President Obama in America and Mahinda in Asia – A Perspective

The President Barak Obama (USA) and the President Mahinda Rajapakse (SL) represent two extreme ends that consist of different cultural, social, political, financial, regional characteristics. However, there are facts that can be compared on a reasonably equal ground.

Both were dawned from middle class family back ground. Obama is a graduate in political science (specialize in international relations) and the law but comparatively fresh in politics. President Mahinda Rajapakse too is a lawyer by profession and 40 years experienced politician in Sri Lanka.

Obama made the American history by electing as the first African American president in United States. On other hand, Mahinda was elected as the president of his own native place (twice in 2005 and 2010) to make the records in Sri Lanka.

Both had to face the world economic crisis and will have to struggle ahead against it to fulfill the expectation of the people. Comparatively, Mahinda got the harder job in Sri Lanka where its economy was devastated for last 30 years due to terrorism.

Obama was elected as the 44th President of USA in 2008 giving fresh hopes to the world for a change and better relations. But, he worked contrarily and is on the way of worsening the issues implying that he is not better than his predecessors.

USA’s arm deal with Taiwan against the China’s protest, Obama’s meeting with the spiritual leader Dalai Lama (it is alright if he was to listen to a Buddhist sermon but reportedly to talk of politics) irrespective of China’s protests, threatening Iran on its nuclear ambitions, allowing the pro LTTE groups to operate in USA, UK and promote secession in Sri Lanka, planning to frame the President Rajapakse and defense secretary of Sri Lanka for alleged war crime charges, lethargic way of handling the middle east peace process, are some of the recent examples to show the negative way of Obama administration handling the world affairs. (currently, world is waiting to see what would be the Obama administration’s reaction for Israel’s decision to continue with its plan to build 1,600 settlement homes on occupied Palestinian land in East Jerusalem.)

Generally, Obama is appeared to be a weaker character. It is not meant to a weaker like Ranil Wickramasinghe in Sri Lanka, who is a pet of west. Instead of shaping with own ideology for a better world, Obama is governed by the white imperial mindset cultured in USA, UK etc. Contrarily, President Rajapakse opted to go his own way shaped by the national thinking rather than doing things according to the western thoughts.

President Obama recently said through the cheerful applauds of his citizens that “India, China, German etc are trying to get the second place in the world but, I don’t accept the second place for United States of America.”. Obama cleared that he would not have anything new to give to the world as expected rather than become a tyrant competitor. On the other hand, President Rajapakse said few weeks before to develop Sri Lanka as the majesty in Asia. While giving fresh hopes to the Sri Lankans, his determination has offered to the Asia signs of a hopeful partner for its endeavor in progress rather than a competitor like USA offered.

Both President Obama and Rajapakse had to fight against the terrorism challenged to their countries. USA is militarily capable of hundreds times than Lanka but no signs of winning over the terrorism as they regenerate the terrorists from one side while killing from other end. For a permanent peace for USA ending the regeneration of enemies, Obama administration should seriously review its foreign policy and come to a path of genuine reconciliation with the international communities rather than trying to maintain the White imperialism.

Mahinda on other hand was succeeded the goal of defeating the LTTE terrorism in 2009 earning enough international fame and respect to the country. He consequently reelected in 2010 as the 6th president of Sri Lanka.

Undoubtedly, Mahinda would be a remarkable leader not only in Sri Lanka but also in Asia, but, such an honorable status will be a dream for President Obama as he is entrusted to implement the agenda of the White imperialism! The record Obama made electing as the first African American president would be a just unremarkable event to the world.

- Asian Tribune -