So I watched most of the State of the Union Address on Tuesday night and I gotta tell you, that is one weird thing that our government does. The president gives a speech before basically the whole government, in the combined chambers of the Capitol. The government, or rather some members thereof, will react, heckle, and otherwise comment on the president’s remarks in real time.
It’s bizarre, and that’s not a political observation because this goes beyond party or even ideology. I get that government, made up as it is of humans and therefor subject to all of the usual failings thereto. Not everyone agrees with the points of the address, which I also get. But come on, shouting out in the middle of it is a really bad look, don’t you think? If I were watching from some other country I’d think how strange it is that representatives of the American government don’t even have enough regard for their commander in chief to shut their pie holes while he’s speaking?
Not only that but to see who applauds what is pretty interesting too. This is another thing that falls strictly along party lines. People will clap or not, depending on whether they agree with the point under discussion. And some of them, such as the supreme court and joint chiefs, don’t react at all.
I try to watch the address every year, regardless of who the president is at the time. It’s a pretty good way to get an idea of what our chief executive thinks are priorities on his agenda. And when I watch I try to divorce myself from reacting as a voter and instead watch as objectively as possible. I don’t want to simply have my biases confirmed. A little challenge to your thinking is a good thing. A lot of people don’t seem to agree though.
