THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA

The US is in the news. Well, it always is. There was once a popular cliché that “when America sneezes, the rest of the world catches cold”. May sound a bit exaggerated, but the fact remains that the US presidential elections made more news in many countries than their own.

Even after the elections, the US presidency is the news. Why? Ever since, the US dropped atomic bombs, little boy on Hiroshima and fat boy in Nagasaki, the only time in the world history, the country has been a world leader. The 20th century for all practical purposes was an American century and the 21st will also be. The kind of awe that America inspires globally needs to be understood. Not that the country does not have its weaknesses. It has, and to quite an extent. Yet, its few strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. And the one great strength is its respect for individual liberty, no proof needed whatsoever.

A duly elected President is taking oath of office and a large section of the populace is vehemently protesting this. This is what democracy is all about. Right to dissent is the soul of a vibrant democracy. The President’s first day in office was marked by the largest peaceful protest in the history of that country having a long tradition of democracy of some 22 decades.

The women’s march in Washington was attended by one million women. There were other marches taking place across the country. It was coming together against the stand of an elected President towards minorities and women. His attitude and rhetoric were not acceptable. And such protests have always been a part of the American ethos. Whenever Presidents have taken steps that people thought were not in consonance with the American spirit, they have protested. The people rose against Vietnam war, they protested the attack on Iraq, and are still critical of those decisions. And it is not considered blasphemous to protest against war if people feel it is not justified. There is no rabble rousing.

The people elect their presidents. The people love their presidents, too. But they don’t adore them. The individual has a right to disagree. The individual has a right to vent his disagreement. Of course, there are restrictions but they are truly reasonable, in both letter and spirit. A President attacked Iraq, a Professor made waves globally attacking the President. Noam Chomsky symbolises the spirit of American democracy that is always alive, vibrant and kicking.

It is such an environment that makes the US the most attractive destinations across the globe. It is this environment that attracts merit and allows it to flourish. It is this environment that generates ideas and thoughts which are accepted and emulated worldwide. The failings may be there. But so is flailing.  And the latter makes good the former. Perhaps, this is why the country leads in education, sports, research, and business. Even in wars.

Billionaires use wealth for charity rather than stashing it for their next generation. Universities produce scholars and writers and their knowledge leads the world. Rightly or wrongly, their bombs and nukes also lead the world. There is something about the American ethos that makes its milieu closer to Tagore’s ideas: “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, where knowledge is free, into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake.