Historic moment

WITH Barack Obama winning the historic race to the White House, America has transcended the boundaries of race and colour. His elevation as Americas first African-American President reminds me of Uncle Toms Cabin, the famous 1852 novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe, which dealt with the plight of African Americans enslaved by whites in America; and of Rosa Parks, a black woman from Montgomery [Alabama], who, on December 1, 1955, started a revolution by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man and was arrested for it.

It also reminds me of Abraham Lincoln, one of Americas greatest presidents, who, by issuing the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1863, freed African Americans from enslavement in the rebellious South in the midst of a raging civil war and subsequently paid for it with his life. One hopes that Obama will take this legacy further and boost India-U.S. relations.

S. Balakrishnan Jamshedpur, JharkhandBarack Obama

THROUGHTOUT his campaign, Barack Obama showed courage, confidence, and courtesy to gain the mandate of the people of the United States (Cover Story, December 5). His historic journey to the White House was without any mudslinging. He is articulate and has a calm temperament, which are indicators of his ability to make a difference to the lives of the people of America.

Syed Khaja New Delhi

OBAMAS massive victory showed that the people of the U.S. have great expectations of him. He will take over at a time when the U.S. economy is in a shambles, unemployment is on the rise and the fiscal situation is grave.

Abroad, he will have to retrieve Americas image, which has been sullied because of its disregard for the United Nations Charter, long-established principles of international law, the Geneva Convention and human rights. To justify the violations, his predecessor gave many excuses, including the divine right of invasion, reminiscent of 17th century British King James Is invoking the theory of divine right of kingship in his fight against the British Parliament.

Abdul Wasay Bhagalpur, Bihar

ALTHOUGH Obama has several crises to resolve, his primary focus must be to instil confidence in the minds of average Americans that they will be safeguarded and bailed out from the current economic catastrophe.

During his campaign, Obama stated that Jerusalem should be the future capital of Israel. Such irresponsible statements may hamper the West Asian peace process, which is already in disarray.

He has to fine-tune his relationship with Latin America, with emphasis on Cuba. Cuba has been subjected to an economic blockade for about five decades because it practises a system of government that is not to the liking of the U.S. The credit would be wholly Obamas even if he partially lifts the embargo and thereby enters into a diplomatic relationship with Cuba.

S. Murali Vellore, Tamil NaduSri Lanka

AS is evident from the reports of the UTHR-J on the human crisis in the war-torn areas of Sri Lanka (Chilling stories, December 5), the Mahinda Rajapaksa government has no intention of solving the issue politically. Civilians in Wanni, Kilinochchi and Vavuniya are caught between the forced conscription by the Tigers and the bombardment by the military. The United Nations should intervene and stop the violation of human rights.

Shajimon P. Cherthala, KeralaSaffron terror

THE arrest of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, Lieutenant Colonel Shrikant Prasad Purohit and several other activists of Hindu extremist groups for their alleged roles in the Malegaon bomb explosion has shocked people across the country (Of saffron variety, December 5).

In the name of retaliation against jehadi terror and protecting Hindutva, these extremist groups are expanding their base in society. It is not good for India as it will create a civil war-like situation involving Hindutva extremist groups on one side and Islamist terrorist groups on the other.

Amiya Krishna Pandey Ghaziabad, Uttar PradeshANNOUNCEMENT

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