What's it going to be America?

A woman or an African-American? The world is waiting and watching with lots of interest. (I'm not sure if this is surprising or not.) Most people here seem to have automatically discounted the Republicans because of the current Administration. So McCain and Mitt seem to be an afterthought. One newspaper article talks about how nasty those American elections can get and sights some rather unflattering questions, not posed by the candidates themselves, but by their supporters. One of Hilary's supporters supposedly was asking a question about immigration and referred to our current Commander in Chief as "that bastard." One of Obama's supporters supposedly referred to Hilary as "that bitch" during a rally somewhere in the mid-West. Makes us sound like a bunch of hot-headed, name-calling idiots instead of informed and passionate voters. In a small box next to the article, they report that Hilary has been trying to "woo the Indian-American vote" by praising India as one of the most valuable and strategic US allies. I'm sure all four of them would say the same thing if asked how they view India which I think is ultimately the point the article is making. The candidates will get nasty with one another but to the public, they want to appear humble, polite and capable and sometimes I guess that means not reprimanding your supporters who might not be quite so eloquent. When it comes down to it, they all will tell the voting population exactly what they want to hear.

On the following page there is an op-ed titled, "Is America Ready?" It's clearly written by a non-American. I say this not because his name is Rajiv Desai, although that sure did tip me off...but because he writes more candidly about America than I think most Americans would. He writes, "Obama has the best chance to become the first black president of the United States. Not only is he accomplished in the American way - Harvard law graduate, editor of the Harvard Law Review and what have you - but he doesn't count as an American black" (because his father was from Kenya and "American blacks" don't go to Harvard, obviously). He draws comparisons between America's "underlying cultural prejudices" and India's "caste and ethnic cards." While I think he makes a valid point and says nothing I don't agree with, the way he wrote it was more...direct than I think you'd get in the politically correct US. I've read close to nothing over here about the position each of the candidates are taking on certain issues and I'm not sure if it's because ultimately it doesn't matter to one who can't vote - they just have to deal with whoever we ultimately choose. Or, if in a world where the status of Britney Spears' hospital stay dominates the headlines, it's just more interesting to talk about the personality, age, gender, race - what have you - of the next President. (I'm sure Barack would be happy to hear his resume reduced to Harvard, Harvard, what have you...)

Perhaps it was missing all of the hullabaloo of Super Tuesday that had my American friend Karen feeling blue about being in India. She is the woman who is here with her husband and two girls and I'm getting the sense is someone who doesn't like to be alone. We were walking back from yoga and she started talking about how she been a little frustrated and overwhelmed and the tears just started coming. I don't really do well when other people are crying and I think she sort of looks to me like, "tell me you feel this way too." So we stood there in front of my building, with me not knowing if I should go in for the hug or invite her up or start lying about how I hate it here too. I did none of those options but said we should get washed up and go out to lunch. Lunching is like a cup of tea, it can cure a variety of ills. I'm not sure how much help I was though because I'm not really having the same experience. For one, I don't have a 3 and 5 year old to worry about but I also like India, despite the frustration, poverty, noise, chaos, what have you. I told her she needed to get away and then come back to India with a fresh outlook. After seeing her apartment, I also wanted to tell her to be thankful for what she's got. She's in the penthouse, in a different building with large rooms tastefully decorated, recessed lighting, a "pooja room" to perform daily prayers and give offerings to the gods, and an upstairs with a pool table, poker table and gigantic flat screen T.V. But she's been in our place so she knows. She said she'll have us over for a party. And if it's anything like lunch, it'll last all night. I haven't told her these long lunches that extend into picking the kids up from school and chatting into the evening cut into my blogging time...

Sir is home. He'd like to add that Hilary is our girl. "I think she has to be. It's like hiring someone who's already been in office. She knows what to do."

As for me...good night. Make us proud.