Posted by Benjamin on: 02.04.2008 /
So Rachel and I found this video really inspiring, and it seems there may be a few others like us, since it’s had nearly 500,000 views in less than 48 hours. It was directed by Bob Dylan’s son Jesse Dylan, and features Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas and footage from Barack Obama’s Yes We Can speech. We’d love to hear from you, dear fellow JaC’ers, about your reactions to the video. Or is there another candidate or message you find super inspiring? We’d love to hear about that as well.
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Comment by: joe
1 02/4/08 10:17 AM | Comment Link |I’ve no dogs in this fight, but I’m not clear what this is about. Yes we can - do what? Just repeating the same phrase does not make it a great speech.
It seems that he has no ideas for a change of policy in Israel/Palestine, has a patchy record on Iraq and refuses to rule out war with Iran. I think he has said different things about these issues at different times to different audiences.
I’m not sure he is offering any great change in policy.
Comment by: Benjamin
2 02/5/08 11:00 AM | Comment Link |Joe,
thank you for being the voice of dissent. I’m still reading. But what I’ve seen so far is saddening.
Is it that it’s impossible to … reach positions of great power without … having to shift one’s position to match up more with the entrenched power structure?
Truth be told–I’m such an emotional creature, and my *emotional* reaction to Barack’s hopemongering has regularly surprised me–I thought I was too cynical at this point to have such reactions. That’s why I’m glad to have people like you to help keep me grounded =). On the other hand, I think maybe I distrust my emotions overmuch, and perhaps, while remaining grounded, I can also choose to be emotional–a complex person, as it were =)
Maybe Jim Wallis is right when he says it doesn’t matter who wins–the only way to really change things is for social movements to put enough pressure on those in power that they have to implement the policies being demanded. Thoughts?
Comment by: Benjamin
3 02/5/08 3:46 PM | Comment Link |Joe,
In response to your question about what this is about–yes we can *what*?
Here’s the lyrics =) He mentions,among other things: freedom, justice, equality, hope, unity, opportunity, prosperity, healing, and reparation. =)
It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.
Yes we can.
It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.
Yes we can.
It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.
Yes we can.
It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.
Yes we can to justice and equality.
Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.
Yes we can heal this nation.
Yes we can repair this world.
Yes we can.
We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.
We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics…they will only grow louder and more dissonant ……….. We’ve been asked to pause for a reality check. We’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.
But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.
Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea –
Yes. We. Can.
Comment by: Rachel
4 02/5/08 5:45 PM | Comment Link |Joe, I know that Barack Obama is not perfect. He isn’t right about everything, he doesn’t have all the answers, and he isn’t our saviour. He makes mistakes and compromises and fails just like anyone else. There will never be a perfect president or a perfect presidential candidate. But what we need desperately in this country right now is someone to uplift and inspire us, someone to motivate us to work hard for what we believe in, to not give in to the cynicism and despair. I listened to a podcast recently that included Lynne Hybels, one of the pastors at Willow Creek Church. She said that what churches need today is for their pastors “to cast a beautiful vision.” I think that is true for a nation as well.
I know this probably sounds corny and idealistic, but I truly believe that the Obama candidacy isn’t just about one man but also about a movement. The song isn’t “Yes, Obama can,” it’s “Yes, WE can.” And that really resonates with many of us who have been told that what we dream of simply isn’t possible. I’m passionate about seeing an end to extreme poverty in our generation. I truly believe we can reach a day where people do not starve to death on this planet. But I have had people, including my own mother, tell me that simply isn’t possible. “It’s too bad that people are desperately poor but that’s how it will always be. We are in the ‘end times’ and things will just get worse and worse and there’s nothing we can do to change it.” Well, my response to that is “YES, WE CAN!”
I’m an emotional creature too, Benjamin. And Barack Obama inspires me and gives me hope. Not because of what he can do, but because of what we all can do together when someone has the courage to cast a beautiful vision.
Comment by: Hannah
5 02/7/08 1:20 AM | Comment Link |I bristled when I started seeing “Be the Change” as the catchphrase of the year. “Oh, it’s sooo cool now, to make a difference in the world,” I said. But honestly, who cares? Who cares if celebrities adopt babies from foreign countries if orphaned children get homes? Who cares if people throw money at causes if it leads to food for hungry people, a lower suicide rate, or treatment of AIDS?
We want these things to be accomplished, yes? Someone’s got to be the coach in the locker room. How many people would pick up their God-given tools and talents and do something if Obama said instead, “So, there’s an awful lot of bad stuff going on in the world, and no matter how hard you work, you’ll probably only make a small dent in the problem. Now go get ‘em!”
Comment by: Benjamin
6 02/7/08 1:24 PM | Comment Link |Hannah,
Wow–it sounds like maybe you’re a little angry? Please correct me if I’m wrong =) I’d love to hear more about what’s driving that =).
What I hear you saying is that you wish that Obama and other leaders would do a bit more to acknowledge the actual state of things in all their talk of change? Am I getting that right?
Seems to me like it’s a hard line to walk. On the one hand, we can do the HHJJ (Happy happy joy joy) thing and totally deny the bad half of reality. On the other hand, we can just mope in guilt and despair, and not do *anything*.
I think Obama walks this line reasonably well. Have you seen his super tuesday speech in Chicago? He talks about how it’s going to be hard work, and we’ll make mistakes, and so forth in there–more of an acknowdgement of the bad half of reality than any other candidate, it seems to me.
How do *you* work toward finding balance in the tension between the two extremed I described? Any ideas for us?
Comment by: Benjamin
7 02/7/08 1:36 PM | Comment Link |by the way, have you noticed that the yes we can video we posted is now sitting at number 2 *and* number 4 on most viewed this week on youtube? (yeah, there are *two* versions of it getting that many views. Put together, it is by *far* and away the most viewed this week.) Altogether some 4.4 million views this week. It seems to work for a lot of people. Or something. The power of art?
Comment by: Hannah
8 02/8/08 12:13 AM | Comment Link |Haha, I think you read that completely wrong. I listen to too much Polyphonic Spree to be an angry person :) Originally, I was pretty cynical about people jumping on the “cause” bandwagon, but I realize it’s good for there to be a bandwagon to jump on. The more people do good things, the more people talk about it, and more people do good in turn.
I was trying to say that I am very much in support of Obama being a cheerleader, so to speak, because sometimes we need that positive attitude. That positive attitude continues to motivate people when they do run into the inevitable road blocks to progress in social issues. Acknowledging the tough stuff is necessary, but it’s important not to stop there.
Cynicism is poison to progress. If something is right and good, then it’s right and good to shoot for it, even if you only get halfway to your goal. I think that being realistic need only apply when looking at the the possible obstacles to change. “Being realistic” about what we can “actually” accomplish is cynicism in disguise.
Comment by: Benjamin
9 02/8/08 12:19 AM | Comment Link |Hannah,
Sorry I misread you. Thank you for so graciously elaborating =)
I love that. Perfect. I so *easily* slip into cynicism, despair, and disengagement. I totally need people who can be cheerleaders. Maybe that’s part of what attracts me to Obama =)
Comment by: Hannah
10 02/8/08 12:38 AM | Comment Link |But you know, Obama totally swiped that phrase from someone else we know!
Comment by: joe
11 02/8/08 3:00 AM | Comment Link |Ah, but the difference is that Bob really can fix it, whereas nothing short of the second coming is going to fix the mess we are in.
I’m not being deliberately cynical. I just don’t this guy fits the rhetoric. But there you go, what do I know?
Comment by: Elaine
12 02/11/08 6:52 AM | Comment Link |Let me begin by saying, I’m undecided. I live in Ohio - so I haven’t had to vote, yet.
If all I was asked to do was vote for the candidate who is inspiring, then it would be Obama.
And there is a lot to be said for an inspiring leader
And I want to explore the other side of the coin…I’m old enough to remember Kennedy. (not that old - too young to vote then :)
He was very inspiring. I was thrilled he won. And it turns out there were things going on behind closed doors, that were not so inspiring and we are still paying the price for them.
I am trying to look beyond how inspiring he is and ask what else is there?
This is true for all the candidates…even the less inspiring ones. What is their character? Do they have the skills to work with both Democrats, Republicans, our allies, and our enemies?
One thing I have learned and am trying to make part of myself - is that when we give our power to the leaders, we lose and the world loses.
So, yes, we can is true. Yes, we can make a difference - each one of us if we are engaged with our family, work, and community.
President Carter is a good man. He has not been judged a good President. I felt good having President Carter running our country. He was an honest man, a man of good character AND he was unsuccessful in working with other politicians. What he has accomplished since leaving office is his legacy - an amazing legacy.
My quest now, is to read the stories of the candidates - not the public persona they present. I want to learn as much as I can about who they are - what skills, talents, gifts - would they bring to the office.
Let me add, I was overwhelmed with saddness and wept the day GW was re-elected. There were those who saw GW as you see Obama.
Unlike Joe, I do think we can get ourselves out of this mess…but it means being engaged citizens of the world - remember THEY work for us - not the other way around. They need to remember they work for US.
Comment by: Benjamin
13 02/11/08 12:48 PM | Comment Link |Elaine,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful commentary.
I love that. I love that you used the word “quest” and the word “story” in the same sentence.
Story is a very important idea to me. I hope you will get back to us about what you find in your quest for story!
Comment by: David H
14 02/12/08 12:38 AM | Comment Link |I believe that there is hope, but it will only come after a profound time of darkness. We have a broken political system in this country. What keeps it going is the continuous flow of everything. Life for the majority of Americans is pretty easy. What incentive to change if that might upset that apple cart. The flow will have to stop or be greatly reduced before Americans will even be able to concentrate enough to care. The system will have to essentially collapse before most will want to work for the changes that are needed — that may be required — for this country to continue. We will have to fall into the pit before we recognize we are on the edge. Then we will have to see what might crawl back out.
Comment by: Elaine
15 02/12/08 4:12 PM | Comment Link |Ben - I’ll get back to you as I progress on my quest. Thank goodness for the public library - I can read the books for free. Yeah, libraries.
In the stories I will be reading - I also want to know who their friends are - looking at GW’s friends would have told us a lot about what kind of presidency he would have.
David - I have to say I can not argue with you…I do have my doubts about our capacity to change UNLESS we are in pain…
Comment by: Benjamin
16 02/12/08 9:51 PM | Comment Link |I dunno. I still maintain that it’s theoretically possible for me to change before I get to pain. theoretically, I mean. I’m speaking hypathetically [sic] here.