For many years, I have been impressed by the dedication of Indian Americans to make their communities and their country a better place. My relationship with the community stretches back to my days as a student. This bond is strong and deep because it is in part personal. Like so many Indian Americans, my father arrived in America without money, but with a student visa and a determination to live his dreams.
I would not be running for President if it were not for the promise of America. I was born in Hawaii, the child of a teenage mom and a father from Kenya who left when I was two. My family didn't have money or status, but like so many Indian-American families, they gave me love, and education, and hope -- hope that in America, we can live our dreams, and in living our dreams we can contribute to the dreams of all Americans.
I invite the Indian-American community, and all Americans, to join me in renewing the strength of America. Together, we can revitalise America's economy, restore our security and standing in the world, and reaffirm our ideals. We can begin the next chapter in the American story with a simple phrase that reflects the hope and optimism that so many Indian Americans show in their daily lives: Yes we can.
Image: Senator Obama with members of the Indian-Americans community.
Also read: Obama campaigns for life of South Asian man
At the Rediff Bookshop: John McCain's Faith Of My Fathers: A Family Memoir
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