(President Obama celebrates Divali in the historic East Room of the White House by lighting a diya and bowing respectfully before a Hindu priest, amidst the chanting of vedic mantras).U.S. President Barrack Obama, with a miniscule Hindu population, had an official observance at the White House. The leader of the most powerful nation on Earth took time out to celebrate Divali with the small U.S. Hindu community.
Read the story: Obama celebrate Divali at White House
Related: Obama to celebrate Divali
This is an example of leadership and how to include all groups into developing a sense of real nationhood.
Here in Trinidad and Tobago the cries of discrimination, jhandis being torn down, and intolerance in government places instead set the tone for Divali almost on an annual basis.
The atmosphere in Trinidad and Tobago is diametrically opposed to the one being actively cultivated in America, a first world nation.
At the White House bhajans and mantras were being sung for an attentive President, while here in Trinidad and Ttobago the Divine Echoes consume another $5 million to exist for the Prime Minister’s pleasure.
While President Obama includes Hindus and Indians into the American society with this gesture, Prime Minister Manning is absent not only from Indian Arrival Day functions but also from Divali functions.
ITEC remembers during the 18-18 tie Prime Minister Manning held Divali, Eid and Indian Arrival Day functions at his residence. Given that in subsequent years the Prime Minister no longer hosted such functions it is clear to what ends those events were held for.
President Obama on the other hand has hosted Divali celebrations with no elections in sight.
ITEC would have never imagined that the day would come when Trinidadians would have to look to the U.S. to learn how Divali is celebrated by the State.
With this act of religious inclusion, President Obama, without knowing it, has shamed Prime Minister Manning and his PNM Government.
Devant Maharaj | Chairman, ITEC
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