The New Nation - Internet Edition

Dr. M. S. Haq

Senator John McCain will pay a visit to Bangladesh in a few days time. Senator Joseph Lieberman and Senator Lindsey Graham will accompany him. The visit - reportedly a short one, though - carries a special significance for Bangladesh. It will be the first visit of Senator McCain and his colleagues to Bangladesh after the 2008 US election. The visit is taking place at the time when Bangladesh is apparently moving towards a people elected government. Senator McCain, Senator Lieberman and Senator Graham - Welcome and Congratulations!

Senator John McCain along with vice presidential nominee Governor Sarah Palin had performed well in the recently concluded presidential race in the US. They also performed well in accepting the defeat in the election, which has, among other things, set a good example for political parties and others in Bangladesh to follow and to promote. Bangladesh like, other countries in the universe have inter alia fans and well wishers of John McCain, Sarah Palin, the republican party and concerned others.

A brief analysis of products and developments such as: editorials, articles and letters that had appeared in newspapers and magazines of Bangladesh; debates and discourses that were held on the electronic media; and the people to people transactions that took place via the internet, on dinner tables, over the tea, in village homes and at other forums, physical, virtual or otherwise - on the US election and throughout the election period - would reveal for example: how much popular this year's (2008) US election was in Bangladesh; how much conscious and serious people of Bangladesh (to whom it might concern) were when it came to their assessment of post-election impacts on the US and other countries including Bangladesh; how many times - at a geometric rate of progression - names, statements and other related things of McCain, Obama, Palin and concerned others were used, repeated and recycled; how much focus and attention McCain (including his daughter of Bangladeshi origin), Obama, Palin and concerned others had received in Bangladesh; how much recognition the candidacy profile of McCain had received from concerned Bangladeshis; and how much appreciation McCain had received from concerned Bangladeshis on account of his good election related stances.

I wrote two articles on the US election that had appeared - between 08 October 2008 and 31 October 2008 - on respective editorial pages of two national dailies of Bangladesh namely, The Bangladesh Observer - the country's oldest national daily, and The New Nation - an independent daily. I had - through those articles - attempted prima-facie to present inter alia my arguments before people of the US, people of Bangladesh and people of world at large as to why and how Senator McCain was the right candidate for the 2009 vacancy, and as to why and how he was the need of time. I shared with them my prediction about the senator's win in the election. I also predicted possibilities of Palin becoming first women president of the US in the foreseeable future - against a set of parameters and a number of attending conditions, among other things.

I have no regret about the fact: Senator McCain could not win the election after a hard fight. But I have certain reservations about the quality and the quantity of support he had received from the republican party and concerned others during the election. I am not sure, at this point in time, though: how and to what extent the money-vote game (less campaign money?) affected, in a negative way, the republican strategy for wining the election? I am not sure: whether or not the republican party had the required power and tensile strength (used in an engineering sense) to withstand the pressure of this year's election (2008) after the two presidential wins in a row? I am not also sure about the existence of any connection between the recent bank failures in the US and the vote buying affordability (used in a financial sense) demonstrated by political parties contesting the election.

It is expected the people of US and others will, as appropriate, look into above and related matters in an effective, efficient and result-oriented manner. It is also expected future elections in the US and elsewhere in the world (as applicable) including the upcoming election in Bangladesh will be managed by all concerned in a manner that will ensure - as far as humanly and otherwise possible: election votes are earned and not bought by money, power or similar things, for example.

Senator McCain is a born fighter. He has been fighting on a continuous basis for inter alia: one, the betterment of his country and the world at large; two, the welfare of his people and the welfare of people of world at large; three, his own life - in a deeper sense though, every 'thing' in the relativistic universe is apparently fighting at least at this point in time for existence - whether consciously or otherwise - relative to individual positions and other variables, though; four, his principles; and five, his goals in life - all with, in an average sense, a human face, determination, courage and result-orientation, so far.

In the existing and evolving situations - that are largely arising out of for example and as appropriate: global recession; troubled economy; market imperfection; conflict; tension; terrorism; extremism; environmental plus non-environmental insecurity; intolerance; poverty; deprivation; inadequate knowledge, understanding and application in areas say, arts, sciences, engineering and technology for problem identification and problem solving; wastage; and moral degradation - leaders like Senator John McCain can, if given the right opportunity, not only facilitate change for better in above areas for his own country but for the world at large, including inter alia Bangladesh.

In that respect, it is expected the US help and assistance to Bangladesh through the present time and hopefully through the foreseeable future will inter alia be instrumental in assisting Bangladeshis to develop more effective antidotes - than those at present - to fight out infections that make the country sick, off and on. It is also expected Senator McCain will demonstrate his fighting spirit, skills and expertise when it comes to helping Bangladeshis to help themselves in pertinent areas.

It may be mentioned here: the role of ambassador Moriarty and his team in Bangladesh has so far been found - in an average sense - to be relevant, constructive, result facilitative and people sensitive when it comes to assisting Bangladesh in the effort towards change for better, among other things.

The last word: We wish Senator McCain, Senator Lieberman and Senator Graham an enjoyable and productive stay in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is - in a sense - Senator McCain's second home, he has a personal responsibility for taking care of it. God bless.