Context

I am a fan of President Obama. Have been from the first day he popped on the president candidate path.  I liked his honesty then and his honesty now. He has a gift to say the things that matter whether we want to hear them or not. He speaks from his heart at the right times, too. He is mindful of sensitive situations. But still he does what is right because it is the right thing to do.

I like that quality in my president.

So last night was the State of the Union speech to the American People. The scripted remarks were well distributed to news organizations and the opposition party in advance. The usual critical comments were said before the actual delivery of the speech, but then we are used to that. So much am I used to that that I did not tune in the speech last night. I sat it out. One of the first times I can remember doing that in my adult life.

No. I wanted to let the event pass, let the pundits do their attack role, and then let things settle a bit before I watch a video tape of the speech.

You see I have faith that he said the right things again. He said them to you and I because he knows we are listening. Not like the political wolves in the country; they are attack animals on the hunt. So they listen for opportunities to change the President’s words into political grist for their own petty objectives.

Trouble is, this is our nation and its condition is our business. Evidently the republicans don’t believe it is their business. Business is their only business; who makes money and who doesn't.

My take on the nation’s condition is this:

First, we have the needed wealth and talent in this country to make good things happen for us and the entire world if we put our mind and heart into it.

Second, if we look out for and care for each other sincerely we can solve any problem no matter its size or its timing. All we have to do is live our values of loving one another as ourselves, trusting in that, and moving forward for the good of the nation and its people.

Third, we have lots of problems that will take all of us pulling in the same direction to solve them. Finding fault constantly and nitpicking only distracts us from the tasks needing to be done.

Fourth, we have a role to play in the world community that needs us; if we fritter away our strengths by political subterfuge and chicanery we only distract ourselves from the work needing to be done, but we also waste effort and valuable resources needed to be strong to do the nation’s and world’s work.

The people of America know this. They know that politicians have screwed up a good thing. The people are tired of the gridlock in statehouses and Congress. They want their schools to function well, the infrastructure to be healthy and renewed as needed, and our institutions to build strong futures for us all.

The people know that churches are meaningful in our lives. They know that religious institutions have a big role to play in our society; they welcome that role. They do not feel we have to allow those institutions, however, to dictate our beliefs and legislation as a quid pro quo. They do their good works because they are committed to doing so, not because of the power or influence they ‘buy’ from doing those good works.

The people want opinionated jerks to get out of the way so the rest of us can get done what needs doing. That job is enormous. It will take a lot of people and a lot of coordination. It will also take financial resources. If large corporations want to help, great! Otherwise we all expect government to have a role to play to make things happen.

It is that simple. The President has a good sense of what is right and wrong in America. He also has a keen sense of what we are capable of doing. But he needs cooperation and collaboration to accomplish the work.

President Obama has not made edicts. He has made suggestions. If this is too weak a leadership role for you, then follow the republicans who still have not put forth workable plans to address the many issues they complain of. All they do is sing an off harmony chorus of ‘woe is me’. We know perfectly well the woe is an orchestrated political chord they composed themselves.

Reality requires us to be adults and accept responsibility. If we want a better nation we need to work for it together. Tune out the naysayers and distracters. Get busy and get involved. The future awaits our collaboration and hard work. And I have confidence that’s what the President said last night.

January 29, 2014