Bill Clinton grew up in the optimistic post WWII era. One of our generations childhood homilies was “every little boy (or girl today) can grow up to be President.” It was grilled into our receptive brains along with George Washington’s axed cherry tree and Abe Lincoln’s log cabin learning.

Nov.3 the dream became a reality as Clinton became the first president born after WWII. Having prepared for this role since childhood our first “Baby Boomer” president signals the transition of attitudes that will lead us into the next century.

Clinton’s messages of change attention to the economy and his can do” attitude infused his speeches and hit home with the multitude of unemployed uninsured white & blue collar workers who had lost faith in Bush. Republican claims of the great peacetime expansion and minimum wage job creation fell flat. 12 years of Reagan /Bush “Spend and Borrow” policies came at a great expense as the U.S. saw its ever rising deficit mortgaging the future of those who were weaned on the “American dream” of a house a car a job and bragging rights as citizens of the biggest and best country in the world.

The average Joe was sold out as the Milkens Boskeys and Keatings made millions exchanging companies on paper. The “Greed is Good” 80s didn’t care that factories closed businesses went bankrupt and pension funds were robbed. It was an era of an updated “Golden Rule.” “He who has the gold makes the rules.”

Clinton comes to power with an activist domestic agenda. Magnanimous in his credit to George Bush for overseeing the end of the “Cold War” Clinton is from the group whose “Baja” Bugs sported a “Question Authority” bumper sticker. As he fought charges of draft dodger the attitudes and arguments about the Vietnam War patriotism and character were highlighted. Clinton’s actions pointed out the dilemma that faced a nation called to a war that was unpopular. He’s family’s ability to stand tall when the issues of infidelity were raised made it difficult for the press or the president to get much mileage from his problems. Especially to a public jaded by 20th century media exploitation of the private lives of public figures.

Looking to the future under Clinton/Gore Sikhs and Kashmiris those expatriate sons of Khalsa have every reason to feel optimistic.

The expectations are great but so is the potential. Clinton has said that friends and enemies alike know what the US stands for. This year the passage of Dan Burtons “Justice in India Act” was a symbol that the voices crying for justice were heard.

The stated emphasis on domestic conversion of the military indicates that Clinton is of the “Swords to Plowshares” camp and this will probably be reflected in future aid allocation. This bodes well for that under the brutal thumb of greedy Govt’s who starve their children to keep security forces armed.

Human Rights will be a high priority Clinton said to the Asian Wall St. Journal regarding future U.S. Asian relations. The old guard of China is threatened as the new leader has said that the relationship may not be as amicable as in the past unless China honors the rights of its citizens.

But actions speak louder than words. We hope that Clinton will honor his commitment to Universal Human Rights. Only time will tell.

In the meantime Sikhs can feel glad that friends such as Wally Herger Dan Burton and Vic Fazio were reelected. Stephen Solarz defeat may be tempered with an administration appointment but leaders like Fazio have promised to bridle his pro-Hindu stand.

Sikh and Kashmiri voices have demanded sovereignty. The rights considered as “in alienable” those of “life liberty and the pursuit of happiness have been too long denied Indias claim of democracy rings hollow When the citizenry begs for elections the Center refuses when they chose a slate the center opposes the center dissolves the party and installs a puppet of its choosing. In rebellion Punjabis boycotted this year’s elections as a futile exercise.

But the winds of change are blowing and India should beware. For if an “out with the old in with the new” spirit takes over it will signal the end of the Gandhi/Nehru dynasty and the dawn of a new day.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 13, 1992