drinks at o'flaherty

yesterday evening i found myself in an irish pub. the pub was bustling with people and everybody seemed to have a smile on their face. heck, i was there celebrating with my bosses too. actually to be fair they were celebrating. i was there for the booze:). everyone was drinking and cheering. a new head of the state had been elected. it seems he had won comfortably against his opponent.

the recession is just setting in. people are losing jobs. companies are filing bankruptcy. the working man lives in fear of losing his livelihood everyday. the stock markets are down. yet this picture seemed so detached from the reality that lay outside the doors of the pub. it seemed like the amber lights and the flowing liquor numbed everybodys senses so that for just a moment, they could be free. but that wasnt the case. these people were very much in their senses and cheering for their new leader, their light in the darkness, their single ray of hope.

i stood in the center of the pub as a television blared with the latest poll statistics as people cheered with every state that turned blue on the map and jeered as every other state that turned red. i cynicallly wondered how people could have somuch blind faith in a single man to change their lives. i am a strong believer in the fact that no matter what one has conrol over their own life. Yet how could these people believe that this man could change the tide.

And then Barack Obama took the stage on television. He spoke firmly, confidently and with restraint. He was respectful of his losing opponent. He was grateful to all those who voted for him. He was hopeful for the future and he was practical that the road ahead is tougher than the road behind. I was mesmerised by the way he spoke. I realised a few things yesterday. IT is the words of comfort in the darkness that get you through. IT is the hope that tomorrow may be tough but if you trudge on the week after it will be sunny. IT is in moments of despair you need to know that "we can". And it is the one who shows you all this, who is a true leader.

I had never hoped Barack Obama speak before yesterday night. But his speech fills me with hope that things will get better. If I could vote yesterday, after that speech I would have definitely voted for him:) Tomorrow will be a long day ahead though and if Obama is even half a good administrator as he is an orator, I am sure this country will prosper agin:)