Odd that you single out Madeleine Albright for standing beside Clinton without noting Clinton's complicity in the ongoing sabre-rattling towards other ME countries to demonstrate her machismo on the toughness meter--or to pledge her allegiance to the Likud-Zionist-NeoCon agenda for political strategy. She knows where her bread is buttered and has learned to navigate at the expense of what matters. She has tied her own hands to do what she has to do to win, only finding herself ironically in a position of losing everything because she lost sight of the purpose of winning. She adopted the paradigm of the savage patriarchy rather than challeging it--so her winning based on her gender alone is a lost opportunity.

Raphaelle del Vecchio

Trenton, NJ

Thank you, Kavita Ramdas, for such a clear and insightful article. My wish is that every citizen of the United States would read it, and that they would cast their vote for a candidate that talked so globally, from the heart, in this way.

I have been holding my own personal vigil that the tragic and painful events since 9/11 would wake the American public up to the huge potential for good of their global role.

This is a "global" election; its outcome will effect how we progress with this world of ours, and never in my lifetime has a pair of candidates appeared in a US election with the potential to redirect the course of events. But as you say, it all depends on whether they dare to bring their own personal race and gender experience into play to say how it really could be if they were voted in.

I know many fine Americans who are clearly and wholeheartedly awake to all that you write about, and feel the pain about their country in much the same way.

My fear is that the majority of Americans are not awake to their global responsibilities as superpower and fail to understand the huge potential they have to influence healthy and growthful change on the planet. Sadly, they seem to be sleepwalking further into their own insular world with only their internal issues to guide their choices in this election.

I hope my fear is wrong. I hope that these two unique candidates, who stand at this unique time in the world's history, can rise above the "vote catching" safeness and speak from their heart. And I hope, if they do, that the American people can hear them.

Sally-Anne Hart

Reading, UK

At a time when it is impossible to read analysis that is not skewed, Kavita Ramdas has presented a truly refreshing perspective on the two candidates that are poised to make American history. All I kept thinking as I read her piece was how easy it would have been for both Clinton and Obama to come clean. But as ubiquitous as the profile of the average American has become, it has indeed created an identity crisis for all who seek to occupy the highest office in the nation, and here's why. For many years now, the American public has gradually morphed into an extremely sensitive bunch incapable of laughing at ourselves. It is safe to say that such sensitivity ushered in the era of political correctness, which has overshadowed truth and what candidates think people want them to share.

As a Nigerian-American female, it is easy for me to see both sides more transparently than many others. Clinton is trapped in a time capsule very familiar to the few women who dared to find themselves in predominantly male circles in Ivy League educational environments. These women had no choice but to become androgynous to prove themselves equally capable. From all accounts, Clinton has continued to find herself in these largely masculine circles where "tears" did not seem welcome.

Obama's plight is even more palpable in the wake of September 11, 2001, and the more obvious facts of his heritage. The fact that he would have to defend how he came about his names, which do not suggest a Christian background to a largely Christian electorate, was already daunting. As recently as this week, pranksters are toying with the idea of confusing those who do not take time to do their research, hence the photographs that have circulated recently showing him clad in clothes that may give an uninformed person the wrong impression.

Quite honestly, Clinton and Obama are both qualified to seek to occupy the highest office in the land. Both provide the breath of fresh air that was needed in the American political system in the wake of current demographic trends and an ever-transparent global village. What no one knew (including the pundits in the media) was how fed up the electorate had become of the establishment. It is for this reason that Obama rightfully relishes, as his first given name accords him the title of the new "blessed" kid on the block.

Stevina Evuleocha

Dublin, CA

El proximo presidente de los EEUU podría traer, no solo a su país sino al mundo entero, un nuevo escenario de esperanza y Paz. Tendría todo el poder para lograrlo y esto con un enfoque que tenga corazón y mente, un enfoque integral en las políticas a nivel internacional, de manera que genere capacidad de negociación que supere el modelo de las guerras.

Para que desde lo local hasta lo global se reconozcan las diferencias y la diversidad como fuente de riqueza y armonía, poniendo en escena esfuerzos para erradicar flagelos como la violencia contra las mujeres y los niños, el racismo y la corrupción, porque es pertinente.

Gracias a la Sra. Kavita Ramdas por su artículo que aporta claridad en los momentos en que todos lo necesitamos, no solo en los EE UU, sino en todo el mundo. Nos entusiasma pensar que su proximo Presidente podría ser una mujer o un negro, porque encarnaría muchas historias y apuestas de movimientos sociales internacionales; y que el reto vaya más allá, como se ha manifestado: "Lo que está en juego es el futuro de la fragilidad de nuestro mundo". No bastaría un cuerpo, sea cual fuere, este tiempo requiere alcanzar una visión integral. Esto sería lo ideal para ustedes y para el mundo.

Con mucho respeto desde mi país, Colombia.

Sara Gomez Acevedo
Fundación Dialogo Mujer /Mujeres Autoras Actoras de Paz

Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia

Recently, Nepalese women have been suffering from Madhesi conflicts (in addition to your note about the endemic rape and conflicts in past). Mostly, the women of Hill origin living in Terai (bordering to India) are brutally raped and tortured by the Madheshi people, and vice versa. Can we do something for them?

Sumitra Pande
Gargy Shiksha Sadan/Krishi Patrika

Sunsari/Kathmandu, Nepal

This is an important piece, and it's needless to say how crucial the issues raised are. We are talking about the President of the United States of America--whose actions or inactions could significantly impact the rest of us in the world, positively or negatively and whether we like or not. So even as someone who is directly involved in this process, I have been extremely frustrated about the insularity and the narrowness of the context of the debates on global issues --the Iraq war, Pakistan, Mexico-US borders (even as global an issue as immigration). Very depressing.

The two Democratic candidates present an unprecedented and unique opportunity for the US to make a different case to the world. The world will definitely not treat or respond to neither Hillary nor Barack in the same way as to Bush. It matters that she is a woman and he is black. But the gender or race factors become meaningless unless they are brought to bear on the conditions that make gender and race to matter so much in the first place.

I think the bottom line for American voters is to acknowledge that their criteria for choosing a President should seriously include the candidate's suitability for and judgment on the rest of the world. Of course it is understandable that domestic issues are more important to voters, but ignoring the global dimension is neither wise nor a good thing for their "homeland" security, let alone global security.

Thanks to Kavita Ramdas for raising these important issues. Ramdas and the Global Fund have a track record of standing up for women's right and social justice globally. Global justice includes justice for Palestinians, for Israelis and for everyone else.

Mawuli Dake

Washington, DC

Senhora Kavita Gostariamos de Saber se a Global apoia projetos De Preveçãoe cooperação.

O Ces a 20 anos trabalha com educação comunitária de forma preventiva. e esta amplinado as diversas formas de parceria.

Hoje diante de muitos desafios, as pessoas estão cada vez mais caminhando de forma mais homogenia, mais jutas. Neste sentido, aqui na região do ABC são Paulo, as cooperativas estão ganhando destaques. São muitas divercidade de cooperativa. porem, Não basta só vislumbrar, formas de sustento familiar, mas tambem, é presiso ampliar todos os conhecimentos basicos para uma melhor qualidade de vida.

Ex: -é possivel ampliar seus conhecimentos sobre os seus direitos ccoperados.
-ampliar conhecimento sobre as questão de Gênero
-ampliar seu conhecimento sobre Cidadania
-ampliar seus conhecimentos sobre Saúde Sexual e Reprodutiva em fim as/as cooperados a que se tornar cada veis mais no mercado de trabalho, garantindo assim a sustentabilidade familiar e cooperativa.
neste sentido estamos buscando forma de apoio sustentavel para estas cocoperativas, visto que se trata de um grande numero de pessoas ccoperadas (2000 pessoas na região)

Gostariamos de contar com o apio da Global.

Maria Socorro Pereira de Araujo
Ces-Centro de Educação para Saúde

cedus@terra.com.br, Coordenadora de projetos

I would like to congratulate Ms. Ramdas on her words and ideas. I felt admiration for her clear and brave views and, above all, her call for global awareness--not to individual candidates of a particular country but to all of us. I have recently heard the expression "global community," which I like very much, but unfortunately only as a slogan for some wifi gadgets. I wish each and every one of us, as active members of our world community, became aware of our surroundings and, regardless of differentiating features, take some kind of humane and empathetic action towards global well-being, no matter how far from "my personal bubble" someone is suffering.

I think we need a shift of direction, we need to change the concept of profit for care-- "what shall I buy as my next investment?" for "what do you need?"--and only then may our world be called a true community.

Verónica Mux
Sworn translator

Buenos Aires, Argentina

For an Indian looking at the American election, what really matters is how Clinton or Obama will be different from Bush. We see so far not a very big move towards this. I feel that Ramdas is right is her expectations. For Clinton, whom we all wish to have a chance to be the first woman President, it is important to make a difference as someone who is concerned about and sensitive towards the affected women and children all over the world. Otherwise, the chance of her or any other women will be less in future, as after all, it will the lead voters to decide that it is not worth having a woman.

Gilbert Rodrigo
Gandhian Unit for Integrated Development Education

Chengalpattu, Tamilnadu, Chennai, India

Thanks so much to Kavita Ramdas for this powerful impulse and for inspiring me! This is a very exact, passionate and logical diagnosis. Not only presidents and presidential runners but also feminist society needs a sober view. Many of us let others divide us into different political, national and religious groups. This is what makes us vulnerable and preserves the possibility of killing us and discriminating us.

In solidarity,

Galina Petriashvili
GenderMediaCaucasus Journalists' Association

Tbilisi, Georgia

Thanks for this brillant and insightful piece, which has indeed opened up quite a number of issues. I think that the issue of women's participation in any level of leadership is not a matter of being a "macho" to prove that you can also achieve what men can. It is an opportunity to put concrete issues on the table geared towards bringing about a change, particularly with regards to gender inequality and discrimination against women across the globe. For instance, the issue of women and children wallowing in suffering and abject poverty, particularly in war-torn areas in developing countries. America occupies a strategic position in world politics, so I expect that Hillary, being a woman, should be able to talk about what value she can add to the peace process around the world, and how to address the impact of globalization as championed by the United States, which has far-reaching implication on women all over the world. I am particularly picking on Hillary by virtue of her gender, as I assume that she should know more about these issues.

I think it is not too late for the candidates to restrategize on issues that would bring respite to the rest of the world

Maimuna Martha Akusu
National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nige

Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria

I agree wholeheartely. I firmly back Obama and also yearn for him to be braver and speak out for all people. He says he's for uniting, involving more people in political process, and giving hope and he really does need to show all citizens of our one world that he has the courage to do that, or "die" trying.

Jo Christie
Global Fund for Women

Cupertino, CA

I am saddened to see that the CEO of Global Women's Fund has sympathy for the Palestinians but no sympathy for the women, children and men of Siderot, Israel and other Israeli towns that are victimized, maimed, killed and terrorized on a daily basis by the rockets and suicide attacks from the terrorist government in Gaza. It is difficult to have sympathy for a people who elect terrorists and condone their terrorist activities. There are mistakes on each side but to present a one sided view that the only people who are suffering are those in Gaza is just shameful. My respect for the Women's Global Fund is significantly diminished.

Barbara Miller

Mill Valley , CA

Thanks for this article and perspective. What attracted me to your piece was another seeming appeal to American power to heal the world. We are not policemen or world doctors. What is most evident to those of us who watch America from the cheap seats overseas is how much America needs to heal itself. "Healer; heal thyself." We bounce from enthusiastic free trade to appeals for fair trade or what so called progressives might call "save our jobs" trade. In all conversations, the insularity of the American perspective and its prominence and providence seems the elephant in the room. The American experience is diverse, and cannot be transcribed as the human experience. It is unique, and what plays in Palm Beach does not necessarily play in Palo Alto, let alone Paris. I appreciate your appeals to these two candidates and what they might stand for and do. However, as an American, I feel there is too much they must first do at home which would also send a healing message to the world and assure other world citizens that this very courageous, yet violent, country America might yet have the good sense to walk the walk.

Marc Zweier

Fremantle, Western Australia

I have been waiting to read an article like Ms. Ramdas's for a long time. It is intelligent and insightful and represents what most of us in the "developing world" are thinking about the presidential elections in the US, which we are following very closely.

As an Obama supporter, I am hoping that he will "come out" on many issues raised in this article with brave stands and sincere concern for the shameful state of the world today. I am hoping that some of his reservations are merely political tactics to get nominated and then elected, because sadly, such tactics are needed. And I am hoping that I am not just under the illusion of a charming politician when I truly believe that Obama will change America and the world and my own life and activism here in Beirut.

Nadine Moawad

Beirut, Lebanon

Newsweek reports that the Israel Lobby is already busy trying to get the "news" out that Obama is anti-Israel. Would that he were! Neither he nor Clinton nor McCain has the guts to counter the power of the Israel Lobby, whose policy is well to the right of the majority of even the Israeli population. Where is Charles Percy when we need him?

Norman Ravitch

Savannah, GA

What unique gifts does Hillary possess? Copy Cat Clinton. For a woman who has never been accused of creativity or possessed an original thought, this statement is truly ludicrous. Not only has she "cut and pasted" (who "Xeroxes" in this century--besides Hillary's overpriced speechwriters?) dialogue and ideas, she has based her political life and campaign on the experience of another. No candidate for President has ever entered the race with more advantages and taken less advantage of them. The mistakes made under her command have morphed the Clinton machine into Keystone Kops. Yet in spite of all this duplicity, indecisiveness and disingenuousness, she would still be the nominee if she were running against anyone but Barack Obama. Senator Obama is brilliant and well-educated, while Hillary, sadly, is merely well-educated.

James D. Granata

Holyoke, MA

It's been a long time since I met Kavita at the "Women who Could be President" ceremony, where we were both being honored, but her brilliance and integrity struck me then as it does now, reading this excellent essay.

I'm going to make my contribution to the Global Fund for Women in support of Kavita, her ideas, and women and families all over the world. I hope many readers do the same.

Rebecca Walker

Kula, Hawaii

Thanks so much to Ms. Ramdas for this excellent article. I don't think either Barak or Hillary have (yet) adopted this empathetic world view that you so eloquently express. But I do think both are capable of it. We just need to keep pushing.

Joe Kennedy

N. Andover, MA