“We are a great nation…It is time that we again recognize this and embrace the depths of our significance in the world. By coming together as Americans, united by our values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we can find ways to overcome any divides we may have.”
Last year, I remember listening to President Trump give his acceptance speech and being blown away by how Reagan-like he sounded. Strong and completely American-centric. It was what I felt America had been lacking for a full generation. Trump, for all intents and purposes, seemed to truly believe in the idea of American exceptionalism, something that the liberals had told us was racist and nationalistic to a point that it resembled Nazism. Now, one year later, I was still equally impressed as I sat and listened to the President give his State of the Union address.
To have a President stand up in front of the nation and the world and proclaim that the State of the Union is strong, not because of our leadership or our policies, but because of the strength of our people, calls upon us to rise to meet that expectation. Like his initial speech to the nation as our President, he continued to call for all of us to believe in the American dream; in other words, to believe in ourselves. President Trump’s unabashed faith in God and our country is a force in and of itself. As he stated, “The motto is ‘in God we trust.’”
More importantly, he continuously called upon us as citizens to honor those heroes that allow our great experiment in democracy to continue. In this regard, he reminded us that if a young boy named Preston can start a national movement to place flags on the graves of our veterans, then we should all be able to stand for the national anthem. This sort of moral clarity is unheard of in modern politics, where elected officials opt for the safety of do whatever feels good, instead of chastising those that bring our nation down.
You cannot gain the respect of tyrants, only ensure that they understand that to challenge us would lead to one absolute conclusion; their death.
Along with his praise of American heroes, Trump utilized the stage to once again get one over on the media. With brilliant strategic maneuvering, he spelled out the benefits of the tax overhaul, completely taking the message to all of those watching him. This included an explanation of the increased wages that Americans would be seeing come February, and, more importantly, the overall effect the new laws will have on what is a surging economy. He highlighted the fact that jobs were coming back in a way that no one could have ever projected.
Trump touched upon the medical system as well. First, by highlighting the fact that the government has finally eradicated the mandate in Obamacare. He then called into question why our government gets in the way of experimental medical procedures, especially to those who need the innovation most. Finally, he swore to fulfill a promise to fix the incredibly high drug prices we have in the United States.
With infrastructure, the emphasis was not on what the federal government could do for the people. He did not speak of the shovel ready jobs that we have seen lead to massive government waste. Instead, he sounded like the type of conservative leader that we have been calling for by discussing plans to partner with civilian construction and deregulating the processes to actually upgrade our dilapidated substructure. To do so, he promised to push aside the needless red tape which mandates years of planning for construction projects to begin.
As always, President Trump did not shy away from the fight that surrounds the illegal immigrant issue, and especially the supposed Dreamers. He made it exceptionally clear that while he feels empathy for those in other countries, his first loyalty is to the citizens of our country. In the most eloquent expression of this point, he stated, “Americans are dreamers too.” How true that is Mr. President. Why shouldn’t our citizens expect our government to look after our interests first and foremost? It was at this point that the president laid out his four-phase plan.
- Path to citizenship
- Secure the border both through a physical barrier and adjustments to the legal system that will close off loopholes
- End visa lottery program in favor of a merit-based immigration plan
- End chain migration limiting immigration to immediate family members
In laying out the plan, he called on both parties to compromise and “get the job done.” After thirty years of broken promises he called for this to be the Congress that finally accomplishes their promise to address immigration reform.
To summarize the theme of the evening from his own words; with trust in our people, our country, and our God, there is nothing that our country cannot accomplish.
In regard to our foreign enemies, there was no question as to the similarities between President Trump and Reagan. Trump clearly understands what so many leaders do not; despots only fear strength. You cannot gain the respect of tyrants, only ensure that they understand that to challenge us would lead to one absolute conclusion; their death. This means that Congress needs to fund the military, including an update to our nuclear arsenal. He also called out our enemies for what they are, “unlawful enemy combatants.” This is a far departure from what the previous administration believed, as terrorists are not entitled to the same level of treatment as uniformed military.
In a move that I believe most Americans will cheer, he also called upon Congress to finally pass legislation the ensures that when we give foreign aid, it goes to countries that support our interests, not works against us by supporting the very terrorists that try to kill us.
In closing, he highlighted the idea that one of the greatest monuments to our democracy is our capital, something that George Washington himself would have been proud of, as he felt the same way. The capital was designed and built for the people, and as such it should be viewed upon as hallowed grounds for all that we as a people accomplish. Most importantly, he wanted us to recognize that the American “people dreamed this country, the people built this country, and it is the people that are making America great again.” To summarize the theme of the evening from his own words; with trust in our people, our country, and our God, there is nothing that our country cannot accomplish.
What I took away from his speech was something that I have written extensively about, the need to return to an American identity. We have nothing to be ashamed of as Americans. We are a great nation.
As much as I was impressed with the speech and tone that the President took, I was more enamored by the permanent look of disgust upon Nancy Pelosi’s face. From the very beginning of the speech, the President made no question as to who was elected to lead the country. I have no doubt that this came as a complete shock to the Democrats who are used to Republicans that cower and run whenever they walk into a room. It must be something of a shock and definitely difficult to stomach. However, the numbers seem to be supporting the President as his approval rating is slowly rising as his accomplishments break out from the iron clad control of the liberal press.
What I took away from his speech was something that I have written extensively about, the need to return to an American identity. We have nothing to be ashamed of as Americans. We are a great nation. Are we perfect? Of course not. Yet we constantly improve and grow. It is time that we again recognize this and embrace the depths of our significance in the world. By coming together as Americans, united by our values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we can find ways to overcome any divides we may have.
