Moving on after lessons from the past

By Somdatta Sengupta

As the years go by September 11 remains a day for reflection and prayer.

The day has changed our lives in many ways. It has reminded us how fragile this world is, especially now. It reminds me how interconnected we all are as people.

What I admire about new populations coming to this country and to Monmouth County is the industry and the entrepreneurship that follows.

Whether it is new immigrants or new citizens, these new Americans truly embrace the American Dream in spirit and practice.

Coming from India, the concept of globalization is a natural instinct. India is not just a country or culture by itself. Like America, the country is shaped by interacting cultures and people that have visited and left their legacy behind.

For example, everyone is very familiar with Indian food, especially Tandoori chicken. But this dish is not even Indian in origin. It is a legacy left behind by the Moghuls, who in turn were influenced by the Persian culture.

Today this dish is as Indian as the Taj Mahal and has become a symbolic representation of the globalization of economies and cultures. Where it involves McDonald's in India, the fare is 'Indianized' for local taste though the flavor is still very American.

The age of globalization is an age of opportunity. Like India and the United States, people across this planet are becoming increasing mobile, increasingly aware of each other and increasingly connected.

The new ethos of this inter-connected world, with its interconnected economies, is prosperity through commerce and competition.

In many ways, the creation and history of the United States mirrors this new world order. This country was founded upon entrepreneurial spirit. It was a big part of the American Revolution and remained a vital key to understanding this country afterward.

Over the last few years, the American spirit of commerce has become a global phenomenon. New economies have embraced the American tradition of Main Street commerce. At the same time, Main Street America has experimented with global sensibilities in the business world. With each new Chinese buffet or dry cleaning shop that sprang up in the neighborhood, the
American Dream got re-invented and reinforced.

Change is already in our midst. What we are experiencing at present is the rise of a "new" America. We are witnessing a new chapter in the history of this country and we are all part of that creative process.

This year we get to pick the next president of the United States. The choice before us, in my opinion, is between energy and enthusiasm as embodied by Barack Obama and experience as represented by John McCain. Whoever is elected, the task before the new White House team is to make a conscious effort to encourage those policies that will encourage business growth and commerce not only around the world, but also along Main Street in Belford.

Commerce, both local and global, is the new language that binds Americans to the new interconnected world. It is always going to be the medium through which Americans live, move and learn.