theSun | THURSDAY JANUARY 29 2009 7

INTERVIEWS VIEWS

Chance or purpose?
SOMETIMES we can be are today. Was it pure luck? to follow his dream and took the path
US extends olive
branch to Iran
US PRESIDENT Barack Obama offered his first overture
to the Muslim world when he included his middle name,
Hussein, when he swore the oath of office. He offered
at the right time, at the As a child I used to have less travelled. The difference: He had his second when he specifically mentioned Muslims
right place and magic many thoughts about my purpose. high up in his inaugural speech. And he made his third
happens. Other times existence. At one stage I Sometimes we might get discour- when the first foreign leader he phoned after taking
we might find ourselves found myself wondering aged thinking our world and our cir- office was the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas.
at the wrong time at the why I wasn’t born a fish. I cumstances are not ideal. Right now Now, in his most pointed and direct overture so far,
wrong place – like when thought being a fish would the world seems to be falling apart Obama has given his first formal television interview
I parked my car legally have been much easier. As I while life just continues at a high speed. as US president to the Dubai-based station, al-Arabiya,
along a street lined with grew up, I realised that there Nothing is safe, morals are disarrayed, not, it should be noted, to al-Jazeera, which has been
beautiful trees. Lucky was a reason to be here at there is a lack of solidarity and nothing the station routinely chosen by al-Qaeda to convey
me I thought and headed this time, at this place, at is sacred. So what do we do? its message of scorn and hostility to the West, but to
to the restaurant. When I this moment in history. It There is a reason you are here, a station with an equally extensive reach across the
got back to my car after
OnPointe was not just luck. right now in this generation to make region. And he used his broadcast not only to signal a
a lovely dinner – it was by Natalie Shobana Ambrose These are exciting times a difference. It’s not easy but it’s not friendlier, or, as he put it, respectful, approach to the
covered in bird poop. to be alive. Last week during impossible. You’re not too old or too Muslim world in general, but to make absolutely clear
Not so lucky after all – free parking but the inauguration of President Barack young or the wrong skin colour to do that he was not excluding Iran. “If,” he said, echoing his
an expensive car wash and an embar- Obama, people repeatedly said “it is so. If you don’t like the world you grew inauguration speech, “countries like Iran are willing to
rassing drive home. My punishment exciting to be part of history”. The hope up in – change it for the better. unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from
for being cheap I suppose ... Sigh. Not and excitement of something big could I’m glad it’s not just luck that’s al- us.” Thus was George Bush’s “axis of evil” summarily
so lucky after all. be felt even in my little corner of Ma- lowed me to be in Malaysia and not a RaisWhine: excised from US diplomacy and Iran invited to come out
It’s the season where everyone’s laysia. I started to wonder, did Obama’s war-torn country, and I’m glad it’s not Cabbies of the international cold.
wishing everyone luck. And it’s got parents know they had a future Ameri- just luck that gave me the opportunities cry for Obama’s interview was timed to coincide with
me thinking – is it luck that I’m here can president in their midst? And I that I have to stay out of police custody, the first tour to the region by his Middle East envoy,
in Malaysia, is it luck that I’m female wanted to know what his experiences and I’m glad it’s not just luck that has client George Mitchell. The trip does not include Iran but, by
in this age and not the 1600’s. Is it luck were and wondered – if he had been made me who I am. But perhaps, charter mentioning the possibility of improved relations, Obama
that I’m able to write this column and born in another time would he be the besides counting my lucky stars – I pg 10 perhaps hinted that a future trip might. Negotiations
is it luck that you’re reading it? Perhaps person sworn in last Tuesday? If his should be doing something about it. about reopening formal relations, broken off after the
all luck. upbringing was any different would We should take charge of our future US embassy siege that followed Iran’s Islamic revolution,
There are people who have all the he be the 44th president of the United and be the ones that command our look increasingly like a priority for the new American
luck and some that just don’t seem States? Was it all chance, fate, luck? dreams. But our dreams have to be the administration.
to have luck. When I look at people I I’d like to think it was a combina- right dreams – of peace, and a prosper- In singling out Iran for special mention, Obama
admire, who seem to have it all, I do tion of opportunity and inheritance. It ous, polite, secure nation. showed canny judgment. If one country holds the key to
stop and wonder what their childhood was his ability to seize the opportunity Is it luck that you picked up this a host of regional problems, from Hizbollah in Lebanon
was like. Who their parents were, of his time and the history of his up- paper? I hope not. through Shiite militancy in Iraq to nuclear proliferation,
and how they were brought up, what bringing that shaped this president. I it is Iran.
experiences shaped the person they might be wrong, but I believe that his He was issuing not just an invitation, though, but
have become and what their story is. It success thus far is not only a personal Natalie is glad she’s not a fish but be- a challenge. With his authority seemingly in decline,
might be anyone from Miley Cyrus to achievement but a product of the world lieves that we’re all here for a reason at President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may not be in a posi-
Tun Mahathir Mohamad. What experi- he grew up in – and not just chance. this time of history to fulfil our purpose tion to make what would amount to a U-turn in Iranian
ences did they have and opportunities He was at the right time, at the right and that it’s not by chance. Comments: policy. But the onus is now unequivocally on Teheran to
they seized that got them to where they place but he also used what he had, letters@thesundaily.com respond. – The Independent