Fri May 18, 2012
Photo courtesy Obama for America
Presidential Candidate Barak Obama
Barak Obama Grabbing the Arc of Political Destiny
By Famid Sinha, Pennsylvania – February 2007
Six months ago, a few students got together and created an online network on the Facebook to pledge their support for a Barack Obama candidacy in 2008. Now 63,000 members strong and growing, our group, Students for Barack Obama (SFBO), is supporting Senator Obama’s campaign for the presidency. SFBO is remarkable and our growth in numbers is largely due to the use of the internet as a tool to mobilize and bring together students from different backgrounds, geographic areas, and even party affiliations – no other candidate has sparked a remotely comparable effort. More importantly, while our generation is often labeled apathetic and disaffected from the political process, we are demonstrating that we do become significantly involved and make a difference when inspired by a worthy candidate.
On February 2, 2007, Senator Obama spoke at Students for Barack Obama’s inaugural rally – that we fittingly called “Yes We Can” – at George Mason University. 3500 enthusiastic students from across the country showed up, filling the entire auditorium and an additional two floors of stacked balconies, raucously cheering on the Senator.
Like the rally, at every stop on the campaign trail, Senator Obama draws enormous crowds anxious to hear him speak. These huge receptions are unprecedented in politics and have many rightfully asking what attracts so many people to him.
As a 21 year old, as long as I can remember, politics has been a bitter, negative force, and the mere thought of the word “politician” conjures up thoughts of corruption, deceit, and incivility. And today’s political structure is so impenetrable that many average Americans have withdrawn from the political process altogether. Most notoriously, young Americans are disengaged from the political process.
But for the first time in my life, America has the choice for something new. Barack Obama gives us hope for a new era by showing us that we can regain our voice in politics and that we do matter. At the rally on February 2, Senator Obama quoted Dr. Martin Luther King’s statement that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” But he drew the biggest ovation of the afternoon when he added that “[the arc] doesn’t bend on its own. It bends because you put your hand on that arc and you bend it in the direction of justice.” By imploring us to grab the arc, Senator Obama reminded us of the power each and every one of us has in our political system. He also demonstrated the centerpiece of his campaign: the desire to transform the country and change our politics by empowering average Americans.
After the SFBO rally, a reporter asked me if I thought 2008 would be the year when young Americans come out in significant numbers to vote. He noted that many thought 2004 would be that year, but that did not end up being the case. I had an epiphany at that moment. While the stakes are undoubtedly high in the 2008 election, there is nothing inherently special about it that would bring young Americans out to vote. In fact, if the general election offers us the divisive, status quo politicians we have become accustomed to, then 2008 will certainly not be “the year.” But if we have the opportunity Barack Obama offers us – if we can change our country forever and regain our voices in politics, then there is absolutely no doubt that young America, middle-aged America, and all of America will come out in droves and elect Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.
Famid Sinha, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, is the Communications Director of Students for Barack Obama.
The following is the text of a speech made by Famid Sinha, at the “Yes We Can!” rally on February 2, 2007.
First off, let me just say thank you all so much for coming out today. Today’s event is pretty amazing, and this rally is not your every day DC area event. We have students here today from all across the country, from California to Michigan to Louisiana, and we’ve all come together here to show our immense support for Barack Obama.
Now, I’d venture to say that almost every single one of us here today is ready for some major changes in Washington and in our politics. We’re tired of the manufactured politics that’s driven by polls and interest groups, and we’re tired of politicians who put their own interests above ours. And we’re making a statement here today that Barack Obama is the man who will usher in the change we need and transform politics back into a force that reflects our voices and our needs as Americans.
But there’s something special here that’s going on, and while it’s pretty remarkable that we’re all here voicing our solidarity, I think there’s a pretty significant opportunity that presents itself today. If we’re tired of the way things are going in Washington and we want things to change in our government, we can incite change. If we are ready for a new type of leadership and we believe in Barack Obama, we can work towards that end. And it’s going to take dedication and hard work and commitment, but if we really want things to be different, they can be – but only if we’re willing to work to make them happen.
So let’s celebrate today and relish this opportunity to come together and show our support for Senator Obama. But let’s not leave here content with the mere celebration. Let’s leave with the hunger and readiness to make a difference and to support Barack Obama however we can so that the changes we are so desperately in need of can become a reality. Thank you guys so much.
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