It's just under 20 minutes to the State of the Union, and no doubt we will hear the common refrain said at most State of the Union speeches: "The State of our Union is strong".
This is not the word I would use. For me, the state of our union is chaos.
People will cite the strong economy, a strong military, strong trade agreements, strong borders, strong employment stats but my eyes focus on other things:
...a president currently on trial (and most likely will be acquitted tomorrow morning) in an impeachment process fraught on both sides with lack of due process
...a senate split by partisanship on just about every issue
...a senate and house stalled and making little progress of actually governing the country
...Iowa Caucuses that are a disaster (and who knows what will happen in other state primaries)
...media trumpeting their agendas and denigrating the opposition
...a divided country on Roe V Wade
...a divided country on wage
...a divided country on equality
...a vice president and speaker of the house who aren't even looking at each other let alone speaking to each other
It's chaos with a veneer of formality and civility.
We can do better. I want our leaders to do better.
These issues amongst others, steal our focus from being the agent for freedom, justice and advancement in the world. These issues and the dragging of our focus inward rob us of the ability to contribute to the great advancement of our world and our species. Great endeavors face us: colonizing a new planet, exploring space, promoting a healthier world through profound and courageous legislation on the environment, medical advancement and discovery and the invention of new technology that might propel us to greater peace and prosperity.
I believe it is chaos...
...but I also believe we could admit that and then call ourselves to something greater.
I hope President Trump might call us to a greater vision and a higher dream of a country working with others to do great things!
Yes it's chaos, but we can overcome that and do better. Maybe that could be our legacy for our children...we did better!
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