Why I Love the State of the Union Address

Today I realized that the State of the Union Address is like my Superbowl.  I look up the date far in advance so that I can save it on my calendar.  The day of, I wait in crazy anticipation.  When I live at home, I make my family stop what they’re doing and come sit on the big green couch to watch, comment, applaud, and question with me.  This year, I am in India so text message and email reminders had to do. 

Because I’m in India, the address was at 7:30am. I woke up extra early so I could get my workout in and shower before Mr. President started speaking.  When I walked to the gym, it was still pitch black, the stars were still twinkling, and I couldn’t help but think that I should probably win the most dedicated SOTU viewer award.  I burst through my apartment door at 7:28 and didn’t even wait for my water to heat up but jumped into a cold shower so I wouldn’t miss the opening remarks.  I prayed all morning that my internet would work and the times that it stopped I begged God to help it buffer quickly.  I chatted with my live stream, commenting back to the president’s remarks.  The net cut out before he could say “God bless America”, and I felt like I missed the buzzerbeating basket in game 7/7 of the NBA Finals.  I quickly looked up the speech so I could read his ending, but it just wasn’t the same.

My computer couldn’t handle watching the responses, so it was on to Twitter.  It’s kind of an awkward moment when you get so distracted following the #SOTU @Twitterfeed and fact checkers that you end up realizing its time to leave for work around the time you’re supposed to arrive and your boss calls as you’re unlocking the office door 20 minutes late.  But all day long I was on cloud nine; SOTU had absolutely made my day.  It was all I could do to not keep up with the aftermath while I was at work, and I couldn’t wait to get home to reread the speech and some more reactions.

Why do I love the State of the Union address so much?  I think it started back in 10^th grade, when Mr. Cwodzinski scared me into paying attention into current events.  If I didn’t know what was happening and was called on in class, he would most likely shame me into feeling unworthy of being an American citizen.  He taught the ideology that if the president of your country – who may also perhaps be the most powerful person in the world – is addressing the nation, you should listen.  I was scared into listening 10 years ago (WOW I’m old), but I vehemently agree with him; even moreso than I did when I was just watching so I could be “Student of the Day”.

The president of your country is addressing your nation.  You should probably listen.  My sister got mad at me because I told her she should move her basketball game; that there shouldn’t even be campus basketball games scheduled during this time because the president of your country is addressing your nation.  This is important.  Should there even be other options on TV?  Regardless of whether you like him or not, regardless of your political affiliation, regardless of the fact that each and every one of us find the standing ovations to be incredibly annoying and a fantastic waste of time, the president of your country is addressing your nation.  We should prioritize it.  We should teach our children to be involved.  We should be involved ourselves.  If we want the government to be even close to “of the people, by the people, for the people”, we should probably pay attention to what’s going on.

I’m not saying that this is the only day that you can do this.  But it is a big day, the one day that the president addresses, well, the state of our union.  Yes, it’s a  grand summary.  And yes, there’s an agenda (especially during election year…ahem).  And yes, it’s generally over-zealously patriotic, aiming to reassure Americans that everything is ok – great, even – and that America is still the greatest nation on earth.  But the president of your country is addressing your nation.  It’s a chance to hear what’s going on – from his perspective.  A chance to discuss all the important issues in the same place.  It’s a chance to ask questions and to think critically.  A chance to be inspired to research an issue further or to double check some statements that are made.  A chance to learn something about your country…and to talk about it with others.

And that, my friends, is why I love the State of the Union Address.  I wonder if the date for 2013 is published yet…?

New Day, New Start

Ever since the first of January, I have been reveling in the meaning of a new year.  A new year – a new start.  I have also rejoiced in recognizing that we don’t have to wait 365 for another fresh beginning.  Instead, “New day, new start” has more or less become my motto.  The first 19 days of this year haven’t been easy by any means, and believe me – I am more than thankful that every day is a new day.

Even though I was fully awake when my alarm went off this morning, the fact that it was still dark outside tempted me to stay in bed just a little bit longer.  Something about waking up before daylight reminds me of standing outside waiting for my high school bus in a Minnesota winter, and believe me, that is not a pleasant memory.  But it was time to go to the gym.

I walked through my neighborhood, congratulating myself for getting my booty out of bed and feeling uncharacteristically fresh.  I turned the corner.  There in front of me was a glorious sunrise.  Brilliant, I tell you.  Orange, pink, neon yellow.

A new day with a beautiful beginning.  I stopped, I smiled.  What a reminder.  Thanks, God.