Obama shows real strength

Ten days ago I wrote, “What is real strength anyway?” The letter was praising President Obama for demonstrating how real strength comes from the willingness to not react immediately to problem situations with negative emotions of fear and anger but rather respond from our intellectual capability and strength of choosing listening, understanding, compassion, compromise and deliberation.

Last evening I, with two friends, listened to President Obama’s “State of the Union” speech. His demeanor, his commentary, his humor, his wise and thoughtful perspectives, plus his listing of the fine factual and actual accomplishments our nation has achieved in the last seven years, completely supported and made abundantly clear the answer to “What is real strength anyway?”

Listening to so many of the Republican negative responses to Obama’s speech shows once again how far down the “rabbit hole of ignorant partisanship” our nation has fallen since day one that the Obama family moved into the White House.

This is sad. This is dangerous. This portends deeper problems for America, for all of us, unless we change our political posturing in favor of sensible discussion, compromise, listening to each other and putting the health and future of our great nation ahead of selfish partisan political posturing.

Thank you, Mr. President, for once again offering us the opportunity for change. Are we listening? —Bob McClellan, Polson