Blood libels aside, this week was dominated by talk of ratcheting down the tone of our political discourse and upping the civility. But the president went further, asking us to "use this occasion to expand our moral imaginations" and "sharpen our instincts for empathy." And he went further still and defined the challenge ahead: "to constantly widen the circle of our concern so that we bequeath the American Dream to future generations." The State of the Union is a great opportunity to put flesh and blood on this challenge. The president needs to address both of the ways his administration proposes to "widen the circle of our concern," and the ways citizens can sharpen their instincts for empathy by reaching out to those in need -- rebuilding lives and communities. Without this combined effort, bequeathing the American Dream to future generations will remain just an eloquent rhetorical flourish.
Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff
Jonathan Weiler: David Brooks' Extraordinary Blindspot
Darin Murphy: Obama's Live Performance vs Palin's Taped Audition
Paul Brandeis Raushenbush: Obama's Eulogy: A Blessing to a Bereft Nation
David Bromwich: Obama on Civility and Lincoln on the Rule of Law
Wikipedia defines Spirituality as, “the ultimate or immaterial reality; as an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of being; or the deepest values and meanings by which people live.” This essay is about immortal value.
Economy strikes a balance between give and take. In the Do Good Gauge journey, I'm not ready to become a monetary taker. If acquiring the collective wisdom of others is considered taking, I'm greedy. My father died when I was nineteen and mother when I was twenty five. In my middle age I judge my family network as great, though miss the advice and wisdom society rarely provides beyond a parent. This may be the reason for a different perspective of economics.
Read the essay in its entirety at the following link:
http://www.dogoodgauge.com/site/DoGoodGauge/page_contents/display/153
Waziristan will be so glad to ... what? ... not waziristan? ... not any 'stans? ... ...
Oh.
With increased foreclosures and a failure of "helping Americans save their homes", the rhetoric falls short in fulfilling the beautiful images that President Obama creates in speech.
With structural inequities in the health care system, Americans continue to struggle with the costs of prescription drugs, access to affordable care, and quality coverage as he and others enjoy in Washington.
With the jobless rate at almost 10% and no changes regarding the debt/ and economic relations with China, there is little hope for job growth and a fulfillment of the American dream.
All across the nation, communities are reeling from the fraud that resulted in economic hardship, losses and threats of local governments failing, as a consequence of repeated acts by elected officials that betray the public's trust, while benefiting elected officials through disgraceful deals forged through conflicts that betray the public's interests.
We need ethics in government, and honest, trustworthy elected officials capable and worthy of honoring the public's trust. The American people want actions dedicated towards widening " the circle of our concern..to bequeath the American Dream to future generations".
For him to be believable on either subject would require total
amnesia of his actions the last two years. Luckily for him, the
MSM has no problem doing just that. It must be remembered that there are substantive and valid reasons for the strong opposition to his agenda. This country has prospered due to fundamental beliefs in freedom, innovation, self-determination, personal responsibility, and the rule of law. His emphasis on a nanny state, affirmative action, wealth transfer, equal results, amnesty, excessive union power and unelected bureaucrats
having unprecedented controls over private industry and personal health care makes a mockery of what has always been "America". In countries with the massive social benefits Obama favors, EVERYONE pays about 20% of income, high VATs, and income taxes. In the U.S. where barely half pay any income tax, the numbers will never add up.
You don't exactly hear him calling out for gun control legislation, for example. Oh, no. That would require leadership. That would require courage. Fox News wouldn't like that. Neither would the gun lobby.
He can't resist the chance to play the big shot leader, as long as there isn't any lobbying going on. If no lobbyists are opposed, he'll step right up to that bully pulpit and intone magnificently. But when it comes to passing any actual legislation to "preserve the American dream", he'll cower down and start talking half-truths and manipulations.
If you haven't figured this out about Barack Obama, you haven't been paying attention.
Which is the same real world as you and I live in. And that Christina Taylor Green lived in.
I was once a nine year old in Tucson Arizona. I got to grow up.
He wasn't playing any "big shot leader" when he went to Tucson.
The memorial service was not the place or time to talk about gun control. And he didn't. He delivered a eulogy. Period.
If you weren't moved in the least, then I pity you.
You don't need to feel bad about it.