What, Exactly, is Barack Obama Asking You to Believe?
When you go to Barack Obama’s website you are met with this quote, “I’m Asking You to Believe...Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington. I’m asking you to believe in yours.”
How many people that are chanting “Yes We Can!” do you think have really thought about what this quote means? Maybe, you should pause for a moment and think about what it means to you.
If change is what you are after, getting Barack Obama in the White House is only part of the equation.
Change is defined (according to dictionary.com) as, “to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone: to change one's name; to change one's opinion; to change the course of history.”
If “change” to you is about seeing a black man in the white house, then you are only perceiving a small portion of change should Barack Obama win the Presidency.
If “change” to you is about seeing the gas prices decrease, then you are only perceiving a small portion of change should Barack Obama win the Presidency.
If “change” to you is about keeping us safe from terrorists, then you are only perceiving a small portion of change should Barack Obama win the Presidency.
If “change” to you is about every American having healthcare, then you are only perceiving a small portion of change should Barack Obama win the Presidency.
“In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.” –Eric Hoffer
If you believe that the issues you face in your personal life are solely the fault of our government then your perception of both, this election and your world, is one dimensional and while chanting “Yes We Can” today to get Barack Obama elected, you will, likely, be the very one blaming him later if you don’t perceive, receive and willingly begin to perform your part of the “We” in the chant.
So, while, statistics are proving that Barack Obama is the leadership that many United States of America citizens believe our country needs right now, the balance to “Yes We Can” is that all of us – white, black, yellow, brown or green with purple polka-dots – must be willing to do the mental and emotional work to bring about real change, first individually which will position us to develop collectively.
This quote is a plea to the willing, “I’m Asking You to Believe...Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington. I’m asking you to believe in yours;” a plea to those who are willing to believe in his ability to lead for changes that are going to be for the good of all while in the Washington White House, but more importantly in each American’s belief in their own ability to bring about change in themselves to create collective changes in our worlds from the bottom up: individual, immediate family, extended family, community, city, and state.
We can not undo what is done - not in the world, our country, or our individual lives. We live in an ever-changing world. If the world is changing always, then why shouldn't you?
Change has to begin with you, and in your own life...with the choices you make. Your personal choices are solely yours, but rarely do the decisions you make only affect you.
Regardless of how you intend to vote and regardless of who wins the presidency, believing in your own ability is refreshing and revives individual possibilities in the face of challenging times.
We must, all, be willing to acknowledge where we are – our personal beliefs and whether they are for the greater good; be willing to learn more, and make better decisions that will, ultimately, produce the collective changes we need to raise our country up.
Can “WE?”
How many people that are chanting “Yes We Can!” do you think have really thought about what this quote means? Maybe, you should pause for a moment and think about what it means to you.
If change is what you are after, getting Barack Obama in the White House is only part of the equation.
Change is defined (according to dictionary.com) as, “to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone: to change one's name; to change one's opinion; to change the course of history.”
If “change” to you is about seeing a black man in the white house, then you are only perceiving a small portion of change should Barack Obama win the Presidency.
If “change” to you is about seeing the gas prices decrease, then you are only perceiving a small portion of change should Barack Obama win the Presidency.
If “change” to you is about keeping us safe from terrorists, then you are only perceiving a small portion of change should Barack Obama win the Presidency.
If “change” to you is about every American having healthcare, then you are only perceiving a small portion of change should Barack Obama win the Presidency.
“In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.” –Eric Hoffer
If you believe that the issues you face in your personal life are solely the fault of our government then your perception of both, this election and your world, is one dimensional and while chanting “Yes We Can” today to get Barack Obama elected, you will, likely, be the very one blaming him later if you don’t perceive, receive and willingly begin to perform your part of the “We” in the chant.
So, while, statistics are proving that Barack Obama is the leadership that many United States of America citizens believe our country needs right now, the balance to “Yes We Can” is that all of us – white, black, yellow, brown or green with purple polka-dots – must be willing to do the mental and emotional work to bring about real change, first individually which will position us to develop collectively.
This quote is a plea to the willing, “I’m Asking You to Believe...Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington. I’m asking you to believe in yours;” a plea to those who are willing to believe in his ability to lead for changes that are going to be for the good of all while in the Washington White House, but more importantly in each American’s belief in their own ability to bring about change in themselves to create collective changes in our worlds from the bottom up: individual, immediate family, extended family, community, city, and state.
We can not undo what is done - not in the world, our country, or our individual lives. We live in an ever-changing world. If the world is changing always, then why shouldn't you?
Change has to begin with you, and in your own life...with the choices you make. Your personal choices are solely yours, but rarely do the decisions you make only affect you.
Regardless of how you intend to vote and regardless of who wins the presidency, believing in your own ability is refreshing and revives individual possibilities in the face of challenging times.
We must, all, be willing to acknowledge where we are – our personal beliefs and whether they are for the greater good; be willing to learn more, and make better decisions that will, ultimately, produce the collective changes we need to raise our country up.
Can “WE?”
Thanks for the post Zara. As I was reading it, I was thinking of the lyrics to one song Yolanda Adams sings which was written by R. Kelley called, 'I believe I can fly'
I really believe that We Can do anything that we set our minds to do. With that song in my mind, I believe that every individual can and will make a difference in their own government and this up coming election.
There are many out there who would love to be American citizens in a heart beat and for this I take my status as a U.S. citizen seriously. When I have a concern about something going on, I call or write my Senators and Representative expecting a response back from them. I also take my civic duty for jury duty seriously as I do my right to vote. People have to take me seriously and I do believe strongly in the 'Yes We Can' even if others don't. I plan to make a difference, because every individual can and will make a difference.