The Counterpoint Group would like to congratulate the White House on the first State dinner of the new administration.
Under the previous administration, India was recognized as a rising economic power, one whose global prominence as the world’s most populous democracy meant not only a natural ally in the region but also a strategic center of power. In 2005, Washington and New Delhi were successful in signing a landmark deal on civil nuclear cooperation. The current administration’s selection of India as the guest of the first official State dinner was thus certainly no coincidence. On the heels of President Obama’s recent tour of Asia, this honor “reflects the high esteem in which [he] and the American people hold [India’s] wise leadership”, as the President put it himself.
Following the President’s remarks, Prime Minister Singh was quick to respond that India would “seek to broaden and deepen our strategic partnership and to work with the United States to meet the challenges of a fast changing world”. Though Singh most certainly alluded to the lingering threat of terrorism, change could not be a more appropriate word to describe the political identity and rise of these two world leaders. Both have challenged the minority communities from which they come and have forever changed the perception of what it means to be a minority in their respective countries.
That America and India have both embraced inspirational citizens of diverse backgrounds should come as no shock. After all, as Prime Minister Singh stated, the countries are “two bold democracies of liberty, justice, [and] equality”. However, these have not always been easy ideals to uphold for either country. Since independence, India has been drawn into a series of bloody internal and external conflicts, most notably with the Islamist separatist movement in the north that resulted in the establishment of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Despite these lingering and costly tensions, India is today the third most populous Muslim nation on the planet and can certainly offer the United States significant insight into better understanding religious communities with civil and violent members.
India, much like the United States remains a pluralistic, multilingual, multiethnic society. Cooperation between these two great nations should come as no surprise in understanding how to balance cultural identities under one national umbrella. This theme of diversity and balance was echoed in the State dinner that followed negotiat
ions and meetings throughout the day.
The First Lady was masterful in fusing distinctive African-American accents into both the menu and the entertainment for the State Dinner, which consisted of carefully selected blends of American and Indian culture. The White House Kitchen Garden provided herbs used in the dinner and is indicative of Mrs. Obama’s lead by example initiative to encourage healthier eating habits in American families.
The Counterpoint Group would like to congratulate the First Lady on a successful State Dinner and commend the President for continuing the previous administration’s focus on India.
Under the previous administration, India was recognized as a rising economic power, one whose global prominence as the world’s most populous democracy meant not only a natural ally in the region but also a strategic center of power. In 2005, Washington and New Delhi were successful in signing a landmark deal on civil nuclear cooperation. The current administration’s selection of India as the guest of the first official State dinner was thus certainly no coincidence. On the heels of President Obama’s recent tour of Asia, this honor “reflects the high esteem in which [he] and the American people hold [India’s] wise leadership”, as the President put it himself.
Following the President’s remarks, Prime Minister Singh was quick to respond that India would “seek to broaden and deepen our strategic partnership and to work with the United States to meet the challenges of a fast changing world”. Though Singh most certainly alluded to the lingering threat of terrorism, change could not be a more appropriate word to describe the political identity and rise of these two world leaders. Both have challenged the minority communities from which they come and have forever changed the perception of what it means to be a minority in their respective countries.
That America and India have both embraced inspirational citizens of diverse backgrounds should come as no shock. After all, as Prime Minister Singh stated, the countries are “two bold democracies of liberty, justice, [and] equality”. However, these have not always been easy ideals to uphold for either country. Since independence, India has been drawn into a series of bloody internal and external conflicts, most notably with the Islamist separatist movement in the north that resulted in the establishment of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Despite these lingering and costly tensions, India is today the third most populous Muslim nation on the planet and can certainly offer the United States significant insight into better understanding religious communities with civil and violent members.
India, much like the United States remains a pluralistic, multilingual, multiethnic society. Cooperation between these two great nations should come as no surprise in understanding how to balance cultural identities under one national umbrella. This theme of diversity and balance was echoed in the State dinner that followed negotiat
ions and meetings throughout the day.The First Lady was masterful in fusing distinctive African-American accents into both the menu and the entertainment for the State Dinner, which consisted of carefully selected blends of American and Indian culture. The White House Kitchen Garden provided herbs used in the dinner and is indicative of Mrs. Obama’s lead by example initiative to encourage healthier eating habits in American families.
The Counterpoint Group would like to congratulate the First Lady on a successful State Dinner and commend the President for continuing the previous administration’s focus on India.
