I rarely post viral videos.
It is unusual for me to repost someone else’s words. And there’s a good chance that you’ve already seen this anyway.
But if you haven’t, you should. I don’t care who you vote for. It doesn’t matter what your opinions are on the war or health care or social security or the energy crisis.
Whatever your hopes are for this country, our country, you need to hear these words:
If you cannot get past the face that says these words… or the music that no doubt is designed to reach you in the depths of your emotions… if you need to pull back all of that, then do. And look only at the words, in black and white.
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.
Is this not what we hope our country can stand for? Is this not why our ancestors - be it 200 or 20 years ago - came here?
Is this not what we want our children to believe, to know in their very bones to be true? That hope is real. That no matter how insurmountable the obstacles seem. That yes, we can.
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Posted in Serious Discussions - Politics, Religion, Society Tagged: obama, politics, presidential election, videos, yes we can, youtube
Well, I’ll stand behind anything that can get a bunch of random celebrities to support it in black and white all dramatic-like.
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I saw this a few days ago, I thought it was really cool
Amanda’s last blog post..A Simpleton Could See
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get out and vote people.
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As a goofball Canadian, I can’t get past the fact that he took this “motto” from Bob The Builder.
Having said that, the vote is SO important and I’m just so happy to see Bush go bye-bye. Go vote, my Americano Amigos!
xo
Karen Sugarpants’s last blog post..Censored
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I voted for Obama in the primary. I’m not a Hillary hater though. I just don’t see her as a uniter at all.
Jay’s last blog post..Wanna Go To Da Mall?
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Amy’s last blog post..You Can’t Make This Up!
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It’s funny because I hear more and more from bloggers that they hate posting viral videos. While I can understand the whole not-wanting-to-reproduce-someone-else’s-words argument, I dunno, I just see posting videos being akin to telling someone about a TV show or movie that you like. Except, now the Web has advanced to the point where we can actually show and not just tell. I love that.
I have seen this video. My officemate played it for me last Friday and it’s pretty incredible. I just hope that, should Obama make it into office, he lives up to the hype he’s received. The only problem is that he’s up to his neck in expectations. That’s a hard thing to live up to.
kapgar’s last blog post..Avec moi, c’est soi…
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Piss!!! I had a comment and it went into the ether. Crap. I try to keep my swearing PG rated on others’ blogs, but darn it all..
ADW’s last blog post..The Ghost
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I am going to make two serious statements.
1. I like Obama, but he never makes any specific statements. He generalizes hope.
2. Our nation has lost it oomph has a hardworking and smart-working economy. Throughout the generations, we have become less enthused with progress, and more enthused with entitlement. We are actually in a fairly serious situation with innovation and keeping up with other economies of scale. And I am not talking about our current economic status; I am talking about the general malaise of our nation at this time and the right to entitlement belief that permeates the current “hard work” generation.
Okay, that’s it.
The Absurdist’s last blog post..Penguin Dreams and Stranger Things IV
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God, I love John Legend.
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I am leaning his way at the moment. At least until Adam declares.
Mr. Fabulous’s last blog post..You want my advice?
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The video gave me goosebumps.
Go Vote!
trishk’s last blog post..Holiday
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avitable: the point was not whether you would “stand behind” anyone.
The point was whether or not you feel like things can change - that it is possible to make a difference.
Amanda: yeah, I’m always the last to see this stuff. LOL
hellohahanarf: and then some…
Karen Sugarpants: OMG I never even thought of that - that’s hilarious.
And proves my point! It IS what we want for our kids!!
Jay: we didn’t have primaries that counted here.
Amy: so you liked it then?
kapgar: I don’t usually do it because it’s old, old news by the time I see something.
I hope, more than that, that WHOEVER gets in office, my generation becomes less apathetic and more convinced that they can be catalysts for change.
ADW: was it a good one?
The Absurdist: I think you are very right that our country’s sense of entitlement is a big, big problem - from the ground up.
Peggy: oh THAT’s who that was!!
Mr. Fab: whichever way you lean… care.
trishk: oh good! It did me too! So I am not the only idealistic sap in the bunch!
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Of course things can change. Things have changed over the last eight years, and the eight years before that.
This entire speech manages to use a lot of words to say absolutely nothing.
I’m still voting for him, but not because of this.
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Course not. It was a sarcastic one about how I only care about politicians who want to lift the smoking ban in bars and other important stuff.
ADW’s last blog post..The Ghost
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The whole point is to help make that change and vote, rather than sit back and complain, yet do nothing about it.
What upsets me, though, is that whoever you vote for, McCain, Huckabee, Obama, or Clinton, within two to four years, the country will probably vote in an opposing part in Congress and NOTHING will get done except the usual partisan bickering and bullshit. Blech.
Aren’t I a ray of sunshine?
Coal Miner’s Granddaughter’s last blog post..Bustin’ Up the Old, Lovin’ the New!
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hope /hoʊp/ noun, verb, hoped, hop·ing.
–noun
1. the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.
Hope, by definition, cannot be false.
Finn’s last blog post..A Rare View From Up On My Soapbox
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gwqEneBKUs
An iguana pops out at the end.
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I have been behind his candidacy from the beginning.. but then I was when he was still a State Rep. in Illinois…
Maman’s last blog post..I AM a copycat
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OK, even though I’m not an Obama fan, I’m a total Hilly fan and she sent me here to check you out. Been meaning to before now…we share a few blog buddies. And I hear you’re in Florida, too, so you and I and Avi should all get together soon and party.
Karl’s last blog post..Dammit Jim, I’m a Car, Not a Belly Dancer!
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I work for Obama’s campaign and so I’m waaaaay on board with this. I voted for him at our caucus and harrass people into supporting him…LOL.
I heart Barack!
Kyra/the108’s last blog post..kiddie kollectors
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Fraggits. I wish I could just decide who to back. I love the idea of Obama, but worry about his lack of experience. I love the idea of Hillary, but worry that her experience will give us a “more of the same” administration. Argh. (Although, you know, yay to have these problems!)
Also, I tagged you over at I’m Not Hannah.
Also, what in the world is that smiley doing?
Heather’s last blog post..Look At This Stuff. Isn’t It Neat?
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Said before, will say again - am so so jealous that you have a timetable of when you will say bye bye to your current idiot. Would do anything to be in your position.
Bec’s last blog post..Little Friends
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Love this speech, love the video. It gives me such hope. I posted it awhile back, but it turns out that the majority of my readers are Republicans. WTF?
Sarah B.’s last blog post..And another thing…
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Love it. LOVE it. You gotta have hope, otherwise what’s the point? There’s something special about Obama. Being Australian, obviously I can’t vote but you would be surprised by the number of people who support him down here. What happens in the US very much affects us so we are on tenterhooks waiting to see who wins. Many of us are praying it won’t be McCain. That would be too odious to be true.
Selma’s last blog post..Songs That Are Poems, Poems That Are Songs Meme
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avitable: blah blah blah you have no soul.
ADW: LOL, damn! I’m sorry I missed that!
CMG: yes, you are a rain of sunshine, always. ;-)
Finn: thank you.
Clown: I love iguanas.
Maman: shhhh… (me too)
Karl: I too am a Hilly fan!
Kyra/the108: I am so jealous. Can you get me an autograph??
Heather: well, wanting to choose is a start!
Bec: you guys don’t have term limits??
Sarah B.: I wonder if there are any of those here….
Selma: what?!?!? you mean what we do affects the rest of the world?!?!
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……”It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.”
No, we can’t. Although our ancestors were those who came from distant shores (landing at ellis island) and were the very pioneers pushing westward, we are not eligible to emigrate from Canada to USA although we come from 4 previous generations of Americans…….
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I am not impressed by just ‘good speech’ and that’s all I’ve seen so far from Obama.
I want more—
turnbaby’s last blog post..TurnbabyTalks Trivia Throwdown
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Hope is all well and good, but hope doesn’t change the world. Obama talks a good game and no one can doubt his charisma, but he hasn’t actually SAID anything about how he would accomplish any of the things he wants people to hope for.
This transcript, sure it’s inspiring, but it’s empty rhetoric. What, exactly, is it inspiring people to DO? Nothing, really. It makes people FEEL good, but feeling good doesn’t accomplish anything, it doesn’t bring together warring factions, it doesn’t make the world a better place.
You know the old saying, “Wish in one hand, shit in the other…”? That’s what I get from him.
Frankly, I’m at the point where I don’t like ANY of the likely candidates and am hoping (for my own part) that we get a viable, or at least palatable third-party candidate that I can vote for in November.
My primary is already passed and, depending on what happens in the next few weeks, we could easily be looking at a brokered convention for the Democrats. IF Obama wins the nomination (and who knows how likely that even is), I’ll vote for him, or not, based on who he chooses as his VP. But I’m already pretty certain it will be yet another year of third party voting for me.
FyreGoddess’s last blog post..Vacation in a nutshell
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Momma: Ok that just freaking sucks.
turnbaby: I’m impressed by good speech. I might not choose a president based on it - but I’m still impressed by it.
Even more so considering the bad speech I’ve had to listen to for the last 7 years.
On a Limb with Claudia:
FyreGoddess:
God this post missed the mark so badly.
It wasn’t supposed to be an endorsement of Obama, specifically.
BUT… Hope DOES change the world.
Feeling good DOES mean something.
People can talk and talk and talk about what they are going to DO - but if no one FEELS like there is HOPE that it will matter… it dies at just talk.
TALK of what you will DO is no more productive than just hope.
Wishing is not the same as Hope.
Hope is the belief that your wishes are more than just empty possibilities.
Hope is what gets you out of bed in the morning because you’re not DOING it for nothing.
I may be an idealist, but I know that hope has gotten me through some long, hard times in my life.
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FyreGoddess, how is it you always get the longest comment responses from me? LOL
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I disagree, I don’t believe that hope can change the world. Hope may spur you on in your endeavors to change the world, but it doesn’t create those endeavors.
For most people hoping and wishing are the same thing. Too many people don’t stand up and WORK for change and change is something that happens no matter what.
What Obama is talking about is change that will be beneficial to the US and to the world as a whole, but hoping that the world will change in ways that are positive is futile. Working, actively, to create positive change takes more than hope, it takes drive and determination and strength of will.
“TALK of what you will DO is no more productive than just hope.”
I disagree there too, but only when it comes to people in, or striving to achieve, positions of power. Talking about what I would do “if only” is generally useless. DOING IT is useful, but for someone who wants to lead one of the most powerful countries in the world, HE should be telling us what he intends to do *when he holds that position*.
I don’t believe that our country is lacking in hope. Frankly, I think it takes a lot of hope (and even more than that, *faith*) to live in an endless debt cycle, or to believe that living above one’s means will eventually even out. But hope, alone and uncoupled with action, is a useless thing. You can hope that you’ll get a better job or a promotion or a raise, but if you’re not even looking, let alone submitting resumes, then it’s NEVER going to happen. Hope all you want, it’s ACTION that makes directed changes.
I don’t believe that you can stand for change while promoting hope alone.
Frankly, if anything, I think that Americans have too much hope and not nearly enough action. Hope might get you out of bed in the morning, but it won’t fix the problems that almost kept you there.
(And, heh, I have no idea. I don’t really think about these comments before I write, I just write and when I’m done, I stop. Half the time, my ending point winds up being something entirely different than what I intended when I started.)
FyreGoddess’s last blog post..Mission Shopping
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FyreGoddess: I meant MINE to YOU are super long. LOL
My mom and dad used to have this discussion:
Mom, “I’m just an optimist and your a pessimist.”
Dad, “No, I’m a realist. And you’re stupid.”
I prefer the optimist title myself.
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I know what you were saying, I’m just flummoxed that my half-assed replies to your posts elicit such response :-)
I’ve always considered myself to be an optimist because I expect the best from people, I’m a bit naive in some situations and I am always spinning situations for people to look on the bright side (and it could be worse… [example].
That said, I ALWAYS expect the worst case scenario for situations (as opposed to people). Even this, though, is optimistic because if you’re prepared for and expect the absolute worst, then the vast majority of the time, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. If not, at least you’ll be prepared.
FyreGoddess’s last blog post..Mission Shopping
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“Even this, though, is optimistic because if you’re prepared for and expect the absolute worst, then the vast majority of the time, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. If not, at least you’ll be prepared.”
You realize this is the thing that makes someone like me want to slam my head into a wall, right?
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There truly are no words more inspirational than “This video is no longer available.”
diesel’s last blog post..The Clay Pigeon has Landed!
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The thing is, optimist is about looking at the brightest side of life, no? So you do it by hoping for good things. I do it by taking the things that exist and finding a way for them to be good NOW.
I don’t think that anyone is being stupid, or even naive here, but it’s coming at the same problem from two different directions.
I try to make the best of the things I can’t (or don’t want to or am unmotivated to) change, and to ACT to change the rest of the things for the better.
The truth is that things go bad sometimes and in ways that we cannot control. How we deal with them, whether or not we’re able to function has a lot to do with the way we go through life.
Believe it or not, in real life, I’m an extremely positive person. On the internet, though, I just like poking people with sticks.
FyreGoddess’s last blog post..Mission Shopping
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Obama reminds me more and more of Bill Clinton. He has what it takes to join our country together. And that is what our country needs right now. We need to being the right and the left together so we can repair the state of the nation.
Topncal’s last blog post..Pictures of KittyNibbles and I
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As a complete outsider looking in from another part of the world, I have to say that I can only see a particularly slick ad presentation selling the Obama brand. In fact, it could well be one of those Apple ads.
The video is very well produced and edited, it makes people feel warm and fuzzy about the brand, and it clearly makes some people buy into the brand.
But there’s always a gulf between the ad and the reality. I wonder how big a gulf Americans will find if they do buy Obama?
Stonehead’s last blog post..Broad beans
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Fuck hope. Hoping that Obama can get elected is like hoping that someday there will be world peace. Dream on. Anybody that voted for Obama in a primary helped elect Sen. John McCain for President. Obama admitted past cocaine and pot use in a frigging book. There goes all the people who may not have wanted to vote for the GOP this time. Hmmmmm? Will I vote for the decorated war hero, or the fucking crackhead????? Time to no longer admit that I’m a Democrat; I don’t want to be associated with the party that couldn’t win even after eight years of the worst pres. ever!
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Hm. Uh. Er.
OK.
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Um, Karen, you goofball Canadian? We had this little community organizer guy named Cesar Chavez whose motto was “Yes we can.” Before Bob the Builder.
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Ah, I see. A white kid who smokes pot and uses coke is “experiementing.” A black kid who does is a “crackhead.” Interesting how that works.
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I do love the spirit of optimism and personal responsibility embodied in this song. (And, on a separate note, I support Obama — I think our country is long overdue for someone who’s an idealist AND an intellectual, fueled by brains more than testosterone.) Obama’s not perfect, but he’s my guy this election.
Still, I’m cynical enough to feel manipulated when watching that video, and I try to resist emotional appeals. (Not saying that this is the effect it has on others — just talking about myself. I know I’m the type who’ll cry at a good Kodak commercial, for example, so I make a conscious effort to steel myself when judging political influences.) Reminded me of a blog post I read recently, too; definitely “consider the source,” but you might be intrigued by it too: http://www.cracked.com/article_16656_6-brainwashing-techniques-theyre-using-on-you-right-now.html . I know it made me think about how different media approaches are exerting influences on me.
Adam, your pithy comment cracked me up and it quickly got at that niggling feeling my heartstrings were being tugged by the song. And of course you can’t resist poking a stick in between the bars to annoy the lion, can you! :o)
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