To win the future

by Yoly Tumangan Tubalinal.
January 31, 2011
For some people, the future is way too abstract and far too distant to imagine that they’d rather live their lives one day at a time. They plan around what they already know and expect to happen, not around things that don’t exist even in the figment of their imagination.

But for a few others, the future is the dream they envision in their present. It is just as alive, interesting and challenging as the things that exist in their present. They are the innovators and inventors, who think outside the box, the Bill Gates, Google guys Larry Pages and Sergey Brin and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg of this generation. They are people who saw a vision and pursued it till it ceased being a mere vision and turned into a reality for everybody to see and enjoy.

In his State of the Union speech last Tuesday, President Obama’s message centered in the future. “The future is ours to win,” he declared. And he quoted Robert Kennedy to reinforce the work the future entails. “The future is not a gift,’ Kennedy said. ‘ It is an achievement.”

So, what’s in America’s future according to Obama’s vision? It’s reclaiming our place in history as a global leader – the country that sent the first man to walk on the moon. The country that gave birth to men of genius who first brought electricity, telephones, cars, airplanes, railways and more into the world. It’s that country, which, to this day, has led the international community in its latest discoveries and inventions in science and technology. It’s this country that paved the way for the digital age and the rise of neighboring economic powers.

America has been besieged by problems of huge proportions. Having plunged into two wars that continue to deplete its resources by over a trillion dollars, coupled by the economic recession that brought about millions of home foreclosures, joblessness that peaked at 10 percent, death of many businesses, environmental disasters such as the BP oil leak in the Gulf and terrorists’ threats, this, our country, has known no greater troubles put together than what it has faced these past four years.

There are solutions but they are tough and they demand commitment and sacrifice from everybody – government leaders, businesses, citizens. And they are not solutions that will see immediate and concrete answers either. In fact, much of what the President had mentioned in his SOTU demand patience on everybody, that is, patience to wait on solid returns from investments we will make on our future.

Research and development won’t stumble on quick answers and ready solutions. They entail experimentation, trial and error, a lot of nurturing, determination and perseverance that never waver, never give up and always hopeful of success.

No great invention happened overnight. In the same manner, no one should expect any president to superhumanly cure everything that ails our country in 2, 4 or even 10 years.

Our individual contributions as citizens, when put together, can be very helpful. Taking responsibility in areas where we can is a good start. We can begin with our family, our children whose early foundation depended on a stable home, a set of responsible parents and adults that teach them values that form and shape their character. Training them early to take up responsibilities at home and providing them a structure of discipline, realistic expectations and performance will do the trick.

Communities must come together to help rebuild their neighborhood ravaged by economic recession or help strengthen the pillars that support their communities.

Get involved in your community and be vigilant in demanding transparency and, accountability from your officials. Let them know that you are watching them and that you are well-informed to know if they are doing a good job or not. Write to your representatives about what you want to see happen in Congress.

Be a productive member of your community. Contribute to good causes in any way you can. Start caring about your environment and check out ways you can help make your environment better and safer.
To win the future, step out of your comfort zone and think outside the box. Dare to pursue your vision and believe that whatever it is you do, you can still find better ways of doing it, that there is always room for improvement, a higher step to climb…

Unless we embark with the President on this journey to the future, our country might not ever win it. In these very tough times, coming together, banding together makes the journey faster and more fun.
Truly, the future is ours, not just the President’s to win.