OBAMA'S COMMENT SPARKS OFF RACIAL DEBATE

BEWARE OF ENEMIES WITHIN USA

A small incident in USA snowballed into a major controversy pulling President in the centre of eyeball has once again exposed that racial issue in USA is still a reality. It so happened that a black Professor of Harvard University, Prof Henry Louis Gates Jr, when returned to his home in Cambridge found his doors stuck. Prior to this, his neighbor called the police saying that some youths were trying to break Professor’s house open. Police responded and came to Professor’s residence. By this time Professor Gates was already home. Sgt James Crowley, the Police officer mistook Professor Gates as house breaker and wanted him to come out and speak to him. Sgt James Crowley, a white police man was rebuffed by Professor Gates saying ‘I will talk your mama’. Sgt Crowley warned Professor Gates of being ‘disorderly’, but Professor Gates went on behaving the same way. Sgt Crowley stated that he had to arrest Professor not because he did not come out because he (Sgt) knew by that time that Professor Gates was inside his own home. Professor Gates was handcuffed by Crowley and taken to police state on charge of professor being disorderly, a charge later dropped.

The controversy arose when President Obama termed Sgt Crowley’s action as ‘stupidly’ a term which was vehemently opposed by many whites. The Cambridge Superior Police officers Association condemned President’s remarks and demanded an apology from him. Several other organizations too came in Sgt Crowley’s support, a situation Obama himself would have never expected. Sensing the popular mood Obamas said becasue this has been ratcheting up, and I helped to contribute to the racheting up in my choice of words, I unfortunately gave the impression that I was maligning sereant Crowley specifically' Obama quickly mended his mistake by inviting both to White House for sharing beer.

ISSUES RAISED- this episode will settle down within few days but it has raised the issue and question again that has racial elements in American society not yet withered out? Is the election of Obama, the first African-American to White House resurrecting this dormant issue? Is American society so intolerant that one statement snowballs into controversy to national and international magnitude?

One may agree and disagree on the above mentioned issues, but one thing is clear that racial elements do exist in American society. We have to think that whether this controversy was blown out of proportion to defame Barrack Obama because he is a non-white President? George.W.Bush has been very harsh in his tone with respect to such issues. His arrogance and bad etiquettes had gained notoriety during his two terms of office but even then controversy of this proportion and magnitude did not arise. One should not forget that the kind of magnanimity shown by Obama is unheard in recent years by any American President.

INDIAN MENTALITY AND US PERSPECTIVE- One may disagree to the observation made above by comparing it with Indian psyche and reject the propounded theory, but one should not forget that human psychology and human prejudices and biases are by and large the same across the world and society. The American society needs introspection following this controversy and tries to rise above trivial issues. Expression of racialism in any form is rabid and should be abhorred. Especially when it is practiced by developed society and educated class.