When Will America Stop Bowing At The Alter Of "Can't"?

I'm not sure exactly when it happened, but it seems I must face the music and admit that it has happened among my generation.  I don't recall and still don't see this attitude in my parents and certainly not in my grandparents' generation.  However, this attitude is extremely prevalent in the American culture today.  To what attitude am I referring?  The attitude of "can't".

I recently listened to a debate regarding the charter school amendment on the Georgia ballot this voting season.  The debate was held on WBHF AM 1450 here in Cartersville.  The participants in the debate were Dr. Howard Hinesley (current Cartersville School Superintendent) and Matt Shultz (former Bartow County Board of Education member).  Now the intention of this article is not to persuade one way or the other on the charter school amendment, but rather to draw attention to a very negative culture that has gained a strong foothold in our American culture.  During the debate, Dr. Hinesley stated on several occasions that his opposition to the amendment was partially based on the fact that some charters may not provide free transportation to the school.  Dr. Hinesley would rely on a statement similar to "there are parents that CAN'T get their children to a charter school" to support his opposition.

My question; when did the word "can't" become a prevalent word in the American vocabulary?  More importantly; when did the word "can't" become such an accepted word in the American vocabulary?

Now I fully understand and sympathize with the difficulty facing a single parent that is forced to work multiple jobs in order to provide for the family.  I know that adding one more item to the weekly to do list is a very scary proposition for one so swamped just trying to make ends meet.  However, let's jump to the bottom line here, if a person wants something bad enough then the word "can't" doesn't enter into that person's mind.  To use the case of the charter school argument, if a parent wants their children to attend a certain school that parent will find a way to make it happen.  If transportation is a problem, the parent that wants their children to attend a certain school will make arrangements with school officials, family members, friends, church members, the coach of the sport that child may participate in, the child's band director should the child participate in the band, etc.  The point is this; that parent will talk to whomever necessary and make whatever arrangements necessary to ensure that their child gets to their school of choice.  That is what we Americans do!  We find a way to overcome difficulties in order to succeed and prosper.

Well, that's what we Americans used to do.  It seems now we've either become very lazy or we no longer hold fast to personal convictions.  We've resorted to the word "can't" when something is difficult.  We've resorted to the word "can't" when the way forward isn't obvious.  We've resorted to the word "can't" when someone doesn't offer to do something for us.  We've resorted to the word "can't" when the government doesn't provide something for us.  This "can't" culture is so prevalent in our current society that we see leaders and politicians catering to the notion of "can't", case in point Dr. Hinesley's opposition to the charter school amendment because there are parents that he says can't get their children to a new school.  My parents would have been offended by a politician speaking on their behalf and stating that my parents could not do something.  My generation?  Not us; we agree with said politician and ask our government officials to make it easy for us.

This country is much the better because Abraham Lincoln didn't listen to those that said we can't change the culture of slavery in this country.  This country is much the better because Franklin D. Roosevelt didn't listen to those that said we can't win World War II.  This country is much the better because Martin Luther King didn't listen to those that said we can't change the segregation culture in this country.  I could certainly go on and recount America's rich history of leaders that made great change in our country, but instead I'll close my point with a challenge.  I challenge you to find a single person within our history that has positively impacted our country that did not face the idea that such an impact can't be done.  Will my generation stand up and overcome difficulties to positively impact our country or will "we can't" be our response to the challenges we face?

Final question; when will America stop bowing at the alter of "can't"?