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Nervous groom meets reluctant bride: WSJ on
US-India ties
Monday November 08, 2010 04:01:03 PM,
IANS
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Washington:
The US is a nervous groom and India a reluctant bride and the
visit of President Barack Obama was "butterflies in the stomach
time" as both sides get to know each other in an "arranged
marriage" that was yet to blossom into love.
The highly regarded Wall Street Journal daily Monday said
tongue-in-cheek of the Obama visit to India Nov 6-9: "In the
run-up to the Commonwealth Games, we heard several politicians say
there was no reason to worry about the chaos, it would all come
together like an Indian wedding - joyously and at the last minute.
It conjured a matrimonial imagery "of a nervous groom, the US,
being sent to an arranged marriage with a somewhat reluctant
bride, India".
"Consider (then US president) Bill Clinton as the man who
introduced this power couple in 2000...George W. Bush acted as the
friendly auntie who moved things forward to the point where an
engagement was sealed with the promise of great things to come.
"Now, with Mr. Obama arriving in India with a vast US guest list -
probably the largest wedding delegation ever to leave US shores -
there is a little reticence on both sides as this arranged
marriage actually comes close to fruition."
Calling it "butterflies in the stomach time", the daily said that
"the groom is nervous, a little distracted, seems to have a lot on
his mind, doesn't want to put a foot wrong".
"The bride's family, in contrast, hopes he'll just get straight to
the point. Is he going to mention that ugly business that everyone
is gossiping about: Isn't he sort of "seeing" someone else just up
the road from a clan that this family can't stand? Is he going to
renounce her publicly, as he should for heaven's sake, if he's
about to tie the knot? When will he ditch her and declare his
undying love for India?"
It went on to say that "the big delegation of guests shows they
are willing to do their part to bring the two families together.
There is a grand exchange of presents, to the tune of $14.9
billion."
"All very positive, a good start to the celebration from that
standpoint."
The daily wraps up, saying: "We expect this to be like many
arranged marriages: One that starts positively but with some
misgivings and nervousness on both sides."
"It is only over time, as the couple gets to know each other
better, builds trust, steps in helpfully at awkward moments, and
shows signs of genuine affection and mutual interest that they can
declare that most delightful and optimistic of romantic phrases:
`First it was marriage, then it was love'."
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