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Written by: “Change, Yes, We Can.”: Barack Obama’s Potent Mantra -By Augustine C. Ohanwe Words, like music have power. When uttered, written as a lyric poem, or as the words of a song, its power could be a double edged sword. Words can pacify a conflict situation, resurcitate a dwindled spirit and usher in inspiration. It can also fan the flame of conflagration and sway people to move in the direction of destruction. Consider the powerful affect of the words of the Nazi Party national anthem. When uttered, both the young and old were swayed to one direction – towards the slippery slope. In literature as well as music, gifted people have used the power of words to portray their hatred of injustice and mordant depiction of misery and raise awareness of other social problems that have eaten up the fabric of our society. They do all these in order to influence a change. At the period when social injustice reached its pinnacle Simon and Granfunkel released “The Boxer.” In it they reminded the world about the plight of the impoverished and rootless Consider again the affects of the lyrics and melody of James Brown’s music. None of his music is good as a lullaby, that could lull a restless baby to sleep. When played, both the mom and the babe will be staring at each other and shaking their heads. But the balming words of Miriam Makeba or the soothing lyrics of Jim Reeves can calm the babe’s nerves and speedily drive him to sleep. These are few examples of the power of words. The ability of president Obama to chose the appropriate words that were in tandem with the prevailing social, political and economic malaise in his country in particular, and the world in general, played a significant role in his presidential victory. He x-rayed the mindset of the People and tapped into the ire over the prevailing trends and had to coin his political mantra, “Change, yes, we can” as the only panacea that could halt and reverse the runaway dynamics of the awful situation that had bedeviled his country. While on the podium, he pronounced the the political mantra in such a way that the power inherent in it had to register firmly in the peoples’ psyche and sway them into his arms. The power of the mantra was mesmerising to the people but threatening to his political opponents. They moved swiftly to downgrade it as a mere soapbox verbiage and accused Obama of advancing a monstrous absurdity. They used both covert and overt attempts to riddle the inherent power of his words. They harped on his inexperience, branded him an untested politician and mocked at his presidential ambition as a mere fairy tale. They made him look like an airline pilot who had no practical knowledge but had only read about flying in a downtown library. In another campaign trail he was made to look like a would-be ship captain who had merely taken a correspondence course on ship navigation and management. They asked the American people whether they were willing to entrust their lives to such an inexperience, young man with a half-baked knowledge. What did Obama do in the face of all these vituperative attacks? He absorbed them with admirable self-control. He was never worried about name-calling and mud-slinging remarks. He either remained calm or broke into a low chuckle of irrepressible laughter at their levity. He saw their political behaviour as a lowest form of argumentation which opponents normally use when evidences and ideas are in short supply. Instead of abdicating from the sphere of reason or allow his opponents to bend his iron Will, he had to up the ante by blending the words with feet-sweeping melody that drew more people into his camp. After the election result his political opponents were confined to the wheelchairs where they reeled from their it-can’t-be–done-syndrome. President Obama received the result of the U.S. presidential election with palpable ecstasy and rode the crest of euphoric tide into emotional dance and banquet for a mission well accomplished. There have been many historical periods when outstanding personalities had emerged to change or influence the course of human events. Obama seems to be the man of the moment. American people have spoken. Sincerely, Augustine C. Ohanwe
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