In his first speech to the public at Grand Park, Chicago, as the US President-elect, Mr. Barack Hussein Obama, made an affirmation to the nation and I believe to the rest of the world that 'Yes We Can'. He had earlier used it on 8 January 2008 in his remarks in New Hampshire Democratic Party Primary Night. This has become a common phrase, at least in the mailing lists I subscribe to and the circles I socialise in. The question is, are we just borrowing words to spice up our e-mail messages or simply using the phrase in our speech to sound relevant to the talk of the moment or are we also taking heed of the deep advice in there?
It is so easy to quote from an eloquent speech but it is another thing taking time to reflect on what message the speech sent / intended to send to the rest of us, the listeners or readers.
What does 'Yes We Can' mean to you and I? I am aware that some of the readers of this blog might not have been in Chicago at the time, nor are they US citizen but wherever you were and whichever country you belong to, those words have a message for you.
In an attempt to understand it, one may look at the words individually (reductionist approach), then collectively each time doing that in some context. To Obama, there is a context; to me or you, there are possibly others. What therefore do the words singly or collectively mean to me, you, Obama and all of us?
'Yes' is an expression of agreement; word of affirmation; a positive response; etc. 'We' could mean collective responsibility as it refers to the speaker and one or more people or even refers to people in general. 'Can' may be used to imply that the necessary ability, knowledge, money or equipment to accomplish a task or do something exist.
What do these words mean collectively? They possibly suggest the need for an agreement by all of us that we collectively have the capacity to accomplish tasks to cause the change we can believe in. The phrase may also be seen as a call for responsibility with our sight on the hope for a better future.
The other question is, do you think we can derive some message from the 'Yes We Can' phrase that applies / is relevant to our context? My response is, 'Yes We Can'. You are most welcome to make comments highlighting how these words apply in your context.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
PRESIDENT-ELECT SENATOR BARACK OBAMA
Well, take it or leave it, history has been made. The first African American President has been elected in the US! I think what is special about it is that this is the first time it is happening and not quite because a black man has been elected to occupy the US white house for at least the next four years. I know anything is possible in this era so I am not surprised it happened! No, I'm not. I am simply happy that it first happened in my generation and that like Nelson Mandela, a white majority country has seen leadership qualities in a black man with lowly background. I also feel inspired and encouraged.
I strongly contemplated writing a congratulatory message to President-elect Obama (I am still nursing such thoughts). I took a deeper thought today morning about what the lines in such a letter would be. One of the paragraphs would be about abortion besides several others in reference to issues like not letting down the answered prayers of Martin Luther King Jr. and the likes.
It is common belief, at least in my circles, that US Democrats (members of the Democratic Party of USA) support abortion and it is a known fact that before Western influence, abortion was not a deliberate act in the African culture. Whenever it happened, it was attributed to influence of evil spirits invoked probably by witches and charms. Well, Obama is a Democrat and has African blood. By the way, if his father came from my (Lango) clan, Obama would be a member of my clan hence would be required to abide by all our cultural norms. The President elect is being watched closely for his next words and action on, among others, abortion, Iraq, Economy and Guantanamo Bay.
In my congratulatory message I would remind Mr. Barack Hussein Obama of the cultures and morals of his African fore fathers; the values of his African American fore fathers e.g. Martin Luther King Jr. I would do this with reference to the abortion question. By so doing I hopefully would prepare ground to request him not to support and encourage the killing (murder in cold blood) of innocent and peaceful human beings, an act 'nicknamed' abortion (to deliberately obscure the correct word 'murder').
Would he heed to this advice and go on record yet again as a US Democrat President who does (did) not support abortion? Or would he denounce the values of his fore fathers and be a spokesman for 'abortionists' (read murderers)? Let's wait and see what his reply to my request would (will) be.
By the way, talk about Presidents of African origin. It is not easy to access them hence my reluctance to send the congratulatory letter (print or e-mail). I wonder whether the US Presidents are different but I know that in many countries in Africa, such letters, especially those from hitherto 'unknown' individuals and furthermore with contents contrary to the ruling party's 'ideology', would not be seen by the President and if replied to at all, some lowly personal assistant would do that on the President's behalf. This reminds me of how it is alleged that one African President's Advisor, acting on behalf of his boss, wrote and quickly dispatched a congratulatory message to a President-elect of a neighbouring country who seemed to have, unfortunately, stolen votes. The rest of the Presidents in the neighbourhood, being very suspicious of the theft, did not send any message. To save face, the embarrassed President later disassociated himself from the message! Double embarrassment!
If I send the congratulatory message to Mr. Obama, I will do it myself and definitely not deny it and I will get you informed. I think it is time I sought your opinion. Should I or shouldn't I?
I strongly contemplated writing a congratulatory message to President-elect Obama (I am still nursing such thoughts). I took a deeper thought today morning about what the lines in such a letter would be. One of the paragraphs would be about abortion besides several others in reference to issues like not letting down the answered prayers of Martin Luther King Jr. and the likes.
It is common belief, at least in my circles, that US Democrats (members of the Democratic Party of USA) support abortion and it is a known fact that before Western influence, abortion was not a deliberate act in the African culture. Whenever it happened, it was attributed to influence of evil spirits invoked probably by witches and charms. Well, Obama is a Democrat and has African blood. By the way, if his father came from my (Lango) clan, Obama would be a member of my clan hence would be required to abide by all our cultural norms. The President elect is being watched closely for his next words and action on, among others, abortion, Iraq, Economy and Guantanamo Bay.
In my congratulatory message I would remind Mr. Barack Hussein Obama of the cultures and morals of his African fore fathers; the values of his African American fore fathers e.g. Martin Luther King Jr. I would do this with reference to the abortion question. By so doing I hopefully would prepare ground to request him not to support and encourage the killing (murder in cold blood) of innocent and peaceful human beings, an act 'nicknamed' abortion (to deliberately obscure the correct word 'murder').
Would he heed to this advice and go on record yet again as a US Democrat President who does (did) not support abortion? Or would he denounce the values of his fore fathers and be a spokesman for 'abortionists' (read murderers)? Let's wait and see what his reply to my request would (will) be.
By the way, talk about Presidents of African origin. It is not easy to access them hence my reluctance to send the congratulatory letter (print or e-mail). I wonder whether the US Presidents are different but I know that in many countries in Africa, such letters, especially those from hitherto 'unknown' individuals and furthermore with contents contrary to the ruling party's 'ideology', would not be seen by the President and if replied to at all, some lowly personal assistant would do that on the President's behalf. This reminds me of how it is alleged that one African President's Advisor, acting on behalf of his boss, wrote and quickly dispatched a congratulatory message to a President-elect of a neighbouring country who seemed to have, unfortunately, stolen votes. The rest of the Presidents in the neighbourhood, being very suspicious of the theft, did not send any message. To save face, the embarrassed President later disassociated himself from the message! Double embarrassment!
If I send the congratulatory message to Mr. Obama, I will do it myself and definitely not deny it and I will get you informed. I think it is time I sought your opinion. Should I or shouldn't I?
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