https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIkkknoAlQo&feature=emb_title
(Written on 2/5 but didn't post)
Last night, the President gave his third State of the Union address. Typically in these speeches presidents include the statement "The State of the Union is strong," but this year President Trump broke with tradition, asserting that the "state of our union is stronger than ever before." This was received with an exalting standing ovation on the right (Republican) side of the House chamber, and disagreeing frowns and head shakes from the left (Democratic) side of the chamber––a side Trump hardly even looked at during the speech. The Democratic side was even missing ten members, including AOC, who boycotted the event. This goes to show the sharp divide the government, and country, is currently facing (especially in the midst of the Senate impeachment trial). This was furthered by Trump's rejection of Speaker Pelosi's hand, her unconventional announcement to begin the speech, and Pelosi's tearing of a copy of the speech.
To some, this customarily formal speech seemed more like a show this year, with awards, surprises, and grand reveals. Here, the President is relying on spectacle as a campaign strategy, rather than facts (which he skewed, lied about, and sometimes blatantly ignored throughout the night).
Trump, as usual, played heavily on the current strength of the economy, falsely claiming that it is the best ever, with the most jobs ever created. And while the economy is getting better and better, it has been doing so since before his presidency (and is only really benefiting the rich in the process).
This annual address connects to course content as the President awarded the Medal of Freedom to Rush Limbaugh, an extremely conservative, racist, homophobic, misogynistic shock-jock radio host. This action was a nod to white supremacists across America––in the face of the 2020 election––as Limbaugh is vehemently opposed to the Black Lives Matter movement, has tried to place the blame from slavery away from white Americans, and has once said that slavery had merits. This act, awarding a bigot over of one of the few remaining Tuskegee Airmen (during Black History Month), sends a message that, like his first term, Trump's (possible) second term will do little to further civil rights in America. (It is also important to note that Trump's speechwriter, Stephen Miller, is a white nationalist).
1. What did you think of the President's speech?
2. Will this help is 2020 election bid?
3. What does his address, and the response to it, say about polarization today?
5 comments:
I have not yet watched the entire State of the Union, but after looking over the highlights, I definitely agree that what went down during that address would be better suited to an Onion article than the actual SOTU. Interestingly enough, Trump is definitely playing to his advantages- he has already demonstrated that he can bully the entirety of the GOP into defending him (you go, Romney) even though some of them have privately conceded that he may be guilty of the impeachment charges. He is effectively appealing to the average voter who is uninformed of just what the President of the United States is expected to do: he provides entertainment by breaking tradition and appearing on the news over and over again, makes promises that someone not invested in politics and government doesn't realize that he can't fulfill, and makes token speeches and gestures to make it seem like he is doing good on a national scale. In short, he is the political equivalent of clickbait, and the average American will continue to fall victim to his techniques.
Honestly, the point of this speech was essentially for reelection. Trump knows how to run a show and how to make people excited - he did that by giving the Medal of Freedom and by also bringing home someone from war. What did sort of anger me was the fact that he talked about a tragic story about someone who was shot 8 times at the gas station but later on stated that he supported 2nd amendment rights. I think one of the family members that were related to the person who was shot actually left during Trump's speech because of that. It simply shows that this is not how you solve the gun control issue in America, but I don't think anyone noticed. On more of an entertaining note, when I saw Mr.Silton rip up some papers, my friend and I said "Nancy Pelosi!" at the same time - it just shows that ripping up Trump's speech will be a moment on television that will forever remain in politics and our history, creating a more dividing nation.
I don't think this will help Trump's election bid this year, at least I'm HOPING it doesn't; if people vote for Trump after he has clearly expressed his views against universal civil rights (for blacks, any race besides whites, gay people, women, etc), there has to be something wrong. I honestly don't know if I can actually give comment because I'm so flabbergasted by this event, and how such people can have so much power. I do think, however, that the polarization is incredibly evident during this event; the refusal of Trump to acknowledge the Democratic Party, as well as Speaker of the House Pelosi, and the anger expressed by the Democratic side is showing how fed up they are (the people in government!!) with the polarization. I personally think AOC's boycott of the address makes sense, as well as Pelosi's ripping of the speech, but I just wish there was some way to show our country that they can be the bigger person (the adult, if you will) and deal with this madness in a more graceful manner.
I'm not really familiar with the tradition of the SOTU address, but I'm sure that 10 members boycotting is not a common occurrence. The polarization in our society today on every level (from common citizens to politicians) is concerning. Trump's truth-bent-facts are also dangerous, as Presidents and influential people seem to have the power to spew less than true facts to an audience too trusting and lazy to do any fact checking. Why fact check if it fits your narrative and beliefs? It reminds me of the Bart Simpson comic in Mr. Silton's room that reads: "This just in: alternative facts are not facts. They are lies. I'm a delinquent ten-year-old and even I know that."
It's interesting that Trump would award a Medal of Freedom to someone who opposes Black Lives Matter, considering Trump touted racial improvements during his State of the Union speech after backlash against his lack of racial improvements last year. He seems to be sending mixed messages, catering to both sides of the nation. It definitely felt more like a game show than an actual update on the state of the nation. Despite the increasing divide of Congress, I do think this will help Trump in the 2020 elections. Current Trump supporters will continue to believe his statements. Plus, the Democrats' anger will only fuel Republicans' goal to get Trump reelected.
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