(A “Notes to Self” Series)

Quote for Saturday, 23 February 2019

“Yes We Can!”

― Barack Obama

Those are just three words. Yet they are not bereft of meaning, potency, relevance or significance.

You might be inclined to think that this is all about politics. I’m sorry if I’m going to disappoint you, but I’d rather not veer towards that. I’ve said this quite too often that I may already sound not just redundant but even robotic. However, it’s the truth, so I may as well state such again.

I prefer to remain apolitical and nonpartisan. That’s it.

It’s because of my previous public service jobs where we are not supposed to be aligned politically but should be subservient to the general populace’s needs. Such a life dominated almost all of my entire career, especially the earliest parts, and I still haven’t found any sufficient reason to make a complete turnaround in my standpoint.

Nonetheless, I respect and even admire people who held positions of power like our featured quote’s author. It’s difficult enough to give your all, sacrifice your privacy and normal life as well as be on the constant lookout how to serve the people under your constituency. What’s worse is that it is, in fact, impossible to please everyone. There would always be detractors, naysayers, oppositionists, and similar others.

It’s not that I reject freedom of speech and our other inherent and bestowed rights because I value such, too. My point is that there should always be a balance. Striking that right mix to achieve what’s right, good, fair, just, and beneficial to all concerned is more often than not more difficult than just typing this blog, so to speak. In fact, with such great power bestowed on prominent people comes an immense amount of responsibility (as well as headaches to boot).

Going back to our quote, quite striking for me are the following three things among others:

• YES – It is not a no. It is a “yes,” an affirmation, a cajole, a “go ahead,” a confirmation that one is right, an acknowledgment of the merits of one’s pronouncements, a willingness to do as asked, a motivation to keep on going or an inspiration to uplift someone’s spirit.
• WE – It is not an “I.” It doesn’t focus on the speaker alone or just one other person. It goes beyond one’s mere self and takes the viewpoint and circumstances of others. It is not selfish as it shares the benefit or credit to others. It is encompassing, reconciliating, harmonising, and unifying. It means that nobody is alone but would always be with the company and support of others.
• CAN – It is enabling. It doesn’t focus on excuses or weaknesses. Instead, it emphasises abilities, capacities, capabilities, strengths, possibilities, and opportunities.

With such a profound pronouncement and combination of factors, today’s passage is as power-packed as its thinker. Now, I wouldn’t say that other past, present or future leaders like him are not as able or capable. I can’t definitely warrant that there won’t be anything negative that would be said against him. What I am definite about is that this remarkable man and his team had accomplished great levels for many.

In the same vein, what if a husband fails to support his wife or vice versa? What happens if a parent fails to provide for one’s kid? What if a child fails to study well? What if a teacher fails to enrich a student’s learning experience? What if the government fails to provide what public institutions need to cater to beneficiaries of their services? What if people choose their officials wrongly? What if private companies strive to profit for themselves only? What if we stop caring about others? What if we are the reasons why others have stopped caring at all?

It could be quite a conundrum. The related questions could even be endless. However, doing one’s part makes a difference. Team effort makes things better.

Yes. I think that – in the light of what we are blessed with, in our own respective ways, and by working with each other – we also can.

And, even if there seems to be nobody there by our side, there’s out there who would. There’s hope.

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(For more quotes about hope, check out Goodreads.)