No It Can't, Yea But, or Yes It Can--The Choice is Yours

We are pummeled by the echoing air waves with words from all persuasions, each sounding off as if they have the final answer to virtually everything. It seems to me that there are three major categories of groups. They are, "No It Can't", " Yea But", and "Yes it Can" groups. Each possess their unique attributes, that are indelibly linked to their positions on "change". Consequently, the identification of members of each group is useful in judging their likely position on any issue, and their action intentions. In my opinion, only one group, "Yes We Can" commandos can create the positive changes that our nation and the world needs.

The "No It Can't" crowd oppose virtually all changes as being untried, unproven, and unacceptable. Even if "its broken", this crowd believes that "it" will heal itself--just allow enough time. Some of them believe that what worked in the distant past is good enough for today, or that whatever is ,"is", except when "it isn't". Often the "No It Can't" soothsayers will explain at great lengths why something can't work using learned expositions and supposedly factual support for their beliefs. They are living with the notion that past experience always tells you what the future will be, and they cling on to this belief as if their ability to extrapolate to the future is invincible. Fatalistic to the extreme the "No It Can't" brigades march in step as the loyal opposition regardless of what it is they oppose. The simply oppose all change. Their comfort zones are literally the boxes that they have occupied yesterday and today, and will continue to dwell within it tomorrow, and that day after tomorrow, ad infinitum.

Closely aligned with the "No We Can't" side are the "Yea But" proponents, who consider that change may be desirable but they cannot see anything but uncertainty in the outcome of any new course of action. Therefore, everything they utter is qualified by some statement that infers a resonating "Yea But". Maybe this, that, or the other is OK, but maybe it's not. The tend to equivocate on everything and always use a caveat to remove themselves from taking a firm stand on anything. This group seems to pontificate about the potential problems that may result from any action before they begin to consider the potential benefits. The dark side dominates their thinking and actions, as they live with the anticipation of the worse possible outcome without even considering the best possible outcome. Unlike the "No We Can't" groupies the "Yea But" clan will accept the idea of a change, but they immediately close their minds to the possibility that success is probable because they believe that the chance of failure always exceeds the possibility of success. They represent the doomsday bearers and cannot allow themselves the freedom to permit thinking about a positive outcome. Sometimes they simply hope that failure is the outcome so that their constrained vantage point is vindicated. They hope for positive change, but are so fearful of the unknown that the thought of a new pathway is paralyzing and can only be imagined by creating insurmountable mental barriers, and justifying them with choruses of "Yea But". They tend to use any barrier as an excuse for not trying, giving up or returning to "tried and true" methods, even if the tried and true results in retrogression rather than progression.

Now let us consider the "Yes It Can" crowd. They are composed of people with an optimistic outlook. They view the future as a great unknown that will always generate the opportunity for positive change, even during the bleakest of time. Their nature always sees the rainbow regardless of the effort necessary to surmount the obstacles to reach it. They are driven by the desire to improve themselves and the world around them and will work to do so. They never accept temporary failure as a reason to give up to achieve a positive outcome, and are willing to adjust their plan to attain a better tomorrow. They accept reality, and adjust to it, while holding firmly to their "Yes We Can" attitude that progress will always be achieved. This crowd always leads the way to a better tomorrow, where all share in the bounty of Nature's gifts and in their mutual responsibility to use them wisely and sensibly. The "Yes We Can" brigades refuse to retreat when the "No It Can't" and "Yes But" legions obstruct progress. Instead, they move forward with courage and passion to overcome all obstacle and reach the promise of a better tomorrow. They realize that progress comes slowly and is often impeded, but is always attainable and worth the continuous effort required. They will overcome all obstacles and a better world will result from the work of the "Yes We Can" leaders and pioneers of today and the future.

Please join the "Yes We Can" movement initiated by President Obama, if you haven't already done so, and help our nation and the world move forward to a better tomorrow.