Election in India if he did not belong to the right caste.
When we evolve as a people, we will spawn the Obama’s. Until then we will get the politicians we deserve.
I cried with pain the day Indian Constitution depicting PSEUDO SECULAR agenda was unfurled.
The states enclosed have sharp linguistic,castiest and religious polarisation….
Kashmir
Nagaland
Maharashtra
Karnataka
Tamilnadu
Assam
Orisa
Gujarat
Bihar
We are doomed… if this continues…
I remember one description from Swapan Dasgupta’s column where 10s of 1000s of Tribal women wearing red-bordered Saris, fully dressed, with garlands, lamp stood patiently for hours waiting for Ram Rath to pass by in remotest areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat, or Maharashtra during Ayodhya Movement.
I did not cry when indian politicians spoke decades ago. Did not bother to listen to them. Except Nehru who I listened to in 1950s in Mysore Townhall and Radhakrishnan who I listened to in Radio after Nehru’s death.
Obama drew JFK-like crowd in Berlin. But if I know America well, very little chance of him getting elected. Now that McCain has selected a VP candidate, a conservative with a big ‘C’, pro-life and evangelist, Obama has no chance. The Bible bashers will make sure that the McCain the Old Man gets elected because of ‘Barracuda Palin’ and this ex-pageant beauty with a thin education and experience will be a ‘heart beat away’ to the Presidency if anything happens to the Old Man!
Looking at Nixon and his shenanigans at the time of Watergate, I wondered whether American can really elect a good candidate as the President. Bush’s election saga and McCain’s selection has convinced me that when it comes to the election of President, the Religious Right holds all the cards.
@Truth From Facts – Very well said. English educated Indians, especially these IT people seem to think they are the most intelligent breed in this world and they are the true saviors of India. Say for en example, some of the news reports that run in our English media are just disgusting. AFAIK news papers are supposed to provide NPOV on any issue and leave the decisions to readers. But the style in which the news is being reported in some leading news sites is ridiculous. They act as if they are providing the “real” solutions to all the problems in the world. They make the decisions, provide one sided views and force their views on readers which is just unacceptable.
“Barracuda Palin’ and this ex-pageant beauty with a thin education and experience”
Just replace the “Barracuda Palin” with Obama (of course he is not ex-pageant queen :)) and you will see that both are same … on the experience!
This is my daughter in this picture. She said after Hillary’s acclimation speech most of people in the hall just started crying with relief that the nomination was finally complete. Lori looked Moe’s direction and the news media was all over him so she went to comfort him. He said he couldn’t believe his reaction as he thought he would just be wonderfully happy.
We are fired up and ready to go!
Obama/Biden 08
It is common to find people emotionally moved by politicians. Whether Obama is good or not only time will tell. In out neighbouring tamil nadu when MGR died some of his fans immolated themselves and commited suicide. Can any obama supporter match this. Just crying is very easy.