Historic moment - Obama - President-Elect of USA

The election of Obama as President of USA is proof of a true democracy.

Last night, this part of his victory speech was played over our tv news a few times:

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

Let's re-visit his speech when he accepted nomination (excerpts):

Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story, of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren't well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to.

It is that promise that's always set this country apart, that through hard work and sacrifice each of us can pursue our individual dreams, but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams, as well. That's why I stand here tonight. Because for 232 years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women -- students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors -- found the courage to keep it alive.

We meet at one of those defining moments, a moment when our nation is at war, our economy is in turmoil, and the American promise has been threatened once more.

Tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less. More of you have lost your homes and even more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can't afford to drive, credit cards, bills you can't afford to pay, and tuition that's beyond your reach.

These challenges are not all of government's making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed policies of George W. Bush.

In the face of that young student, who sleeps just three hours before working the night shift, I think about my mom, who raised my sister and me on her own while she worked and earned her degree, who once turned to food stamps, but was still able to send us to the best schools in the country with the help of student loans and scholarships.

And when I hear a woman talk about the difficulties of starting her own business or making her way in the world, I think about my grandmother, who worked her way up from the secretarial pool to middle management, despite years of being passed over for promotions because she was a woman.

She's the one who taught me about hard work. She's the one who put off buying a new car or a new dress for herself so that I could have a better life. She poured everything she had into me. And although she can no longer travel, I know that she's watching tonight and that tonight is her night, as well.

You have shown what history teaches us, that at defining moments like this one, the change we need doesn't come from Washington. Change comes to Washington.

Change happens -- change happens because the American people demand it, because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time.
America, this is one of those moments.

I believe that, as hard as it will be, the change we need is coming, because I've seen it, because I've lived it.

According ABC News report on his victory:

But nowhere in the world was the news greeted with more emotion than in Obama's father's home village in Kenya. Kenya's president declared Thursday a national holiday to celebrate the victory.

Ouma, Obama's half-sister, seemed exhausted by all the attention her normally sleepy village has garnered in recent weeks.

"It's been tough; I won't lie," she said. "You guys have been really ... you're persistent. You're stubborn, so it's been hard."

But she quickly acknowledged the pride she felt when Obama mentioned her in his acceptance speech.
"I did have someone come in and say, 'Ooh I'm gonna shake the hand of the lady who was mentioned by the president of the United States of America,'" she said.

Coming back to reality in Malaysia:

A nation of 26 million people with 11 million voters but the choice of Prime Minister is decided by only 191 division leaders of only one racial political party.

Some people are so narrow-minded that they took legal action against a state for having road signs with 3 languages other than the national, in a world heritage area called George Town.

A Chinese lady who worked for more than 30 years in a state economic corporation is opposed when the Chief Minister appointed her as CEO for one year!

An outspoken member of the ruling party was asked to apologise for a statement which most of us thought was sensible, objective and fair! Though he has resigned as Minister and Senator, he is likely to be asked to leave the party.

There are endless examples of petty arguments from what we can watch from proceedings of our Parliament. If someone were to throw a few paper aeroplanes, it would look more like a classroom of rowdy students!

The strange thing is that we still call our country a democratic one even though there is blatant racial discrimination and racial supremacy of one is considered acceptable.