the rix mix

Enjoyed President Obama's Tucson speech tonight (transcript). He was probably penciling changes all the way on the flight from D.C. QUite different from  two other fine post-tragedy speeches; President Reagan following the Challenger disaster & President Clinton after the Oklahoma bombing, All three were gentle, uplifting, & touched the right notes. I didn't even mind the image of the little girl jumping in puddles in heaven, the kind of easy sentiment that usually makes me cringe. But this speech was also to honor survivors & heroes, & needed to dance cautiously around the passions stirred up by the shootings. I appreciate that one of the issues being raised is the treatment of mental illness. These disturbed killers, with their incomprehensible reasoning & agendas, display their deteriorating mental states in advance to family & acquaintances, who don't know what do, because no crimes have yet been committed or perhaps even suggested.  Police, though concerned,   have no legal power or cause to intervene.

The college student audience was too exuberant.  A little more somberness & maybe sobriety was in order - the place sounded like beer concessions  were open,  but the President, as an invited guest,  had no control over that.

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, in the news