Plain Talk: How do you say Obama?
It is now exactly one week past one of the most historic times in human history.
Very few people in civilizations past or yet to come have had or will have the opportunity to say history lives within their presence!
But we can say that.
We can say that we are a part of this most significant moment in history and I can all but absolutely assure you that no one … NO ONE, will ever appreciate the level of significance this change we are in the middle of more than the generation of individuals right here and right now. It is an exciting time, and that is perhaps the understatement of the year.
But you know what? This is also an extremely pivotal time as regards the reactions of people who are afraid of change. During this first week I have sat back and watched some of the negative reactions of people. The positive reactions are available in abundance, but the negative ones are a little more difficult to detect. But when you see or hear of them, it serves of a sobering reminder of where we are and where we have yet to travel. For example, a friend of mine was quite unnerved by a text message she received that stated the following:
Question: "How do you say Obama in Chinese?"
Answer: "Coon-soon-die"
You know, seeing a message like this is just a reminder of how much more adjustments we still have yet to make. Whereas we can take pride in the fact our progress as a nation has been tremendous, we also need not forget, or worse yet be misguided into thinking, that this nation’s migration towards domestic tranquility is anywhere near complete.
In his acceptance speech our President elect made the statement “it’s been a long time comin’” – few words can be put together to form a more accurate statement. Although our progress is something to be proud of, we as a nation unfortunately are STILL far behind from a developmental standpoint.
But change is indeed on the horizon. The future is looking bright. How do we know this to be true? It is made abundantly evident when we just look in the faces and reactions of people the whole world over. Take a moment and look at photos depicting the emotional and positive reactions of the people all over the world, Africa, France, Australia, England, Indonesia, Philippines, Senegal, China, Greece, Jerusalem and more and you will see what I mean.
Do you know what those reactions tell me? They tell me that a new minority is developing with each passing hope filled day. That new minority of people are those individuals filled with disdain, prejudice, bigotry and hate in their hearts. Yes, the people who fear change and consequently find it necessary to compose and forward divisive and hateful messages like the one exemplified above are the ones who are becoming the minority in this nation and in this world.
Whether they want to recognize it or not, the world is changing. It has been intimated that ‘Hope’ is the source of our greatest strength as members of this Human Race. On November 4, 2008 we were reminded of the power of ‘Hope’. We have seen that hope ignite a fire in the hearts of people all across this nation as well as all across the world. That fire is burning big and bright! Believe me when I tell you that it will take more than the few buckets of moisture from the disillusioned new minority to extinguish the roaring flame of hope we got burning right now. They may not like it but the day is coming when all will have no choice but to recognize the positive impact this one man will help the rest of the men and women out there ultimately have on the entire world as we know it. He is going down in history for far more than being the first American President of color. I think you can bank on that.
So with all that said, allow me to answer the question a little more accurately for you.
Question: “How do you say Barack Obama in Chinese?”
Answer: The same way you say it in the rest of the known CIVILIZED world –
“YES-WE-CAN”!
Very few people in civilizations past or yet to come have had or will have the opportunity to say history lives within their presence!
But we can say that.
We can say that we are a part of this most significant moment in history and I can all but absolutely assure you that no one … NO ONE, will ever appreciate the level of significance this change we are in the middle of more than the generation of individuals right here and right now. It is an exciting time, and that is perhaps the understatement of the year.
But you know what? This is also an extremely pivotal time as regards the reactions of people who are afraid of change. During this first week I have sat back and watched some of the negative reactions of people. The positive reactions are available in abundance, but the negative ones are a little more difficult to detect. But when you see or hear of them, it serves of a sobering reminder of where we are and where we have yet to travel. For example, a friend of mine was quite unnerved by a text message she received that stated the following:
Question: "How do you say Obama in Chinese?"
Answer: "Coon-soon-die"
You know, seeing a message like this is just a reminder of how much more adjustments we still have yet to make. Whereas we can take pride in the fact our progress as a nation has been tremendous, we also need not forget, or worse yet be misguided into thinking, that this nation’s migration towards domestic tranquility is anywhere near complete.
In his acceptance speech our President elect made the statement “it’s been a long time comin’” – few words can be put together to form a more accurate statement. Although our progress is something to be proud of, we as a nation unfortunately are STILL far behind from a developmental standpoint.
But change is indeed on the horizon. The future is looking bright. How do we know this to be true? It is made abundantly evident when we just look in the faces and reactions of people the whole world over. Take a moment and look at photos depicting the emotional and positive reactions of the people all over the world, Africa, France, Australia, England, Indonesia, Philippines, Senegal, China, Greece, Jerusalem and more and you will see what I mean.
Do you know what those reactions tell me? They tell me that a new minority is developing with each passing hope filled day. That new minority of people are those individuals filled with disdain, prejudice, bigotry and hate in their hearts. Yes, the people who fear change and consequently find it necessary to compose and forward divisive and hateful messages like the one exemplified above are the ones who are becoming the minority in this nation and in this world.
Whether they want to recognize it or not, the world is changing. It has been intimated that ‘Hope’ is the source of our greatest strength as members of this Human Race. On November 4, 2008 we were reminded of the power of ‘Hope’. We have seen that hope ignite a fire in the hearts of people all across this nation as well as all across the world. That fire is burning big and bright! Believe me when I tell you that it will take more than the few buckets of moisture from the disillusioned new minority to extinguish the roaring flame of hope we got burning right now. They may not like it but the day is coming when all will have no choice but to recognize the positive impact this one man will help the rest of the men and women out there ultimately have on the entire world as we know it. He is going down in history for far more than being the first American President of color. I think you can bank on that.
So with all that said, allow me to answer the question a little more accurately for you.
Question: “How do you say Barack Obama in Chinese?”
Answer: The same way you say it in the rest of the known CIVILIZED world –
“YES-WE-CAN”!