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February 01, 2006

SotU and Us

Last night, Hubby and I went on a date. We loaded up the kids in the van for jammy rides, stopped at the corner store for cokes, and then drove around the parking lot listening to NPR and the State of the Union Speech.

It was fun.

By the end, the three youngest were asleep, but J9 was still intently participating in our post-speech deconstruction.

Some of my fave parts?

". . .the road of isolationism and protectionism may seem broad and inviting. . ."

Acknowledging the appeal. . . good. . .

And we do not forget the other half – in places like Syria, Burma, Zimbabwe, North Korea, and Iran – because the demands of justice, and the peace of this world, require their freedom as well.

Reminds me of my Iranian friend who asked, half-joking and half-hopeful, "So, when are you going to invade us?"

"No one can deny the success of freedom, but some men rage and fight against it. And one of the main sources of reaction and opposition is radical Islam"

Not afraid to name names. . .

". . .the terrorists hope these horrors will break our will, allowing the violent to inherit the Earth."

What a turn of phrase.

"But our enemies and our friends can be certain: The United States will not retreat from the world, and we will never surrender to evil. . . . America rejects the false comfort of isolationism."

Hooah.

Hindsight alone is not wisdom. And second-guessing is not a strategy.

One of the key quotes from the speech, imo.

And tonight, let me speak directly to the citizens of Iran: America respects you, and we respect your country. We respect your right to choose your own future and win your own freedom. And our Nation hopes one day to be the closest of friends with a free and democratic Iran.

Can I say I wish this were stronger? But I think anything stronger may have been heard by Iran as militaristic--and I don't think that's where we are--or should--be headed at this point.

"We show compassion abroad because Americans believe in the God-given dignity and worth of a villager with HIV/AIDS, or an infant with malaria, or a refugee fleeing genocide, or a young girl sold into slavery."

Imago Dei.

More later. . . Getting tired and I want to finish this and give my thoughts on the offical Democratic response.

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And here in Oz this evening I watched episode 22 of West Wing on DVD with my daughter. Most of the time we haven't a clue what they're talking about but enjoy it nonetheless. And the jammy rides brought back memories of my 3 kids & of my own childhood.

Posted by: Marion at February 2, 2006 05:19 AM

Thank you for this breakdown, I will be looking forward to your further comments. I listened to part of the speach and some comentary on NPR yesterday but it is hard for me to break down what they are "really" saying like this. :) Amie

Posted by: Amie at February 2, 2006 08:17 AM

I agree (mostly) with your first thoughts. Add to it the most ironic statement of the evening: our addiction to oil.

And yes, the "hindsight alone" bit was an important statement indeed. Yet I still don't think it very wise to pick fights with every sovereign nation who wishes to join the modern world through nuclear advancement.

Posted by: CJD at February 2, 2006 02:26 PM

I listened to a little bit of the speech on NPR, but switched to TV (I was making dinner and justv wanted to listen) when the idiot lefty commentator refered to "his (i.e., Bush's) war on terror." I couldn't believe it when the Dems sat on their hands when Bush said something about failure not being an option in Iraq-they see it as Bush's war, too. It's all just politics to the left. They're not even bothering to pretend they hope we succeed.

Posted by: John Salmon at February 2, 2006 11:21 PM

I'm reading that thinking 'Jammie rides, in this weather?!!' but then I remembered where you live. It's very cold here *sigh*

Posted by: Sheena at February 3, 2006 08:40 AM