Currying favor abroad

This morning, the New York Times reported that an Indian college student in Mumbai (Bombay for you old-schoolers) asked President Obama about how his spirituality and how he applies “Gandhian principles.”

Obama grinned and replied: “I’m often frustrated by how far I fall short of their example.”

Obama, who is on a four-nation swing through Asia, added that he did learn at least one lesson from Mahatma Gandhi concerning his party recent electoral defeats:

“On this journey you’re going to experience setbacks and you have to be persistent and stubborn, and you just have to keep going at it. You’ll never roll the ball all the way up the hill, but you may roll it part of the way up.”

I’d say that’s sage advice for anyone in any walk of life. The Times reporter couldn’t resist noting that Mr. Obama’s answers “hardly broke news” and that he was “characteristically delicate in all of his responses.” True, but those observations didn't add anything to the story, either. That quibble aside, the piece is well-reported and worth a read.

I must say it’s a pleasure watching Obama, an obvious sample of America's best, confidently stride the world stage. Whenever George W. Bush left for foreign visits, cringe is the word that always came to mind.

I had to chuckle, though, at the observation made by 20-year-old student Chetman Rawal. “We call him the world king, king of the world,” he told the Times. “I think he will change the world.”

King of the World. Heh. High praise indeed – and a very tall order. But let's hope history will prove young Mr. Rawal correct.