Yes We Can

I’ve been watching the 2008 Democrat Primary race for some time now. It is the last twenty-four hours that have really made me understand why I have thrown my support behind the candidate I have chosen. For my friends, it is no surprise that I have gone with Barack Obama. I could say it is because of his stance on the issues, I could say it is because he promises change. It is all these things, but there is something more. Something more fundamental really.

Ever since Vietnam and Watergate Americans generally have been very cynical towards politics and politicians. We see these modern scandals and are unsurprised when a public figure falls. We expect to be disappointed and act accordingly. At some point, the process becomes self-fulfilling. We elect those we expect to fall so as to avoid the disappointment. I have found myself feeling that exact way about many of our elected officials.

Things began to change though in 2008. What caused it? A speech given on Martin Luther King, Jr. day. It was the speech given by Obama on that day that made me take notice. It has been building since that day really. It’s the general attitude that does it. When listening to Hillary it’s always about her. It is what I can do, what I mean, what I say. With Obama? It’s “Yes We Can.” That one word has such a powerful meaning that one has to stop and notice.

It goes back to the MLK speech. I know I cannot as a single person change the world. I know that if I can get just one person to go along with me it won’t change the world. I know I won’t do anything dramatic. But what if it were not just myself, or even just one other person? What if it were I, my neighbors, and many others. To quote Obama.

And if they can shake in Georgia, they can shake all across America. And if enough of our voices join together; we can bring those walls tumbling down. The walls of Jericho can finally come tumbling down. That is our hope - but only if we pray together, and work together, and march together.

Brothers and sisters, we cannot walk alone.

In the struggle for peace and justice, we cannot walk alone.

In the struggle for opportunity and equality, we cannot walk alone

In the struggle to heal this nation and repair this world, we cannot walk alone.

That is what I want. Not to have someone do it all for me, not to sit there and support someone to do what they want. I want someone to walk with; I want someone to be a leader of a movement. Someone to change the world with me, not for me. Not to change it, or not change it, based on their need for power or control.

His speech last night continued this. He spoke not of what he would just do. He spoke to his rivals for the nomination, how their efforts are part of a greater whole. He spoke of respect for them; they are not his enemy really. We are on the same side after all. He spoke about what he thinks we all can do, not as a single person, not as a just one man running for President of the USA. He spoke about what he could do because of and with us. The difference is powerful. That is why I support this man in his desire to become President. Not because of what he will do, but because of what we can all do.