Great Expectations

Today, in one of the many meetings at office, I was queried about a decision, that I had pursued and implemented in the month of September, just before the “Close-to-Great Depression” spread its tentacles over the economically optimistic mood of the globe. I was questioned as to; how can I reverse the after effects of that decision and then there I very instinctively replied back saying that the only option left with me is to personally meet Mr. Obama to plead him and revitalize this economy. While, everyone around had a hearty laugh, I was satisfied that I could fend off a bouncer quiet effectively.
Now, when I ponder over that incident, I think – Obama; what is he got to do with a decision that I have taken in my office and that too, much before he had become a US president. That’s who, most of us novices and even the financial gurus are looking upto with hope. Yes, Hope is the word that he created a buzz around (along with Change of course), ensuring that he generated enough of it among the voter masses en-route to his presidential feather. He must definitely be tributed to the fact that America, after his election, can claim more credibly than any other western country to have at last become politically colour-blind. With such a great victory come unreasonably great expectations. Just before he took the oath on Jan 20 2009, there were opinion polls flashing and sweeping the world with optimism that “only Obama can save us”. I always thought nothing can be compared to the expectations that are being put by the billions of fans on the not-young-anymore shoulders of the great Sachin Tendulkar. But Obama has surpassed these expectations both in terms of the number and the variety of expectations. Phew!! almost half of the 6.77 billion population dwelling on Mother Earth directly or indirectly are affected by Obama and they expect him to bring a magical wand and rescue them from this terrible period. While Sachin has to bear the burden of expectations in terms of what he does on the cricket field on match days, this fella needs to weather the storm from all sides and almost on a 24 X 7 basis. Plus the challenges he face are varied. At home, he must try to unite his country, tackling its economic ills and to raise America’s international standing which sunk to its awful lows under his predecessor George Bush’s era. He also needs to address the never ever so popular demand of stopping outsourcing to other countries so as to increase jobs. In contrast, with a unipolar economic superpower status, other countries expect US to play a big brother role in safeguarding the world from threats of economic recession, terrorism and global warming. Like most politicians, one might believe that Mr Obama will surely fail more than he succeeds. But he is a man of great dignity, superior talents and high ideals. In choosing him, America has shown once again its unrivalled capacity to renew itself, and to surprise. Let’s see if he can prove all us wrong.