A Change We Need

I live half way across the world. My nightly news use to be all about American and Canadian politics. Now, I don’t hear much of either. My evening news is about the National Diet, sumo matches instead of hockey, and worries over people ripping off old people. My biggest pet peeve with Japan has been their stubbornness at times to keep ties with their ancient roots, even if it makes them outdated and doesn’t let them fit in with other countries.

But three simple words seem to change all that.

Yes, we can.

They’re English words. But they’re basic words. People understand them. 「はい、できましょう」would be the simplest translation. Yes, we can. Three words, only eight letters, but they seem to be changing the world, even a world that seemed unchangeable.

Obama’s speeches have been translated and released in books with CDs. Listening to Obama inspires people here like I could never imagine. People want to learn English, just to understand what he’s saying. People can hear the passion in his voice, and can see the reaction it gets out of people, and they want to hear what we hear, not what a translation says. They want to hear it and feel what we feel.

Yes, we can. It inspires people, makes them think that change is possible. It’s close, it’s achievable, and we can be whatever we want to be. People who have been living from part time job to part time job suddenly feel like they could do better, and try for better jobs. It makes people want to be better, to live the life they want, not the one they were handed.

The past 24 hours, people have been overwhelmed by this feeling of change. There’s a new feeling, a wind at our back, pushing us in new ways. Japan is in a political position that is less than desirable. Nobody likes the prime minister, and there has been a few years of scandal and head shaking. I hear the same thing in Japan, and back home. “We want a leader like Obama. Not a politician.” I can’t help but get the feeling that the bar has been raised, not only for the US, but for the way we see our leaders around the world. Countries want LEADERS now, especially in such a tough time.

But it’s not seeing the stay at home mothers wanting to learn more English, or the dejected workers feeling inspired to work again, that affects me. It’s seeing the people who really never feel like they’re a part of all of this feeling like it affects their life. It’s hearing about middle schoolers and high schoolers caring about world issues. It’s watching the news, and seeing these girls who normally wouldn’t care of much beyond what is on TV this season, and who is performing on Music Station, say that they watched Obama’s speech, and they were inspired. It’s seeing that even my third graders, who are no older than nine, can tell that something is different. They know the words “Yes we can!” make people feel better. They know that this Obama guy, who ever he is, makes people feel better. Yelling “Yes we can!” reves my kids up, and I’ve even taken advantage of this, asking “Can we learn English?”

The answer is, of course, yes, we can.

It’s amazing, how three simple words have been able to change the world in such a good way. I only hope it lasts.