State of the Union Address

The state of the union address certainly contained powerful words and ideas for every American citizen. President Obama spoke to our fears and our difficulties, and promised hope, reform, and a brighter future. I am a firm believer in hope, in change and in the ability of man to better himself and learn from his mistakes. I even felt inspired by Obama's words, and a sense of pride for the land which has provided for me that I haven't felt in a long time. His words touch on the most urgent topics in politics today, and offered solutions to their problems.

However, at the end of the day. They are simply words. Obama has made great promises about our future as a nation, but whether or not these promises can or will be fulfilled is something only the future can teach us. The overarching beliefs of his speech: the messages of responsibility and commitment, of rewarding hard work as well as reforming what has led to our mistakes and disasters certainly speak to the spirit of the American people. If President Obama truly has the passion and conviction for his cause that he demonstrated in the address, I have faith in a better America.

That being said, specific details about plans of reform, or tactics for achieving these goals were given. I do not know enough about politics or economics to determine whether these plans have a good chance at being successful or not, however the lack of detail calls into question whether these plans are thorough and well-designed. Perhaps the State of the Union Address is not the place for such details, but still, their absence makes the words of hope President Obama gave simply that: hope.

I said that I firmly believe in the power of man to better himself, and I do have faith that power can extend to the betterment of this nation. But today, right now, all I can do is hope that those in power can follow through on their promises and can truly understand the problems that plague us in order to implement the effective solutions. I have faith that Barack Obama is capable of rekindling the spirit of the American people and re-instilling the pride we should have in our nation, but I have no evidence to support this belief. So I leave to you readers the charge of forming your own opinions on this matter, as my voice cannot guide anyone through the twisted, muddied past of politics.

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Lions for Lambs

The IMDB Synopsis for the movie Lions for Lambs is: "Three stories told simultaneous in ninety minutes of real time: a Republican Senator who's a presidential hopeful gives an hour-long interview to a skeptical television reporter, detailing a strategy for victory in Afghanistan; two special forces ambushed on an Afghani ridge await rescue as Taliban forces close in; a poli-sci professor at a California college invites a promising student to re-engage. Decisions press upon the reporter, the student, and the soldiers."(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0891527/)

This movie is an odd one, as it seems to be less concerned with telling a story as it is presenting the conflict between contrasting views on the war in Afghanistan. It is slightly outdated, as it was released in 2007, however the arguments between the characters seem to be just as applicable, if not more so, today than it did a few years ago.

The one element of this film that struck me was the lack of resolution at the end. With the journalist and the student in particular, no real decision is made. The options are presented to them, and their struggle is evident, but we are left viewing them still in a state of indecision. This lack of resolution is unsettling, and does not give the viewer the satisfied feeling of completion one comes to expect from most Hollywood blockbusters; however, as the aim of the movie appears to be an unsettling, thought-inspiring experience, it certainly seems to have accomplished its goal.

While I admit my knowledge of politics and world events is limited, I find it hard to believe anyone would be able to quickly form a strong pro or con opinion about the war after watching Lions for Lambs. The story of the soldiers seems, to me, to imply that the senator's view is flawed, however it is not clearly shown in the film. It seems as though all three scenarios are designed simply to show how the two opposing viewpoints conflict, without actually showing any attempt at resolution or a preference towards one view or the other.

I find it hard to form a reaction to this movie, other than it seems to have left me, unfulfilled. While it offered me an opportunity to see many questions about the war and conflicting arguments, my overall lack of knowledge prevents me from being able to make an informed decision on whether or not I agree with the War on Terror or not. That being said, the film is well done, and has certainly made me want to research more on the war and form a more solid opinion of my own.