SojoMail - The State of the Union address was the homily we needed

Biden’s State of the Union Reminded Me of a Homily Lauren W. Reliford “Christmas for policy wonks.” “The political Super Bowl.” “A very boring speech.” Three different descriptions for one of the biggest nights in politics: the annual State of the Union. Here in Washington, D.C, we politicos have been known to create bingo cards or gather in bars to watch an address that will have major implications for the work we do. Though the Constitution mandates that the president deliver a report on the State of the Union to Congress “from time to time,” the report hasn’t always been so theatrical. Up until 1913, most presidents simply delivered their state of the union as a written report to Congress. President Woodrow Wilson changed the game when he delivered his report in person to gain support for his agenda, and subsequent presidents seized the opportunity to speak to the nation in times of war and peace, prosperity and paucity. What began as a simple written report became a major national event that spoke directly to the country about our shared values and goals — and weighed the state of our nation against them. Yet, for all the excitement, there are also many who see the State of the Union as mere political theater — another opportunity for a power-hungry politician to make grandiose statements and big promises that will never be fulfilled. All fair criticisms: U.S. politics has become a game of trolling, ethics investigations, sedition, and never-ending media appearances. When politicians of different parties can make jokes about “ruining each other’s reputations” for working together, it’s hard to believe that a simple speech can make any real progress, especially when so many of us are still struggling to recover from the devastating economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the theatrics and political games, I tune in every year, whether it is my professional obligation or not. As a person whose faith guides my own values and goals for this nation and the people who call it home, I view the State of the Union as an opportunity to hear whether the president’s vision for the country aligns with my own. READ THE FULL ARTICLE Forward Share

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