WOMAN 2 WOMAN: Women, yes we can

For the last couples of days and even in the days to come, the phrase “Yes We can” is one phrase that is not about to go away. At least for the next four years as the world witnesses the real change promised by the new and first African–American president Barack Obama. If you are one of those women that tend to be oblivious of the world around you and perhaps you have not heard it in the news, the next American President is going to be a man from our neighboring country, Kenya. He may have lived in America for most of his life but the fact remains that Obama is the son of East Africa. Well, let’s try to keep the origins of Obama at the back of our minds, and talk about something more relevant to you and me; Obama’s memorable speech upon election. In his defining acceptance speech (to his supporters and country in general) as the new American president elect, Obama said, “For when we have faced down impossible odds; when we’ve been told that we’re not ready, or that we shouldn’t try, or that we can’t, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people. “Yes we can. Yes we can.” He went on to talk about the struggle particularly black Americans back from the days when they were shipped as slaves. But what does “Yes we can” mean? It simply means you can achieve anything you set out to do no matter how long it takes! It means while it may not be an easy way to the top, with patience and commitment you can make it. It is this kind of thinking that all you women should embrace. As we all know, life has never been easy for women as people who are often looked down upon. As people whose potential and efforts have for so long been underestimated, and continue to face so many challenges as they try to be perfect mothers and at the same time try to be themselves. For so many years, women have been marginalized and it is until recently that the world has begun to respect women. Yes, gone are the days when women were not regarded as full citizens who are not capable of voting. Women are beginning to take over the world not only as successful business people, but also as world leaders. This is a new era for women! Women today should not accept to be dominated by men because as it is beginning to unfold before the world, women have the same potential like men only that history had decided to discriminate them. Today we have the likes of Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor since 2005 (extremely well respected and a key player in the European Union), Condoleezza Rice (US Secretary of State), Cristina Fernandez (President of Argentina), and the list goes on and on …. Who says women cannot do it. Contact: ubernie@gmail.com