Khushwant Toor writes from Toronto

CANADIANS voted for the 40th time in the federal general elections in the country on October 14. Stephen Harper's Conservatives made significant gains across the country from the 2006 federal election but failed to gain enough seats to win a majority government, as hoped by the party leader at the time he declared the elections. It will be a third consecutive minority government in Canada.

Early results showed the Conservatives were elected in 143 ridings, while the Liberals were elected in 78, a drop of 23 seats since the 2006 vote and their worst performance since 1984. The Bloc Québécois were elected in 48 ridings, while the NDP took 37 seats, a gain of seven seats since the last election. Two Independents also held on to their seats.

More than the party it was a show of leaders leading the parties this year. Harper’s confidence to form a majority government derailed early in the campaign. Financial crises in the U.S. and Wall Street melt down, is being blamed for Harpers’s loss. Harper was seen as a strong economic leader but was mocked by his opponents for saying there was nothing to worry about and the stock market crash, instead it presented buying opportunities.

Liberal leader Stephane Dion started his campaign hoping to make Canada a more greener and environmental responsible country, however, could not explain his platform on the Carbon tax proposition to the general public. More than anything else this election has been a real test for Stephane Dion’s leadership. Liberal candidates are considering plans to replace their party leader soon after the elections.

NDP leader Jack Layton was at his best all throughout the election campaign and had hoped to be ahead of the Liberals by the end of the vote. However, NDP could only gain 7 more seats since the last elections. Although, Green party has gained quite a bit of momentum at the general public awareness level, it was a little disappointing for the Green party supporters that they could not gain even a single seat in the elections including the party leader Elizabeth May.

In a coordinated defeat effort the Conservatives lost seats in Newfoundland and Labrador where the province’s Conservative premier, Danny Williams, has been in a long running fight with the federal prime minister.

The Newfoundland premier led an ABC (Anybody but Conservatives) campaign, and it worked. Williams's ABC campaign was aimed at ensuring the federal Tories didn't win any seats in N.L. The premier launched the effort after the federal Conservatives went back on their 2006 election promise to exclude non-renewable energy revenues from the federal equalization formula. None of the province's seven ridings went to the Conservatives, who held three seats going into the federal election. The Liberals took six of the seats while the NDP took one.

However, the Conservatives made surprising gains in Ontario, in particular in Toronto area, where the Liberals lost some high profile races. Greater Toronto Area’s west ridings also had a tougher than earlier election time during this campaign where most of the seats were contested by candidates somehow linked to Indian origin.

From Bramlea, Gore and Malton riding, Gurbax Singh Malhi held on to his seat for the 6th consecutive time. Malhi won by almost 4000 vote lead. Among the others, Navdeep Bains was re-elected easy on in his riding; Ruby Dalla had a tough fight with his conservatives rival but managed to win by a margin of just about 700 votes.

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Is it advantage Obama?

Harjap Singh Aujla writes from New Jersey

IN America it is very difficult to change the mindset of its citizens. We must admit that we are a very conservative society, where change comes rather slowly. One and a half century ago we fought a bitter civil war, in which the issue was the continuance or abolition of slavery. Abraham Lincoln, a Republican President of this great nation, wanted to abolish the scourge of slavery from this land of promise, but he was equally vehemently opposed by a determined army of inertia bound holdouts, who did not want to change the discriminatory set up. Of course Abraham Lincoln was victorious in the civil war, but he could not win over the hearts and minds of those whom he defeated on the battlefield. Let us admit it honestly that one and a half century after the end of the unfortunate civil war, there still are an undetermined number of Americans who do not want to see an African American citizen of this nation rising to the level of becoming the president of the most powerful and the wealthiest nation in the World. So far we have seen only white males as our presidents.

America’s resistance to change can be gauged from the fact that until 1960, we could not elect even a Roman Catholic Christian as our president. When John F. Kennedy of the Democratic Party got elected as the nation’s first Catholic for the coveted presidency, his margin of victory was very thin. But he made history and the people accepted him. After him Ronald Reagan became the second non Protestant Christian to rise to the pinnacle of presidency. But a white lady and a black man has never been elected to this office. Geraldine Ferraro of the Democratic Party wanted to be the first white lady to become the Vice President of America two decades ago, but she fell short. Hillary Clinton, another brilliant white lady and a former first lady of this country, aspired to become the president, but her efforts were shot down presumably by her own party stalwarts.

Year 2008 has so far been a unique year in American history. No white man in the Democratic Party could effectively challenge the candidature of either a lady Hillary Clinton, or Barack Obama, an African American. No matter who ended up with the nomination, the Democratic Party was poised to make history. Either a white lady would have broken the glass ceiling or an African American male would have done so. Hillary Clinton had won most of the traditionally Democratic leaning states with the exception of Barack Obama’s own state of Illinois. But Barack Obama carried most of the heavily Republican states in caucuses and primaries. Overall Obama managed to win a plurality of delegates.

The Super Delegates of the Democratic Party had a crucial role to perform. They sided decisively with Barack Obama. They had their own compulsions. A majority of whites all over the USA generally vote for the Republicans. The Democrats have to lean heavily on the African American voters to get them over the 50% mark to get elected to the national and state level offices. So the super delegates overwhelmingly opted for Barack Obama. Thus in a nail biting finish Barack Obama ended up clinching the Democratic Party’s nomination for presidency.

I personally feel that at least this time around Hillary Clinton should have been given the opportunity to break the glass ceiling. The percentage of women voters is 52 and the African Americans constitute 12% share of the population. I thought rather than giving a sudden jolt, the Democrats should have given first chance to beak the jinx to a white woman and after the system absorbs this change, the next chance could have been given to the African American minority. But things moved very quickly and a calm, composed and articulate speaker Barack Obama has been given his minority community’s first ever shot at the presidency.

Under normal economic conditions, this nation could face the “Bradley Effect” too. For those who don’t know about Tom Bradley a very popular mayor of America’s second most populous city Los Angeles. He did very well as the mayor and then aspired to become the Governor of California. He got the Democratic Party’s nomination rather easily. In the run up to the election, he was leading virtually in every opinion poll, but when the day of reckoning came he lost and a Republican candidate became the governor. This is called “Bradley Effect”. A lot of Americans believe that Barack Obama may eventually lose due to the “Bradley Effect”. That is why even I was thinking about the nomination of Hillary Clinton, at least this time around. I was of the opinion that change coming gradually is always less painful and more bearable. Any ways the battle lines are drawn now, let us see what happens. The election is only a few days away.

As I said earlier, in a normal election, the “Bradley Effect” could have resulted in the defeat of Barack Obama. But for the past more than a month, this nation is passing through a financial crisis of unprecedented proportions. It is the rule of thumb that during the thick of a fiscal crisis, the incumbent presidents always have to bear the brunt of the dissatisfaction of the electorate. John McCain could have benefited from the “Bradley Effect”, but the circumstances neither favour President George W. Bush, nor the nomination of his party John McCain. Over the coming days, if the confidence of the electorate is not restored in the economy, the Republican nominee will have to pay on the day of polling. The dissatisfaction of the people is quite likely to defeat the “Bradley Effect” too.

This year’s election is going to be a landmark election. If Barack Obama wins, which appears more than likely, we will have an African American President for the first time in our history. If he loses, we will have a young beautiful forty four year old lady, mother of five, governor of a least populated state, only a heart beat away from the mighty Presidency of the United States of America. Let us wait and watch what happens on 4th of November 2008. God bless America. harjapaujla@gmail.com

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Sikh Style Capitol Rally for World Peace

Dr. Amrik Singh writes from Sacramento

STATE Capitol of California recorded an unparalleled event on October 11, 2008 when members of interfaith groups joined Sacramento Valley Sikhs in the March for World Peace and Capitol Rally. The occasion was to commemorate 300 years of spiritual leadership of Guru Granth Sahib, acknowledged as the Eleventh and the last Guru of the Sikhs.

Ten Sikh Gurus in human form between 1469 A.D -1708 A.D. guided Sikhs to recognize the unity of Mankind on our planet and the Fatherhood of God in the entire universe. Guru Granth Sahib embodies revelations of Sikh Gurus, saints, seers and visionaries who stress enshrining of God’s Name in the center of consciousness as the sure way to peace. In 1708, the tenth Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh ordained Sikhs to seek guidance only of the written words in the Holy Scriptures, thus ending the possibility of any human to gain the status of Sikh Guru in future.

In the first leg of the Rally, members of the Interfaith groups and Sikhs gathered at the Southside Park where Sikh leaders drew attention to the significance of Tercentenary Celebration worldwide. A specially customized vehicle carried Guru Granth Sahib as the leading float of the rally. Sikhs and other participants followed in a March to the Capitol in Downtown Sacramento. An array of California State leaders, Assemblymen, Senators, Mayor of Sacramento and Interfaith leaders gathered on the lush green lawns of the Capitol to deliver their Special Message to Sikhs for their efforts to create mutual understanding among people of diverse ethnicities and religious backgrounds.

At the Capitol, the keynote speaker was Lieutenant Governor of California, John Garamendi who praised Sikhs for their hard work, positive attitude, and a spirit of sharing with other communities. Tercentenary celebrations of Guru Granth Sahib indeed are efforts to bring peace by invoking Guru’s blessings. President of the State Senate, Senator Darrel Steinberg declared that Sikhs were always welcome to the State Capitol as special invitees. Mayor of Sacramento Ms. Heather Fargo mentioned how on September 13, 2001 only two days after 9/11 Sikhs came out in a big way to extend moral and financial support to victims of twin towers. NBA star and Mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson waited long for his turn to deliver his message.

Assemblyman of 9th District David Jones presented a special Peace Resolution on behalf of the California State Assembly thus making Tercentenary celebration historical for California. Mike Moran of Spiritual Life Center, Interfaith Service Bureau said Guru Granth Sahib Message was evident in the enthusiasm of Sikhs to reach others. Ex-President David Thompson said how love and peace in action was needed to remove doubts and ignorance.

Mr. Jay Alan, Deputy Director of Communication, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, Supervisor Mariko Yamada, Supervisor Roger Dickinson, Councilmember Mark Johannessen, the City of West Sacramento, Ms. Durriya Syed, President of Interfaith Bureau Service, Don Saylor, Mayor Pro tem City of Davis were others who addressed the audience.

Earlier, Bhai Ranjit Singh of West Sacramento Gurdwara started the Capitol Rally with Sikh Prayer. Giani Wadhawa Singh Gill Religious Advisor emphasized to recognize all pervasive Fatherhood of God. S. Mohinder Singh Sandhu, General Secretary of West Sacramento Gurdwara, and Dr. Gurinder Singh Kanwar conducted the stage successfully. Dr. Gurtej Singh Cheema, Dr. Narinder Singh Parhar President of Bradshaw Gurdwara, JP Singh of Sikh Temple, El Sobrante, SS Raikhy a CEO, Jaswinder Jandy of Gurdwara Fremont, Balbir Singh Dhillon President of Gurdwara West Sacramento, and Darshan Singh Mundy, Public Relation Officer expressed their ideas on the significance of the Tercentenary Celebrations all over the world. A message from Sri Akal Takht Sahib was also read.

At the Southside Park Kawal Bolina read message on behalf of the entire Nor. Cal. Sadh Sangat. The following Sikh leaders also addressed the gathering: Paramjit Singh, Gen. Sec. Shri Sach Khand Sahib, Sikh Temple Roseville Maheshinder Singh, Gen. Sec., Sikh Temple Roseville, Melody lane
Amar Baidwan of Shri Guru Ravidas Temple Rio Linda, Taran Hundal & Amandeep Dhariwal - Sunday School, West sacramento Sikh temple, Bhai Bikram Singh Ji, Guru Nanak Sat Sangat of Calif, Sikh Temple Elsie Road. An airplane with the message “Guru Granth Sahib 300 Years Peace Recipe” hovered in the Sky throughout the ceremonies. An estimated eight thousands people took part in the celebrations.

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