Yes we can!

The recent news of the unprecedented election of a black man to the Presidency of the world’s most powerful nation has caused tears of joy and feelings of euphoria to millions of people. It has given hope to many that indeed change that is needed is indeed possible. What does this momentous event hold for our country? I would like to share messages from the new American President who inspired millions about the possibilities of hope. He said, "The hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too."

I would like to share excerpts of his speech so we can reflect on this for our country and its future leaders. Let me start with how a clear inspiring vision can galvanize people. In Senator Barack Obama’s then presidential announcement in February 10, 2007, he said it perfectly, “I'm in this race not just to hold an office, but to gather with you to transform a nation."

He later said, “This is not a game. This can’t be about who digs up more skeletons on who, who makes the fewest slip-ups on the campaign trail. We owe it to the American people to do more than that. We owe them an election where voters are inspired–where they believe that we might be able to do things that we haven’t done before. We don’t want another election where voters are simply holding their noses and feel like they’re choosing the lesser of two evils. So we’ve got to rise up out of the cynicism that’s become so pervasive and ask the people all across America to start believing again.”

And believe they did. Mr. Obama rejected federal aid for the elections and relied on small contributions from all over the United States, in doing so, he did something unexpected. He raised millions, and then more millions. People were mailing in their small part. So much so, that they overwhelmed the financial campaign of his opponent. He inspired thousands of volunteers to go out and campaign and urge people to vote. And vote they did, as pictures of long lines of people from all walks of life and all races waiting patiently to vote showed. 

When he won, he ended his victory speech with a moving story, “This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that’s on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old. She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons: because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America — the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness, and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen and cast her vote, because, after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves: If our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time: to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism and doubt and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:”

Barack means “Blessed”. The world and America prays that he truly is the leader that we all need in these trying times. We as a people should reflect on what happened and search for our own blessed leader. Let me end with the echoes of thousands of Americans who shouted out “Yes We Can” when President Obama was giving his speech. I am filled with hope and faith that we too as a country and as a people will find the blessed leader that will inspire us to shout out, “Kaya natin to, puede pala!”

Let’s follow the examples of these ordinary individuals as they strive to make a difference. Each week, lets all get together and share knowledge, stories, experiences, information, all for the sole purpose of getting One Step Up.

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