I’ve recently enrolled in a Political Science class that has opened my mind to the history of our nation. Now more than ever, I appreciate and am aware of the things like the history of our Constitution, the Revolutionary War, King George and the radicals that made the idea of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness a reality. This is not to say that I did not ultimately “know” about these things before, but that in my years of public education, never once was I truly moved by our history. Never once was I motivated to even read The Declaration of Independence.
Never once did I really, truly know what it felt like to be proud of my country. With that said, I am trying to become more politically aware and form my own opinions on issues our nation faces on a daily basis.
Not too long ago, I came across a video that gave me hope. On Tuesday January 8th in Nashua, New Hampshire, Barack Obama gave what I believe to be the most moving and inspirational speech I have heard from a presidential candidate. This video is a collaboration of artists singing the words of the same speech Obama gave in New Hampshire. It is about time that we regain hope for the future. In the last two presidential terms, I have found myself, as I am sure many others have, disappointed and longing for change.
The Speech:
“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”