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The other evening we had
dinner with some good friends, when I mentioned that I was volunteering for Rocky Anderson in the Justice Party Campaign. The fellow who sat across from us replied
without hesitation, "He hasn't got a snowball's chance in hell!" Not with malice, simply as a statement of fact.
I came back with something
to the effect that stranger things have happened. I observed that there is no
"lesser of two evils" in the upcoming election, with both parties controlled by
corporate money, and Obama's policies as bad or worse than Bush's. I noted that
practically every single problem I read in the news would not exist if we
elected a leader like Rocky Anderson, and then got behind him at different
levels of government, including local levels.
I pointed out that Rocky
is raising issues that desperately need discussion. That it is better to shoot
for the stars and hit the moon than not to aim high at all; to light a match
than to curse the dark. That in addition to having nothing to lose, I can live
with myself much better now than when I focus on the negativity that surrounds
us. I noted that I have a grandson who I would like more than anything to have
a brighter future than the one I see at present. And mainly, that I simply
refuse to indulge in negative self-fulfilling prophecies, which by definition are
a waste of time.
I too was not trying to argue, merely
stating why I choose to focus on what can be done, rather than what isn't being
done. I tried to emphasize that, ironically, the largest obstacle holding back the
election of a president with a proven and amazing political record--along with the
brains and courage to put words to action at the national level--is one's
acceptance of the idea that "it can't be done!"
Indeed, I said, if
everyone who claims, "It can't be done," started saying, "It must and can be
done, and I'll do what I can to help," there is a virtual certainty that we'd
have a president who most Americans would be proud of. Not to mention that the
country would be headed in a direction favorable to the future of us all.
"Not a snowball's chance in hell!" "It can't
be done!" Part of me loves those words, because I take them as a challenge, but
also because it has made fools of so many humans throughout history. People doubted America would be founded (or
even discovered); we doubted the Berlin Wall would ever come down; that the
Cold War would end, before the world did; that World Wars would ever end; that
slavery would ever end, that women would ever vote, that the Civil Right's
Act would ever pass; that changes we've seen around the planet in the past
year would ever happen.
But need I go on? Naysayers
abound when innovators set out to accomplish things. The Wright brothers studied
birds and accomplished "the impossible." Henry Ford brought horsepower to life.
Clarence Birdseye developed quick-freeze machinery to make quality frozen food,
and later went broke when no one believed him. But he stuck to his guns,
conquered consumer skepticism, and went on to set the industry standard. Kennedy
lit the torch that got humans to the moon.
[The following is excerpted with minor revisions from The Entrepreneur, October
16, 2008.] "Television network executives weren't sure the viewing public would
accept a sit-com with a Cuban leading man married to a feisty, American
redhead. So Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball produced the "I Love Lucy"
pilot with their own money. At every turn, Lucy and Desi were a step ahead of
the studios, revolutionizing television along the way.
Fred Smith wrote a
term paper based on an idea for reliable overnight delivery. His professor gave
him a C because the idea wasn't feasible. Years later, many potential investors agreed with the
professor, refusing to send capital Smith's way. The funds he did raise in 1971
and '72 were gone by '74, along with his investors. One catchy slogan and
several million dollars of hard-won capital later, Federal Express was on its
way to long-term success. .
Steve Jobs wanted to give everyone a computer at a time when nobody realized computers were necessary to have. He founded Apple to create home computers, experienced some early success, faltered in the consumer market with the expensive Macintosh, was ousted from the company he founded, dabbled in computer animated movies-Pixar ring a bell?-and was eventually asked to return to his first love, where he turned around Apple at a time when it was in trouble."
You may be down on capitalism and frozen food, even Apple and Lucille Ball, but the point I wish to make is that when we make up our minds and stick to our beliefs, things start happening that we never thought possible. Tomes have been written on this topic, but here is a poem that I think cuts to the heart of the matter:
Couldn't Be Done
by Edgar Al be rt Guest
Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But, he with a chuckle replied
That "may be it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done,
and he did it.
Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that ;
At least no one has done it";
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd be gun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done,
and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle it in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "couldn't be done,"
and you'll do it.
And a video that I believe does justice to the poem:
http://www.yesmagazine.org/for-teachers/curriculum/words-that-inspire-it-couldnt-be-done
