I have been meaning to write this for about two weeks now; basically ever since Donald Trump got elected to be the next President of the United States. Even after all these days, it is yet to sink in. I could never in my wildest dreams have imagined that the Americans would actually select a misogynist, racist, hate - monger as their President. And what is more bemusing is that they selected him over a strong, confident and independent woman. Is gender bias really that strong in the world? People, even women, went ahead and voted for a totally inexperienced man who is a known sexist with the appalling view about women as apparent as when he said on camera that they ought to "grab them by the p***y"; over an established lawyer, senator and basically absolutely qualified for the role woman. Wow! It totally baffles me. It does.
I am not an American Citizen and I do not even live there. In fact, I haven't set foot in the US ever and I am totally uninterested in their Politics. I have not read much about either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton and though I have not heard many nice things about Clinton, I had definitely read and heard what Donald Trump would keep throwing at the people through his statements and tweets. They were far more disturbing than humorous. Inciting people based on race and religion; demeaning your opponent based on her gender; advocating sexual assault as a sign of one's masculinity and 'stardom'; and then dismissing it as "locker-room talks" - these are definitely not qualities one would like in a man holding the most powerful position in the world.
Most of our politicians in India are not exactly role models either, but here is one guy who is openly and brazenly chauvinist / supremacist and proud of it. And despite that more than half of about 325 million people put their own and their country-people's as well as the whole world's future in his hands.
Hillary Clinton had her flaws but she still had more leadership qualities than her opponent. She had the grace and confidence and even presence of mind to lead the US and indirectly impact the whole world. But then in one of the most developed country in the world, being a woman is more of a drawback than being inexperienced, brash, sexist and racist. True! It is the highest and hardest glass ceiling and it has not yet been shattered.
Now, I can only soothe my hurt feelings by appreciating and adhering to the words Clinton spoke in her concession speech, "never stop believing that fighting for what's right is worth it." Having said that, it was never really important to actually have a woman as a President. That would have only been symbolic in establishing and proving the fact that a woman can be anything a man can be. In our own country, and much before the US, we had one of our most effective Prime Minister who happened to be a woman. Despite my ideological difference with the Indian National Congress Party and my utter dislike for the Gandhi dynasty, I would not deny that Indira Gandhi was one of our most respected and able Prime Ministers. But like I said, it is only symbolic because despite having shattered the glass ceiling in India long back, it's not like our society is very accommodating for women here. It's not.
The purpose is not just to appoint a woman to the highest office. The purpose is to identify and prove by example that in our country, and our world, there is place for all genders and all races and all religions and that none is superior to the other. It's all about your capability and not where you come from. It's about what you are made of and not who you are. That is exactly what we want people to learn, and remember. You need to prove your worth irrespective of your gender. So, again to quote Clinton, I would like to highlight that "all the little girls... never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams."
Maybe it is time we start appreciating the likes of Justin Trudeau with his forward thinking and equalist and humanist agenda. Take a bow, people of Canada - you did far better than the Americans.
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