Yes, We Can

POSTED BY Raleigh-Elizabeth Smith, 04 February 2008

The Black Eyed Peas want change. So do Jesse Dylan, Common, Scarlett Johansson, Tatyana Ali, John Legend, Herbie Hancock, Kate Walsh, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Adam Rodriquez, Kelly Hu, Adam Rodriquez, Amber Valetta, Eric Balfour, Aisha Tyler, Nicole Scherzinger and Nick Cannon. And according to the latest Rasmussen Report, so does 40 percent of America's Democrats.

In what's turning into a modern-day "I have a dream," this speech is taking the country by storm (and song) - but does it have the makings of a 21st Century Gettysburg?

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.

The responses, overwhelmingly positive, indicate America's definitive need for relief from the last eight years of domestic division and international demogogy. 

warhold2000 (1 hour ago) yes..... we can !!!!!  si se puede!!!!!! 

Brianhamann (1 hour ago) I was lucky enough to be one of the few thousand Americans at Nashua High the night that Barack gave this speech...the night that the tide changed for Hope, for Peace. It also put him on par with the Kennedys & DR King as one of the greatest leaders that we will see. It is history unfolding before our eyes. Please stand up for Barack Obama we need him now. He will bring real change to Washington, Main Street,& the world. Let's bring change and HOPE from sea to shining sea. YES WE CAN!

But not everyone was so won over:

adnauseam81 (1 hour ago) Sh

This Obamamania is kind of scary. If he does win, a lot of you will be in for a rude awakening. The only thing that will 'change' is the colour of the skin on the face that the ruling class shows the rest of us.

No response yet from the Clinton Camp. Maybe the'll come out with a puppeteered "I Have Been Already For 35 Years" video, all to the tune of "I Say a Little Prayer" with Aretha at the helm:

I run for the job, dear,
While fighting the District mob dear,
Just give a little Vote to me.
In New York for vote-time,
Getting over my Health Care bust-time,
Just give a little Vote to me.

Forever, and ever, and 35 years
I have been here and
Forever, and ever, and 35 years
Dealing with Bill and
Together, forever, that was the deal
To not get the Bid
Would only mean divorce for me....

One thing's for certain:  It looks like Hollywood and Washington have made up and are back together just in time for Valentine's Day. 

[Source: Today's polls come from Rasmussen Reports]