Barrack Obama vs Rahul Gandhi

Today morning i got a chance to hear Obama live @ the Democratic convention. I found a striking similarity between his speech and Rahul Gandhi's speech during the vote of confidence.

To start with, both were above the petty talk, giving directions to larger issues & hopes in life. While R Gandhi was definitely much less confident & not as artful a speaker as Obama, both were conveying the same message.

I guess its due to the reason that both are young politicians, bent on looking @ the issues of the changing world, as Obama rightly said " We cant solve 21st century issues with 20th century politics" (something to that effect).

So what is the point im trying to make? WHile R Gandhi is still stuck in the archaic party administration where hopes of getting top post come late in life, Obama has surged ahead to stand for post of president.

The difference definitely lies in our cultures. The American culture, while giving token respect to the elderly does not hold them sacrosanct, and even the young are considered talented enough to run for top posts. Compare that to India, where age is the prime criteria for heirarchy in politics. Some like R Gandhi are lucky enough (im using these words very carefully, lucky is the right-most word) to reach near the top very easily, although not attain the topmost post, others definitely languish at the lower ends till they become old'er'.

While i respect the fact that we pay much respect to our elders, our culture also teaches us to fight for righteousness (Krishna's sermon to Arjun to shoot arrows at Bhisma pita). Hence, we cannot take a narrow minded view of our own culture, and should fight for our rights, even if it means taking a cross view of the elders.

I also give the difference of opinion to the fact that U S of A is a 300 year old democracy compared to our 60 years young one. Im not saying that just because im an Indian. Ever watched an old western movie? It was the same lawlessness as Bihar, in fact maybe worse, that is shown in a much civilized manner. Do not forget that US has gone through many wars on its home ground, slavery, a civil war & much more. We haven't got an experience of any of that. And while we are young to learn from US'es experience, we choose not to do so. So maybe the only thing that will save us here is to get our own experiences. And hence, the present generation must bear the trouble and go through the experience. That my friends, is the only way out to be young & challenge the elderly.
"expeirence teacheth...."