Yes We Can – Another Long Walk to Freedom
Mandela sworn in as President
“We have fought for a democratic constitution since the 1880s. Ours has been a quest for a constitution freely adopted by the people of South Africa, reflecting their wishes and their aspirations. The struggle for democracy has never been a matter pursued by one race, class, religious community or gender among South Africans. In honouring those who fought to see this day arrive, we honour the best sons and daughters of all our people. We can count amongst them Africans, Coloureds, Whites, Indians, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Jews – all of them united by a common vision of a better life for the people of this country.”Nelson Mandela at Cape Town’s City Hall on the day he was elected President of South Africa.
And the country came together for a better day.
I watched on Tuesday night as America voted and counted and started to come together as one. Yesterday many people who were interviewed while standing on long lines to vote said they wanted to be a part of history – whatever the outcome. “We are witnessing history”, said a young person in Chicago.
So many reporters on TV remarked about how Barack Obama had got out the youth vote. I believe it was much more than that. The youth live in a global community that is always on; always connected. No borders, no barriers, no limits. One of the TV commentators reflected on this campaign as being one of fear vs. hope.
For many who were too young to vote in the 2000 election, they were left angry and upset with how it played out. With opinions but no ability to impact the results, they were sensitized. And then Bush won again in 2004. And things did not get better and the war did not end. And the youth got engaged.
The youth believe more in participating than witnessing; they believe more in being consulted than instructed; they believe more in the sky’s the limit rather than controlled limits; and they believe in action. I believe they had enough. No Mas. And rather than let life happen to them, they got up to make life happen. Sensitized – Engaged – Activated. And the wave began. And they became agents for, participants in, and witnesses to history – direct participants in charting their future.
And in what is being said was a perfect campaign, millions connected with Obama and he connected with them, the cause, the mission, the dissatisfaction. He communicated. He shared. And he did it on their terms. He connected where his audience was; in the manner they chose; at their convenience; and on platforms of their choice. SMS, video, phone, TV, print, in-person, email, you name it – Obama and his people were there. Connected. Partners.
They were part of his conversation and he seamlessly became part of theirs. And therein lies the lesson. His evangelists spread the word – and rather than control, he gathered and led. For the People, By the People – they stood up and gathered their voices and their votes. And as Obama transformed his three word refrain, his tone changed from gatherer and cheerleader to the confident tone of President-elect as “YES WE CAN” changed from winning an election to making things happen to restore the American Dream in its 21st century iteration.
In talking to a college student who volunteered for Obama, there was a sense of yes WE can – WE can get Obama elected. WE can make a difference. WE can make our votes count. And WE can turn a new page. Now they know with certainty they can make a difference. And make no mistake a partnership was created over the last two years and it is exactly that. And for a generation that chooses hope over fear and is fearless in much that they do, it now becomes yes “We” can get out of the mess we are in – and they have a massive success under their belts and a partner on his way to the White House. And elections and campaigns will never be the same.
The expectations are huge! And the market and global realities are dark. And the contrasts are stark. President Bush communicates in an old world unconnected one way manner. President-elect Obama “gets” the people and communicates in a connected always on manner via conversation – Twitter, email lists, text messages and more. And they earned each other’s respect. If he asks (as he has already suggested), they will answer the call with a resounding in an empowered and connected manner – “Yes We Can”.
Yes We Can.
Comments
Don’t forget that Obama raised and spent records amount as he got his message across. For what it’s worth, in today’s environment, I wish him the best of luck – I’m not sure it would have made any difference who got elected…we’re stuck in the toilet for now with a bad case of a rampant stomach virus. It isn’t going to end until the stomach is completely empty and there still is a lot of S*&t stuck inside.
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