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March 08, 2008
Yes, We Can- Barackapella from Lewis & Clark College, Oregon
"This is an a cappella version of the song "Yes We Can." We are a group of students from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon.
On Friday the 29th, leap day, some members of my a cappella group and I did a benefit show called Barackappella at my college in Portland, Oregon. It was so much fun, I wanted to share the story with you.I support Barack Obama. I am very happy about the phenomenal voter turn out and political participation his campaign for the presidency is inspiring, and I am so excited about what I believe he will do as president. One of the many things I like about Obama is that he inspires action among really diverse groups of people. He inspires different people in different ways, but a lot of us love his speeches. A few weeks ago a group of famous artists put portions of some of his speeches to music, and made a very cool video called Yes We Can. Millions of people have watched it at the original site and also on YouTube, where it was re-posted.
I cried the first time I watched this video, and I know I was not alone. It is so nice to hear a “We” instead of an “I”. It is so nice to be so proud of a person who represents our country as a senator, and who I believe will be our President. Words do matter. I feel empowered when I say “Yes I Can,” and I feel even more empowered when I feel connected to something large enough to say “Yes We Can”. I believe more empowerment and civic engagement would be great for our country, and our world.
Just days after first watching this video, some friends and I wondered if we could arrange an a cappella version. I was already in an a cappella group at my school called MoMo and the Coop, and I knew that most of the other members were also Obama supporters. Long story short, most members of our group and another friend decided to do a benefit concert, and to call our concert Barackappella. Our performance was one of many “Leap for Change” events nationwide. About eighty people attended, including some of MoMo and the Coop’s fan base, and many Obama supporters we had not seen before. Some in the audience were much younger than me, and others could have been my grandparents. The video above is our version of Yes We Can, we also posted videos of the seven other songs we sang that night.
I am the guy with pink pants in the video, in case you were curious. I hope you enjoy it, it was so wonderful for me. By the end of the song my normally confident voice was quivering - definitely a symptom of my strong emotions, not stage fright. The audience really loved it, but I cherish most the proud and excited expressions of my friends who helped build this version of Yes We Can. Thanks guys.
The original Yes We Can speech was phenomenal, and the Yes We Can video is probably a lot more impressive musically, but I think our project is special. We are not famous or powerful, I think we are an interesting bunch, but all things considered we are ordinary Americans. But, we are participating in this movement in a way we would not have for any other politician since we were born. We are participating in our own way because a very inspiring person told us that ordinary Americans could do extraordinary things..."
Wild Thing's comment.......
These kids are communists, socialists and oh man I am so ticked I am out of words for how I feel about these POS American's!! I went to their website and the links in column (sidebar) on the right are filled with crap about Cuba etc.
Posted by Wild Thing at March 8, 2008 03:48 AM
Comments
Good little lemmings--let's just lead you off a cliff, shall we?
Teachers aren't teaching anymore--they're indoctrinating. It's funny how the top 10% of the seniors in our area have very liberal view points, but the kids at the bottom are more conservative.
Teachers don't want to hear the other side of the picture. As long as the government is taking care of them, they don't care.
My daughter got lesser grades because she wouldn't agree with her teachers when they'd go off tangent and start spouting politics in math class.
And most of the top 10% are also the wealthiest kids in the school--what do they care? They don't have to work--mummy and daddy will pay for everything for them--just like the government should we elect the wrong person.
Posted by: Lynn at March 8, 2008 09:04 AM
"Yes, we can." is an empty and meaningless chant. I would be impressed if they were singing, Yes, we can, and will, take personal responsibility for our own lives. Yes, we will not do drugs. Yes, we will not bring babies into the world until we are married and can afford to take care of them. Yes, we will study hard and do our best to get good jobs and become responsible citizens of this great country. Yes, we will take care of those in need and help them to take care of themselves. Yes, we will not turn this country into a Socialist nation where everyone is a mindless robot dependent on a large government to think and take care of all of our needs.
Posted by: Les at March 8, 2008 05:28 PM
Lynn that is is horrible to do that to a student like they did to your daughter.
I have heard that from another mom too, her daughter tried to write a paper on some part of histroy, it was all true what she wrote and they gave hwer a very low grade and told her she was not to write it the way she did. I was shocked when I was told about it. I hoped it was only at her school, but like you said it is at other schools too.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 9, 2008 12:30 AM
Les, good one.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 9, 2008 12:34 AM
Now ya know why we sent our kids to Christian schools and to Red State universities... We got / get what we paid for WT... It's all worth it and worth every penny! It's beginning to look a lot like EASTER!!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at March 9, 2008 01:09 AM
Darth, big smile yes Easter is almost here, getting closer and in a Christian school they won't give in to the muslims not wanting Easter.
Posted by: Wild Thing at March 9, 2008 04:25 AM
PS: WT & Lynne...We've had our problems with liberal pacifists in our Christian schools too but it was on a much smaller scale. Our teachers are CERTIFIED and instruct and let the students decide... We do pray in the morning before classes start, and have a moment of silence for the non-Christians in our schools. This blue state of socialistists has its problems - morally and socially - big time! I understand there's still a few good public schools in the south!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at March 10, 2008 01:21 AM
