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. And they will only grow louder and more dissonant in the weeks and months to come.

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.

For when we have faced down impossible odds, when we've been told we're not ready or that we shouldn't try or that we can't, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can. Yes, we can. Yes, we can.

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 towards freedom through the darkest of nights: 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 ballot, 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.

...

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."

...excerpt from speech delivered after the New Hampshire Primary

I'm not a confrontational person. I don't like conflict. I'm not in your face. If I find that customer service at a particular business is not really "customer friendly", or even "customer service", I don't complain and protest loudly. I may quietly voice my discontent... or not. I may write a letter... or not. But I definitely don't go back. I don't think that I'm unique. I believe that there are a lot folks like me.

This approach only works when there are alternatives. The problem arises when there are no alternatives left. I actually had begun to believe that about the leadership in this country, in particular our political leadership. And, although I continued to exercise my civic responsibility, I was always clear that I was voting for the least disturbing candidate.

The absolute horrors that I have seen demonstrated by our "leadership" on the local, state and national level have made this presidential election extremely important to me. Important enough to poke my head out to lend my support to someone who I believe is the real deal. I believe Barak Obama represents the leadership that the universe (yes, I said it. UNIVERSE) cries out for. He is the first real glimmer of hope that I have seen in a very,very long time. Probably since my youth. (I'm a boomer.) This man speaks from his heart, and that is why there is always a ring of truth to what he says.

I don't know about you or your politics. Whatever they are, I respect them. I only ask that you give this man a chance. I ask that you listen openly and objectively to what he has to say. Read his book--The Audacity of Hope. I don't believe that afterwards you will not also believe that his is the person that is meant to lead this nation at this time.

I don't believe that this nation can survive another eight years like the eight years we have just experienced. I don't believe that we can exist as a nation whose every action is motivated by fear and distrust of each other and the rest of the world. I believe that we are better then that. I believe that we are much better then what we have become. I believe that there are creative and innovative solutions that can be found to the challenges of health care, a falling economy, immigration and the myriad of other complex issues that we are faced with. I believe in "and"/ "both", rather the "either"/ "or". I believe that we need leadership that believes that too.

And Barak Obama is the only person who I have heard say "Yes, We Can!"