Yes We Can: A Nepali Perspective on US Elections

   I m a graduate student at Emerson College. I come from Nepal, a nation of mountains, Hindu traditions and poverty. On November 4, however, for a while it didn't matter to me what country I was from. It didn't matter to my fellow international students either. We all shared the same nervous  expectation of defying history - as did the US citizens - when we witnessed the US elections unfold and realized the chant of "yes we can" coming to life.

  As I was finishing my undergraduate education in Ohio, I followed the tough battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for the Democratic ticket for US presidency. I realized straightaway that this US election was an event of magnanimous proportion. Form the primary caucuses to the very conclusion of the election, there was no let up in the intensity of the campaigns.

  Mr. Obama seemed like a crusader - eloquent, charismatic and calm under pressure. Mr. McCain on the other hand campaigned with the personality and credibility of a patriot. What separated the two candidates was the packaging and the message. The 'young' Mr. Obama carried a consistent message of 'change we can believe in' via which he distanced himself from President Bush and accused the archaic Mr. McCain to be the inheritor of Bush's legacy. Mr. McCain struggled to create a gap between himself and Mr. Bush. His 'maverick' image didn't help much. His decision to choose Sarah Palin as his running mate and making 'Joe the plumber' feature of his campaign, hints either at a bold move to rally Republican voters (which he had alienated) or a desperate measure to inject some energy into his campaign.

  It was fascinating how Mr. Obama's campaign utilized the technology to mobilize grassroots campaigning as well as funding. Mr. McCain's admission of not knowing how to use a computer further alienated him from young voters who were already overwhelmingly attracted to Mr. Obama. 

  The US campaigns seemed to tread on the path long ago shown by Mr. Niccolo Machiavelli. Subtlety was discarded in favor of directness and hardcore messages. The Obama campaign didn't hesitate to utilize the issue of faltering economy as its weapon, even if Mr. Obama was no more qualified than Mr. McCain. The Republican campaign on the other hand resorted to labelling Mr. Obama as "the socialist" as well as questioning his "terrorist" link with Mr. Ayers.

  For me, the US election was an epitome of American lifestyle - fast, furious, ultracompetitive and dedicated to showmanship. Mr. Obama had the charisma and the talent but was anchored down by the history of black America. In winning the election, and overcoming the burden of history, his constant suggestion of American life seemed to come true through three words - "Yes We Can."

  "Yes We Can" will undoubtedly be recorded in the annals of history as the defining message of Mr. Obama and will be forever remembered as this leader's call to the American to rise up and realize what they are capable of. It would be thoroughly inspiring if the whole world could embrace the intent of the message and sing in unison, "yes we can!"