A Blue Brigade Win

No scientific purpose behind labelling the post in the manner I have. The idea, was to communicate the chant that was doing the rounds, amongst the thousands gathered in Chicago, to hear the victor's address. And Barack Obama, proved that the wait was worth it. The two year long marketing, PR blitzkrieg, has finally culminated into the blues winning.

In all fairness, the other senior candidate, albeit a republican, had a fair chance, if viewed without prejudice. But the Bush legacy proved to be a cross that McCain found too painfully to bear. Obama might not do things very differently than McCain might have, but the Democrat brings along a clean slate. Thus enabling him to script the tale he wants and a tale that the world needs.

I was going through Obama's website and was pleased to see its similarity with some online shopping portals. The link leads to an election funding portal, that requests people to donate for America's cause. The storefrontish appeal... donate $30 or more and get the limited edition 'Change' t-shirt, and other merchandise was really heartening to see. In this day and age of consumerism, trust the doyens of retailing to make such deals possible even in an arena as shrouded in scrutiny as election funding.

This election has been a revelation. Not only in terms of the candidature, but also in terms of the methodologies employed. Obama, revolutionised the way the Internet is tapped. He reached out to millions, made them believe in his cause and inspired many more to join him in this endeavour of his. For instance the blue brigade, made their presence felt by channelling support through, Linkedin, Twitter, Digg, Faithbase, Blackplanet etc.

Cannot help but draw a parallel with the Indian scheme of things. The next general elections are likely to be held in April - May '09. Coalition governments seem to be the only way out. Be it the Congress or BJP, so long as one of them forms an alliance with other minorities, India can breathe a sigh of relief. The screw up, begins in the event of a fractious Third Front coming into power. Stability is no longer an option after all.

With the elections set early next year, and the turmoil that the world has gone through in the past year.... it does not take a material physicist to suggest that the Congress led UPA is in a spot of worry. There have been comparisons drawn up between Obama and the home grown, Mayawati. The cataclysmic event of Mayawati getting lucky in April, may well have an opposite impact than that of an Obama victory is going to have on the US adn the world.

That apart, can we ever... EVER... raise the bar, on the way elections are conducted in our country? We are a nation that has seemingly bypassed evolution on a number of fronts... be it skipping the industrialisation phase, production optimisation standards, wi max over wi fi etc.
The next elections might not... or rather ARE NOT, going to herald a pivotal change in the way the politburo works... however, our own legacy indicates that when the anecdotal, 'Change can happen', happens... we aught to be in the right frame of mind to accept it.

While at this point we could say Hail - Obama, Hail - the Democrats, Hail - Sarah Palin (for making things that much more easier) or even Hail - the Indian cricket team (for providing some respite in this day and age of despair).....what would really be hitting the nail on its head... would be saying Hail.... to the Change...

Realisation needs to be drawn to the point that, change is not an event... it is a process... continuous belief and unrelenting efforts alone will push "Change..can happen" to "Change.... is happening"

More on the other Blue Brigade.. Coming soon.