The President's speech, healing, consoling, moving. his best? One for the history books

[Bill USA]

What a speech! It was statement of healing, meant to honor the victims of this tragedy and to console a nation. With those objectives in mind he had to speak as our leader, a man of no political party (he could not be seen as taking sides in any political debate). With his words, President Obama rose to the occasion and delivered a beautiful, moving, inspiring speech. It was entirely "fitting and proper", given the solemnity of the occasion, that he eschew party affiliation in his address.

I think it was a moving and altogether appropriate speech. I must however, respectfully take exception to one statement he made. At one point he said:

"...let's remember that it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy..." Then he extemporaneously added " it did not!". As great a speech as this was, I am at pains to disagree with the PResident's assertion (and insertion) that the threat filled diatribes of the fulminating Right wing can be accurately described as "a lack of civility" (making death threats or allusions to deadly acts against individuals goes far beyond a "lack of civility") or that one can assert with certaintly that this threat filled atmosphere did not cause or even contribute to this tragedy.

I think the President, in fulfilling his role as "healer in chief", consoler of the nation, apparently felt it necessary to go that extra measure by stating that the political atmosphere did not cause this tragedy. I know some would say in the interest of achieving his task of consoling and healing the nation the President can be forgiven this little fib.

I do not agree with that assessment. I think it would have been entirely acceptable for the president to leave this statement out and just say something like:

"This is not the time or place to enter into the discussion of the cause or contributing factors to this tragedy. We are here to honor the victims of this tragedy, those who fell and those who fight on. We will not be distracted from that solemn duty." ...and let it go at that. This was not the time to answer that question (as much as he felt he needed to).

Obviously, the individual who tried to assassinate Rep. Giffords and killed these people was a troubled and imbalanced person. But we do not do the victims of his deranged act - or ourselves (as potential future victims of such acts) any great service by turning away from fully examining all the contributing causes of this tragedy.

The President himself, in the same speech asked the rhetorical question: "How can we honor the fallen? How can we be true to their memory?"

His answer was inspiring: "I believe we can be better. Those who died here, those who saved lives here - they help me believe. We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us. I believe that for all our imperfections, we are full of decency and goodness, and that the forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us."

and...."I want us to live up to her (referring to Christina Teylor Green, the 9 year old victim) expectations. I want our democracy to be as good as she imagined it. All of us - we should do everything we can to make sure this country lives up to our children's expectations."

I propose that in addition, we can best honor those who were attacked and fell in the exercise of their rights as citizens, by not shrinking from our duty to fully discern and understand the causes of this crime and by taking such steps as are necessary to prevent there being anymore victims of such a tragedy.


The President himself said: "..yes, we must examine all the facts behind this tragedy. We cannot and will not be passive in the face of such violence."

With that Mr. President I whole-heartedly agree.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. I thought it was wonderful

It's no secret here that I am not a fan of Obama. But this speech was absolutely wonderful and just what the country needed to hear. I loved it.

[somone]

2. Good memorial service speech

[handmade34]

3. I believe this is what you are refering to

"...it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy, but rather because only a more civil and honest public discourse can help us face up to our challenges as a nation..."

this is an entirely different thing than what you imply and I think the President was eloquent in saying this

[Bill USA]

5. as I said, this was a wonderful speech. perhaps his best. One that will be found in history books.

....the line from the printed text does not include his interjection: "...let us remember it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/12/obama-arizona-memorial-sp_n_808335.html">{-- "it did not" --<interjected>} but rather because only a more civil and honest public discourse can help us face up to the challenges of our nation..."

As I made clear from my post I thought it was a wonderful speech. As I said - in the first paragraph of the OP:

"It was statement of healing, meant to honor the victims of this tragedy and to console a nation. With those objectives in mind he had to speak as our leader, a man of no political party (he could not be seen as taking sides in any political debate). With his words, President Obama rose to the occasion and delivered a beautiful, moving, inspiring speech. It was entirely "fitting and proper", given the solemnity of the occasion, that he eschew party affiliation in his address."

(in case you didn't 'get it' the "fitting and proper" is an allusion to the http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm">Gettysburg address - Hint: I am implying something with the allusion.)


All that being said, it is however, entirely permissable to take exception one statement out of the speech .. with his interjection. I believe (as I explained in OP) he went further than he needed to with this statement. He obvioulsly felt he needed to provide an explanation for the tragedy. I feel this was superfluous.

as I said in OP:

I think it would have been entirely acceptable for the president to leave this statement out and just say something like:

"This is not the time or place to enter into the discussion of the cause or contributing factors to this tragedy. We are here to honor the victims of this tragedy, those who fell and those who fight on. We will not be distracted from that solemn duty." ...and let it go at that. This was not the time to answer that question (as much as he felt he needed to).

I went on to refer to his statements (which I referred to as inspiring):

"How can we honor the fallen? How can we be true to their memory?"

His answer was inspiring:

"I believe we can be better. Those who died here, those who saved lives here - they help me believe. We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us. I believe that for all our imperfections, we are full of decency and goodness, and that the forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us."

and...."I want us to live up to her (referring to Christina Teylor Green, the 9 year old victim) expectations. I want our democracy to be as good as she imagined it. All of us - we should do everything we can to make sure this country lives up to our children's expectations."

to which I added:

I propose that in addition, we can best honor those who were attacked and fell in the exercise of their rights as citizens, by not shrinking from our duty to fully discern and understand the causes of this crime and by taking such steps as are necessary to prevent there being anymore victims of such a tragedy.

The President himself said: "..yes, we must examine all the facts behind this tragedy. We cannot and will not be passive in the face of such violence."

With that Mr. President I whole-heartedly agree.

.... I said I thought it was a GREAT speech, a moving and inspiring speech. But I stand by my assessment that he didn't need to add: "let us remember it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy -- {it did not <interjected>}..."

Let's leave that discussion and determination for another time, another place --- not the memorial service for the victims of this tragedy.


>
>
>

....NOTE....last night on CHarlie Rose he had a few journalists on talking about the PResident's memorial address.

I believe it was Sean Wilentz, Princeton University historian who speaking first said something like: (going on memory here). 'The President spoke as our leader, the nation's healer. He couldn't talk about some things.(referring to what were the contributing factors or causes, if you will, of this tragedy.) But we can talk about them.'

You can watch the tape on that site, if so interested.

[Axrendale]

4. Truly it can be said that the President has found his "Presidential Voice"

If indeed he ever lost it, he just picked it up again with the sort of flourish that we have not been graced with in our leaders for a very long time.

Hats off, Mr. President!

[yurbud]

6. we must never examine the causes of any tragedy lest it indict the wealthy or their most faithful

servants.

They do what they must to get the mouth-breathers to vote against their own economic interests. If people have to get hurt along the way, it is of no consequence to the masters.

[lucca18]

7. It was a great !

I was so proud of President Obama. The speech was filled with compassion and love.