Yes we can…but will we? Obama challenges the cynics, but are we really wrong?

On Tuesday, Chicago's Grant Park flooded with a myriad of Obama enthusiasts to hear his acceptance speech and echo his refrain of hope and change: "Yes we can." The speech was not merely a gracious acceptance of Obama's decisive presidential win, but also a nod to the historic milestone of his successful campaign and admonishment to those who doubted American's capacity for evolution. "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer." The crowd reveled in this joyous, momentous occasion, and blogs and newspapers alike attributed that message –– "Yes we can" –– as a sign of more change to come.

I was born about a mile from Chicago's Grant Park during a serious economic recession much like the one we are mired in today. My father, a college graduate who was unable to get a job amidst the turmoil, turned to selling drugs in the very neighborhood that Obama calls his home. My mother stayed home with me and battled severe and worsening mental illness, which even if we had possessed health insurance, would not have been covered. Despite these setbacks however, my parents both struggled to find and keep work, and with the help of Pell Grants and scholarships, I was able to go to a university of my choice in California.

President-elect Barack Obama has made progressive issues like health care and education, issues that so acutely affected my family, the cornerstone of his campaign, but at the same time he recognizes that above all pulling this country out of economic crisis will color the first years of his presidency. "There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair." His plans for economic revival through investment in clean energy and infrastructure repair are innovative and show foresight that goes far beyond his four or eight year administration.

But while Obama's policies might be the change we need, choked-up excitement at an acceptance speech or even Obama's election as a whole does not automatically foretell success for his progressive legislation. Obama told us on Tuesday to "summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other." And as onlookers teared up and waved their flags, California began tallying the votes that would decisively smash two green initiatives –– Props 7 and 10 –– and uphold a constitutional amendment that would disallow same sex marriage. Californians also said no to Prop 5, which would have expanded drug rehabilitation facilities for juvenile offenders and decrease sentences and parole for nonviolent drug offenders (like my father).

Yes on 8 activists (the proposition that bans same sex marriage) consistently used footage of San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom prophetically saying, "As goes California, so goes the nation," and the prophecy is frightening. If California, bluest of blue states, can’t pass green initiatives or drug crime reform, will Barack Obama be able to inspire a wary, financially distraught nation to invest in clean energy? Health care? Higher education? Barack Obama says, "Yes, we can," and though his election shows that Americans can vote for change, it also shows we must ask another question –– Will we?

And though I was able to go to college and start my career, my family continues to struggle. My father has changed careers twice as a result of his tech job being shipped overseas and struggles with debt accumulated from the subsequent unemployment. Will we help him? My mother, despite the fact that Congress recently passed a measure forcing insurance companies to cover mental illness the same as physical illness, will still be more likely to get the costly treatment for her liver cirrhosis than the condition that drove her to drink. Will we treat her?

I will never underestimate Barack Obama's ability to surprise us. Just a year ago he was a long shot candidate for the Democratic Party with too many factors working against him –– his blackness, his inexperience, and his so-called "liberal" agenda. Only a candidate like Obama could bring a nation together under the progressive reforms we will need to see us out of our economic, environmental, and international crises, but his ability to accomplish this affords little guarantee this will occur.

Will we?