Within the context of the American election,
what is the meaning
of the phrase 'Yes We Can'? France's Liberation
seeks to educate
French leaders on the real significance of
these three simple words.
Liberation,
France
Deciphering 'Yes We Can' for the Leaders of
France
In preferring 'we' to 'I' - and unity over division - Obama offers
us a lesson. … 'Yes we can' - that was the phrase. But in politics, saying the words
is already to have commenced action. It's the slogan that ignited America. So
can it be exported? Let us decipher it for our politicians.
By
Michaël Foessel, Fraçoise Gaillard and Myriam d’Allonnes
Even when he
talks of himself, Barack Obama speaks in the plural. "We the people":
these are the first words of the American Constitution, which he included in his
speech in Philadelphia on March 18, 2008 [click photo below to watch]. The
future president invoked the collective power [of the people] and reminded us
that power must be shared before it can be appropriately used. Not the
sovereignty of the individual nor the participative democracy of the French,
this "we" is an appeal for the re-appropriation by citizens of a political
destiny confiscated by the Bush Administration. All throughout his campaign, Barack
Obama has intertwined his positions with the desires of the people rather than simply
imposing his wishes on others. The power of "we" is not a triumph of
the will of "me." This is, first and foremost, where the dynamic that
carried him to the White House came from.
Senator Barack Obama delivers his now historic speech on race
Who has ever seen Obama come unhinged? He goes to the gym
every morning, but no one has ever seen him sweat while jogging. Things have
gotten to the point that many wonder what's behind such image control. For
once, let’s rely on appearances: the problem isn't "who" Obama is,
but rather what he allows us to see and hear. Of course, his speech has religious
overtones: after all, we're talking about the United States. But even when he
talks about God and America, his body remains impassive. Evangelism without trances;
fervor without hysteria. Strangely, this reserve is an element of Obama’s
charisma. He's closer to the civil religion of the Founding Fathers than any
television evangelist.
ONE NATION
The language of John McCain was of two
nations: the elite allied with the descendants of slaves against the down home "authentic"
America of the White "little guy." Is there a benefit to being
mixed-race? Barack Obama can permit himself to talk of one nation, even if it's
a dissonant one. He's unlikely to reconcile the Harvard graduate with Joe the
plumber, but at least he refuses to play the America that gets up early to go
to work against the profiteers of the system. His position isn't a comfortable one,
since he refuses to talk to America the way many here speak of an "eternal
France." [EDITOR'S NOTE: 'Eternal France' refers to the ideals of France
that emerged as a reaction to the Nazis during World War II. This was to say to
the Germans that France would never die, nor its basic values of "fraternity,
egalitarianism and freedom." In other words - Obama refuses to use catch
phrases - or bromides - that politicians in France use and that no longer
address the difficulties people have to confront]. Barack Obama's victory
speech doesn't promise the moon: "Our road will be long. We may not get
there in one year or even in one term." His message is that even "together,"
not everything is immediately possible. Politics is about taking up tasks:
collectively, with difficulty and always a challenge to take up. Even during an
economic crisis, we [in France] aren't accustomed to such humility.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
FRENCH FIRST LADY BRUNI ON DAVID LETTERMAN
Barack Obama’s campaign had only one serious
hitch, when one of his closest associates, Reverend Wright, asked God to "damn"
America. Assuming the contradictions that are now part of his legacy, the
candidate declared: "I cannot disavow him anymore than I can disavow my White grandmother,"
despite her racial prejudice. This was the only "I cannot" from the
candidate. Another scenario would have been possible, along the lines of: "This
is your country, love it or leave it." But the real political conflicts invite
no such simple alternatives. Barack Obama suggests that one can be proud of where
one comes from while admitting the shameful elements of one’s history. In
short, "… embracing the burdens of our past without becoming victims of
our past." (Speech in Philadelphia).
We don't know if the policies of Barack Obama will be
up to his rhetoric. "Yes we can", is also a marketing slogan. Why
not? If it reminds us that even a president cannot act alone - and that he can
do nothing without us.
