President Obama
& The Principle of Continuous Improvement - Volume 2
by
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Chapter X What’s in it for Me
1.0 The Question
The reader may ask a relevant question as to why have I written this book, and what’s in it for me? If I were to simply say nothing, the reader will simply not believe. So let me give a little explanation. Let us look to the scriptures. In the context of the Old Testament Prophets and Messengers of God, the Quran has something very profound to say: Chapter XXXVI Verses 20-21; “and there came from the uttermost part of the city a man running. He cried: O my people! Follow those who have been sent. Follow those who ask of you no fee, and who are rightly guided”. I dare not declare myself to be a prophet or a messenger, because I am not, but I can follow in the footsteps of those prophets, in their teachings and behavior and ask nothing in return for the time and energy I have spent in writing this book. I can assure you that I am not wrongly guided either – this book is a proof of that. I began writing in earnest at the end of November 08 and I am done by January 1, 09. Two months without any help from anyone, not even anyone to type any part of the manuscript.
Look to the examples of Moses, Jesus and Mohammad. Moses was living just fine in the palaces of Pharaohs. There was no reason to upset the establishment. But he raised his voice against oppression for no worldly reward. Jesus in essence said that his kingdom is not about this world, and never asked for anything in return. Mohammad said that the determination of the level of piety is between the man and his God and not for the world to intercede with money.
Let us talk a bit about President George Washington who led the continental army to victory over Britain in the revolutionary war. Following the end of war (1775-1783) he returned to private life not looking for anything, when he could have become a king, and did not even become President until 1789.
Finally let us talk about someone who inspired me as a teenager, in 8th grade, in the uttermost part of the world, President John F. Kennedy. It wasn’t until President Kennedy announced the plan to put a man on the moon in ten years that I seriously became interested in learning Physics. I was growing up with both parents dead and supported by my aunt. I never thought of receiving anything from anybody then, and I still don’t. The country and its leader inspired an orphan growing up far away from this land. President Kennedy said and you know this by heart; “ask not what the country can do for you, ask what you can do for the country”. It has been more than forty years and I still live by that sentence. So, if the nation accepts this book as a gift and I make nothing out of it, I am perfectly happy.
1.1 The Answer
So if there is something for me; it is that I would like to leave behind our progeny in a nation that is at least as good, as it was when I first landed in Philadelphia almost forty years ago and visited the Liberty Bell. The nation faced many problems then as well but it came out looking better than before. The war in Vietnam had fractionalized the country, and later the Water-Gate scandal badly demoralized it. However, the feelings of optimism and hope came back quickly, as they have at the start of the Obama Administration.
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About the Book
A bird’s eye-view of the difficulties facing the nation is first presented to the incoming Obama Administration and the new Congress. The specific problems are then described in some detail. Certain solutions, both from the current and futuristic perspective, are presented. An attempt has been made to keep the concepts and solutions explained in an understandable manner by mere mortals.
The book has ten chapters, eight of which deal with a specific area of difficulty, its explanation and solutions. For example, in one chapter the issue of infra-structure development is described in detail. The sections in this chapter deal with simply asking the “meaning of change in Washington” to suggesting that the infra-structure of the city of Washington has to change first. This is followed by other terrestrial (bridges, roads, veteran’s hospitals etc.) and extra-terrestrial (ground satellite tracking sites and other space related) infra- structure projects creating millions of jobs. This chapter then ends with:
One might seriously look to see, if there is enough capacity in our heads to expand the non-governmental population in Washington’s midst while creating an exemplary infrastructure underground and above ground for generations to marvel at. A city that looks and feels like the head and the heart of a nation on a planet far away. Tear down some buildings that are hard to maintain and environmentally archaic. This is change that Obama and his generation could be remembered for. Is it possible to ignore the skeptics and start the change that will begin the works programs creating so many opportunities; a new space age shall dawn. The Earth will have traveled through the space, crisscrossing the heavens, and the only sky visible will be from the future.
I invite you to take a hard look at this book, dedicated to the founding fathers.
About the Author
Sifwat Ali is a naturalized citizen of the
Sifwat Ali has spoken of the needs for the betterment of human society and the planet long before it was fashionable. Before the turn of the century, his message of the perils of Global Warming was published and sent to lawmakers throughout the world.