My take on the State of the Union
- Constantine J Kitrinos, CPFA
- 1 hour ago
- 5 min read
Here's what I noticed
Before I get into the address itself, there is a bit of a backdrop leading up to the event. Just a day before the State of the Union, my son randomly asked our family to hold hands and pray for our family and for the world. My wife and I were taken by surprise, but didn't question a thing. It was a beautiful, unprompted moment of faith that touched my heart. I actually had goosebumps and wondered what prompted him to grab us by force and ask that we join him. It was a cute gesture and brought a smile to both my wife and me, and reminded us that there is hope for our future generations.
When we sat down to watch President Trump's address, that same spirit of religious belief, family union, and peace echoed throughout the chamber. This address would be different, but also some of the same. Of course, we got some of the usual Trump banter and chest pounding, but cutting through the noise to focus solely on what was being presented, the overall tone and message conveyed to the country was positive. Stories of hope, resilience, success, and heartbreak were shared across the room, not as Democrats versus Republicans, but as a group of people who could share empathy, hope, and a fight for the common good. It only makes sense that if an idea can help the masses, it doesn't matter who came up with it or who implements it. Afterall, it's not a contest for credit when we all win. As usual, we also saw a few outcasts that gave it their all at turning this into political theater, but that was simply swept under the rug, as I enjoyed watching the many stories and honors shared among the country. It resonated deeply with my family and me. I knew I had to share my thoughts.
Overall, the delivery was a powerful show of union rather than division. It painted a clear picture of a country returning to a time when unspoken traditions and core values are coming back into favor. More of a common-sense theme, if you will. Many of the fundamental roots of what I remember are reminiscent of the 80's and 90's. Back when things were taken at face value. When family values meant something. A time when kids played outside for hours, got called in for dinner, and sat at a table and talked about their day with parents and siblings. Easier said in times of so much technology at our fingertips, with phones and tablets attached to just about every family member. That period was also a time when faith and wholesome values had a role in the family. The kind of spiritual interface that has been on the decline for years, and the one that was frowned upon during the COVID era. For those of us who want safety, progress, respect, and lawfulness, there were several extraordinary highlights worth celebrating.
Recognizing True American Heroism
One of the most moving parts of the night was the profound respect shown to our heroes.
Honoring the Brave: Service members and heroes were recognized with Purple Hearts and presidential awards, standing as a testament to acts of ultimate bravery and sacrifice.
Standing for Lawfulness: The address clearly highlighted the administration's commitment to those who uphold freedom, while standing firm against those who oppose our nation's progress and the rule of law.
A Turnaround for the Economy and Our Borders
Looking back on the administration’s first year back in office, the President highlighted the immense hurdles the country faced and the strides made since taking over a crumbling economy.
Economic Revival: The speech summarized the actions taken to tackle significant economic challenges, pointing toward a revitalized and roaring economy.
Prioritizing Safety: We heard firm reassurances that our borders are now safer than ever. At the end of the day, who doesn't want safety for their family, children, grandchildren, and neighbors?
State of the Union, a Golden Moment of Bipartisan Unity
There was one moment that truly brought both sides of the aisle together, which was regarding transparency with respect to securities trading. It's a push to include transparency and reduce insider trading among government and political figures. You might expect the support for the USA men's and women's Olympic Ice Hockey teams' achievements, but we did not see that on both sides of the aisle. We're a part of a close-knit group of hockey families and are heavily investing our time and money into the sport, so watching both teams fight for the gold was such an honor. As you can imagine, we were extremely proud to see these Olympians celebrate a great victory.
Celebrating Olympic Gold: After accepting an invitation to join the gallery, the men's team was honored for their incredible, gold-medal-winning victory. My son enjoyed the honor and recognition of the team's achievements, and the smile on his face when he saw Jack Hughes and Jack Eichel up on stage after their victory was priceless. He had a smile from ear to ear.
A Standing Ovation: Although we didn't see the room filled with people watching both sides of the political aisle stand up on tv, our household was full of cheer and clapping for the efforts of these athletes. It was such a commendable and unifying honor to witness.
Our country is on a road toward reclaimed sovereignty and peace. Unfortunately, since the airing of the live address, there has been an ongoing war with Iran, which can hopefully be swift and restore peace to places around the world. The unfortunate part about war is the uncertainty of how long they may last and the astronomical number of lives that are lost during this time.
We celebrated the overall positive tone of the address and reaction to it across the nation. Things are far from perfect, but there are several items being worked on to improve the quality and affordability in this country. It should not be forgotten that a focus on family and faith during the address was mentioned. It proved to me that we are moving in a direction that honors the heart of the American home. I am hopeful that we can move beyond our differences and resolve things sooner rather than later. Life is already filled with so many complications; there is no room for hate or fighting over land, religion, or power.
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