Discussing the war and foreign policy, he says:
"But I don't want to just end the war, I want to end the mindset that got us into war. I want to end a politics based on fear...I want to rediscover the power of our diplomacy. I said early in this campaign that I would meet not just with our friends, but also with our enemies. And there were those in Washington who said 'you can't do that'. And I said 'yes I can'."
Yes, he can.
Now, here is a picture of another, far lesser known, man who also said 'yes I can'.
Bukeni T. Waruzi Beck is the Executive Director of Ajedi-Ka, a small organization located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, dedicated to the demobilization and re-integration of child soldiers. This picture, courtesy of the Ajedi-Ka website, was taken during one of their trips to a local village to sound the alarm about the usage of child soldiers (sometimes they are recruited forcibly, sometimes voluntarily). Early on in his university career, Bukeni courageously responded to the call to leave his comfortable academic setting to go meet with militia commanders--placing himself in very dangerous situations--and negotiate for the release of the children (sometimes as young as eight years old) they had recruited to fight their bloody wars. The story of children in warfare is horrific beyond belief, but in the darkness of that story, there is the light of people like Bukeni who go, unarmed and vulnerable, to meet and speak truth to power, relentlessly assaulting the powers of darkness to bring back those who have been captured by it. To date, they have negotiated for the release of over 300 children, boys and girls, and been instrumental in bringing the atrocities of the usage of child soldiers to the attention of the greater communities in Congo, the International Criminal Court, and the world at large.
Yes, they can.
The power of saying 'yes I can' in the face of the 'powers that be' is enormous. I am not saying that Obama is the only one who can or has done this. And I am always leery of getting too caught up in Obama-mania, giving him the status of prophet rather than politician and civil servant. But I like his message. I like his courage, and I like the way it reminds me to embrace my own and lift up that of others.
3 comments:
Hi Pia, you've been quiet so I'm happy to see you back.
Again, I won't comment on Obama, but what an uplifting story you've touched on about Bukeni. The child-soldier issue is a sad indictment on my continent and the courage he has shown in trying to address it is incredible. Negotiations in these troubled zones has been very difficult and its just awesome to see someone saying "Yes I can" when all reason would suggest you can't.
I just watched the video. The man sure can deliver a good speech. I have absolutely no idea how achievable his objectives are, but it would be beautiful to see that kind of spirit driving the national agenda of a country as influential as yours.
Hi Dean, it's good to be back! :) I was just caught up in a bunch of research I was doing...not much extra headspace these days. :)
Bukeni and his colleagues really are an inspiration--I am always reminded of a shephard who is going after the lost sheep when I hear about his work. I truly believe it is faith in action--a faith that doesn't talk about being faith, but just IS, you know?
And yes, re Obama, I also would love to see what could happen in this country with that kind of spirit guiding our decisions!
Post a Comment