The night was one of coming together to
prosper and achieve as a group, not as one. Tackling the heroin epidemic, lack
of military forces, and unemployment as a united force, not struggling as a
broken line. The 2018 State of the Union Address was that of solidarity as a
country no matter how big the problem may have seemed.
President Donald Trump
encouraged those watching that by saying “Tonight, I want to talk about what
kind of future we are going to have, and what kind of Nation we are going to
be. All of us, together, as one team, one people, and one American family”
The overall theme was not
one that many people expected. The President had a more solemn tone as compared
to his usual boasting and outspoken one. He spoke graciously of the heroes of
the past year from the tragedies the country suffered from. Those who risked
their life to cover strangers from the rain of bullets in Las Vegas and those
who gave up their safety in order to rescue families that had lost everything
they ever knew in Houston were in the audience, personally invited by the
President.
He mentioned several people
who had to be brave in a split second time of need and made sure that people
knew who they were and why they deserved praise. The introductions seemed long,
but they were for a good cause.
“We all share the same home, the
same heart, the same destiny, and the same great American flag. Together, we
are rediscovering the American way,” said President Trump when speaking on how
the country has done so well in the last year trying to be undivided.
The audience was made up of heroes
and victims, democrats and republicans, the struggling and the wealthy, all
races, all religions, and all backgrounds. Each person in that room had their
own story to tell, whether they were there because it was their duty or their privilege.
The President could have talked
about any number of things; many people expected him to simply brag on himself
the entire speech. While he did do some bragging, there were also a fair amount
of stories mixed in.
There was the story of Hope. This
story is one that is heard all too often but yet not enough. The story is told
that Ryan Holets is an officer with the Albuquerque Police Department in New
Mexico. Like any other day, while he was on duty he happened to see a woman
about to shoot up heroin. The only thing that made a difference is that this
woman was visibly pregnant. He took it upon himself to tell the woman that what
she was doing wouldn’t just be hurting her anymore, it would hurt her child.
Because of that moment and that decision, Ryan and Rebecca Holets now have
their fifth child.
Her name is Hope.
When asked, people often mention the
bad things that are happening in the world because they seem to be more
pressing than any of the good things. The good things don’t get anywhere near
as much attention. The good things aren’t often headline news.
Hope Holets wasn’t headline news,
but the heroin that consumes her biological mother’s thoughts is. By trying to
find the good, an entire speech about the feeling of hope can be compiled. The
speech given by President Trump was just that.
The events that sparked the
devastation and then ultimately hope were what made the headlines across the
world in the year of 2017, but the good that came out of reading in between the
lines was the main focus that encouraged those who were watching the 2018 State
of the Union Address.
Although President Trump didn’t talk
in detail about the big issues, the audience had the opportunity to leave the
building hopeful instead of discouraged.
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