Lost in the constant cajoling of legislative fights and governing are the un-manufactured, organic opportunities for President Obama to deliver the kinds of speeches that he gave on Wednesday night before mourners at the University of Arizona. Almost forgotten in the man's first two years in office is the fact that it's that gift--that seemingly effortless ability to enrich an arena, a community, a nation--that vaulted him into the national spotlight six and a half years ago.
It's a good thing he has that ability, too, because a heartfelt, reasoned, and uplifting message came on the evening in which it was so desperately needed. After a day of bickering and back-and-forth from pundits and elected officials past and present, we heard a message that celebrated the very best among us, as opposed to an immature discussion of who is the worst. And, for whatever catharsis the president provided for our fractured political discourse, Senator Mark Udall has an idea to help put our broader political culture on the mend.
Our country has a host of ingrained traditions, but for only one night a year do we so actively sanction the divide in our politics: the State of the Union address. Congress lives out the disdain captured in the designations of left- and right-wing, moving homogeneously, devoid of much independent thought or autonomous action. When we chastise those we feel have contributed to tragedies like the one perpetrated in Arizona, we blame these people for breeding like-minded followers of a flawed thought process. In short, we criticize them for doing what we allow to take place.
And with a simple proposition from Colorado's senior senator, we have what is at least a symbolic solution to a gargantuan problem. By shuffling seats and putting Republicans next to Democrats during the president's annual progress report, we may begin to think beyond a political culture that is only binary in nature. We're by no means ever going to destroy those divides--human differences and the thirst to beat the opposition are too strong. But what does it say about our governmental structure when it condones--in reality, promotes--those actions?
It says that the spirit of engaging in politics and creating policy is predicated far more on competition than on results. A legislative "victory," for example, is rightly praised as such, but let's make sure we're calling it a victory for the Americans it will help as opposed to the victory of one political party's triumph over the other.
Americans watching on television will be looking for a reason to be inspired. In the aftermath of a terrible tragedy, Obama's words made clear that all except the most heartless among us are receptive to a little bit of inspiration right now.
It's time that we have that same confidence in our other elected officials. The 534 members of Congress in the House chamber should do more than just tell us there are things bigger than politics, as they have done so wonderfully in recent days. It's time for them to show us. We constantly hear rhetoric about Democrats, Independents, and Republicans working together. The first step is sitting together.
After all, it's exactly what the one who won't be there--the one who has inspired an entire nation from a hospital bed in Tucson with her desire to live--would want.