I think I could hear my unborn children crying in between the Democrat's Pavlovian dog-like standing ovations last night.
Now don't get me wrong, I think that President Obama is a great man. As much harping I stand to take for that statement alone, I really do think that he has the right attitude to make some real changes. The focus and the direction that he's been able to maintain despite the conditions of the union when he took office.
A lot of his points last night I thought were brilliantly articulated and extremely poignant. I appreciated his call to both Republican and Democrat alike to abandon the partisan thinking that keeps anything from getting done, and work to restore public faith in government.
His focus on economic infrastructure, mainly in stronger support for small business and fewer tax cuts for the super rich, is the only solution where they're concerned. Too bad the U.S. can't work up the moxie to ban Wal-Mart like Germany - that deficit would melt away like the pounds of their patrons. I do find it interesting that he's choosing to "reinvest" 30 billion of the bailout return back into these small business initiatives. So, that's 30 billion of the money that you didn't even have to start with - correct?
All the items covered in the address, from health care, to national defense to education, sat well enough with me... until
Iraq. Oh sweet goodness. I wanted to cry. All combat troops out by August. That's like bringing your son home from rehab, going and hanging a big sign in the red light district with your son's name, address, phone number and list of drugs of choice. COME ON! Look, I'm not an idiot, I knew that this would happen eventually - but I guess I just hoped there would be a bit more time. Vietnam revisited I suppose. I'm happy that American soldiers get to come home and be reunited with their families - but my heart aches for those families who have stood beside the Americans in Iraq. There are some dark months ahead.
I guess that about covers the bulk of the State of my Opinions on the State of the Union. Other than the Republican in the orange tie who never showed any emotion and had his fingers pursed together like Dr. Claw - I wanna party with that dude.

15 Days
Darlene Etienne survived the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake trapped under the rubble by drinking bath water, for 15 days. 5 days after the search for survivors had been called off, and the death toll had risen to an imcomprehensible 200,000, this incredible 16 year old girl was pulled out alive from the remains of her school. Dehydrated to the brink of death, this frail, weak frame drew from her last parcel of strength the power to say the words "thank-you"

And here I am wondering if I'll be able to stay off Facebook for two weeks.

We really have no idea how blessed we are, and how much responsibility we have to lift up the heads the hang low. To brighten the eyes glazed with burden and despair. Even in my darkest moments, I could not conjour the courage and will of this 16 year old girl. Temporally, we are wealthier than society lets us think we are - but morally, we are leagues behind the curve.