The Inspiration of Barack: "Yes We Can" Film Series
I could sit here all day writing down the reasons why I support Barack Obama. In my lifetime, I don't remember another person who has been more influential. He is intelligent, logical, strong, honest, dedicated, honorable, passionate and -- most of all -- inspirational. He has inspired me, a usually self-motivated individual, to try to be a better person overall. I sometimes find myself in situations where I have a choice do my best or just get by. And something in me refers back to something Obama may have said about making this country better. Then I realize that if I can do better in all of my endeavors and we all do the same as a collective nation, this place can actually get better. Hmm, how basic does that seem? Well, that's how Obama makes things, basic, logical and attainable. And this is fact, he is the only one right now who can take this country in the fundamentally new direction in which it needs to go.
As a filmmaker, I wanted to do something to support this man that I truly admired. As it happened, one of my filmmaker friends in Los Angeles, Mike Lynch, was thinking along the same lines as I was. So I received a call late one night in my small New York studio. Mike says, "Qasim, we need to do something to support Obama." That call sparked the flame in me to stay up that night and draft up some ideas for a short film series. This series would capture the quality that I most appreciated about Barack Obama, The Inspiration of Barack: "Yes We Can" Film Series.
I refer to them as "Seven American Stories of Hope." They're about different people facing some sort of hardship in their lives who become inspired by Obama to take an essential step forward. I hope most people will be able to relate to at least one of them. I hope everyone will be inspired by them all. All of the titles begin with "Yes We Can" and are followed by College, Economy, Family, Housing, Immigration, Vote and War. You can probably guess from the titles what each of them represent.
Each week I'm going to post one of the videos. I'll also discuss why I did it, its significance and why it's relevant to what's happening today. They will also be displayed at different screenings around the country. I'll keep you informed as to when and where these screenings will occur and how to get tickets.
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Bush is the past Barack Obama Is " The New Thing " Isaiah 43:18,19 A fresh new spring.
He has the God Inspired; Humbling Determination of a true Leader in which our Nation & world's leaders need, in order for us to come together in Unity & Equality. Barack Obama is the Noah's Ark before the storm, the Moses parting the Red,the Joseph in the lions den, and the Dr.Martin Luther King having a Dream. Barack Obama is clearly envisioning Americas future in a whole new light with an end to poverty and corruption in the United states by seriously up rooting failed or failing systems an Ideals soiled by mediocrity in character when dealing with humanity, Integrity,and Honor (this has plagued our nation for long enough!) I say; how a village organizes themselves & how they Reverence it's chiefs vision tells the clear story of "The Road Ahead". simply put... a war torn chief's village can only try to survive but a Honored chief will organize his own village so they can better feed his village and feed the world's villages too. Obama is the Abrham Lincoln of Independence from Oppression & "the great Depression". "Barack Obama Is The Issac of Abrham an Palin is Just the sacrificial lipstick pit in McCain's Bush" lol I'm sorry to offend any one with my comment I thought it was simply hilariously funny seriously
Obama has already proven to me that he can deliver. Leaders are inspirational and that is Obama. Bill was inspirational and he delivered. I expect the same from Barack. As politicians I just hope that the dems don't implode like the republicans have over the last 8 years. As the soon to be extinct middle class I look forward to somebody actually considering my needs. McCain reaching out and as usual not offering details. Obama, meeting with the congresional leaders every two weeks or so to discuss ideas. Bush never met a bill that didn't have a signing comment. Obama meeting with the Big three and energy companies to develop policy. Cheney met with the oil companies behind closed doors. Obama will do it on CSPAN for transparency. McCain voted with Bush/Cheney 90% of the time.
What will be amazing is that the right wing/ right to life people will actually make the race somewhat close. Apparently there is only one issue, legislate morality. My kids deserve better from their government.
Qasim, I totally agree with you on Barack being an inspiration. I just don't understand why some people feel that we shouldn't be inspired by him and his story. This is America and things like this just don't happen here. I hope that most young people will see themselves in him. They can realize that if you truly work hard and do the right thing, you can be as successful as you want to be no matter the color of your skin.
I can't wait to see your series. Good for you.
Were you inspired by the 125 times he voted "present" rather than make the tough calls the people elected him to make? Were you inspired by his choice of Joe Biden, a do-nothing layabout, as his running mate? What exactly about Biden suggests "change"? That guy has "business as usual" stamped on his forehead.
The good news for you? Soon you'll be able to "support Obama" as he returns to the Senate, but don't expect too much from him there either. He's much better at posing and yapping than he is at effecting legislative change.
Voting "present" simply means he hadn't yet decided which way to vote - pretty responsible on his part if you ask me. There are senators who vote when they haven't even read the content of a bill or listened to the arguments - that's "business as usual".
Thanks for pointing out the really big picture and I look forward to your series.
Jude2004...please don't expect any candidate or elected official to solve all of the world's problems. That just doesn't happen. When you understand the complexity of the process of government and know that Obama will not be governing alone, I think you'll see that his good ideas might not make it through Congress. That's just the way things are.
I reduce the candidates down to one thing and one thing only. I forget about specific campaign promises and focus instead only on the TONE they will set for this country and the world.
This election is far easier than most. Do we want a leader who sets a tone through inspiring hope in people or do we want a leader who inspires fear through war mongering?
I agree with you... I think people often underestimate the importance of that aspect. Setting the tone and providing a sense of encouragement, though not as noticeable as a successful policy, can do wonders beyond what any poll can recognize.
All righty then. Let's get going. Can't wait for the first video. Looking forward to the series. Time is short.
All my instincts tell me that Obama isn't such a great guy. I'm going to vote for him, but I have no hopes at all that his administration will make a difference. I'm always amazed to find posts such as yours where you find him an inspiration. I hope he's elected (the alternative is so much worse), and I hope that you're proven right. But I don't think you will be.
Jude2004, this election IS NOT about Sen Obama. He's just the catalyst, the person who can probably do the better job as POTUS. As much as I like and respect Sen Obama, I don't idolize him or expect him to be perfect. If you do that (you being generic here) - if you do that, then it is really easy to become disullusioned when he doesn't do something that yo uwanted - the FISA vote and subsequent reactions come to mind).
Also remember that something that takes man yyears to build can be destroyed in seconds, and rebuilding will take many years again. George W. had 8 long years to bring this country down - it will take more than 8 years of a Pres. Obama to bring the United States back.
I feel as if the neo-cons and ultra-concervatives are trying their damned best to bring about the Apocolypse and could care less who get destroyed in the process. Why else would they manipulate the sytem to put Bush in office and now those very same folks are tryingto force Palin down our throats.
Note: I did say Pali nfor a reason - since McCain is inconsequential in their plans. He's so old we can expect him to be really the player they want. Palin could not have stood up to 20 months of campaigning.
Jude, you did not read the article. He has already delivered! I have never felt the way I feel now about ANY public figure. I have never cried or prayed for ANY public figure before. But the biggest thing Jude, is that I firmly believe that the next time "the doll" experiment is conducted, some innocent child will choose the black doll as the beautiful, kind and good doll and he/she will do it because of Barack Obama. Do you know that experiment Jude? The one which you watch with tears streaming down your face and an indescribable pain in your heart as baby after baby chooses the white doll as the better doll? And then after choosing the white doll as the better doll they are asked which doll looks like them, and the camera captures that look on their faces as they choose the black doll. I guarantee you, that the next time time, some baby will say, ooh that doll looks like Obama and he is beautiful! That is what Obama has already done to the consciousness of the world. That is why I was so outraged when Tavis Smiley and company dared to criticize Obama's acceptance speech. As Spike Lee says, regardless of what happens come November (and I truly believe that he will win), this man has already changed the world.
thanks for this, MariaHopeful. you are so right. Obama has already changed the world for the better and been an inspiration to so many.
It sounds awesome! I can't wait to see the videos.
"He has inspired me, a usually self-motivated individual, to try to be a better person overall."
I find myself doing the same. for example.
My husband and I argue so much about politics that we have come to a stage of not to discussing it at all.
When on the odd occasion it does come up.
I try now when in a conversation with him, to find the points we agree upon and then try to discuss our difference of opinion from this point. Something I see and admire in Obama.
I realised I was emulating Obama.
I felt good about it.
Wow, that's a great story.... Pretty amazing that a presidential candidate can effect your life like that huh? That's the same way I feel. That want to be better is effecting a lot of people. It's spreading like a virus. That point alone makes me want to work harder and harder to help get this man in the white house. The videos were first, after this passes, I'll figure out something else to do.
Stay positive. Stay Inspired. And I hope things work out with you & the hubby.
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