Listening to American President Joe Biden address his nation the other night was a rare delight. Here was a politician at the apex of his career. He was entitled to those words of self-congratulation. His first 100 days in office did set new records. He not only knew how to do the job but he got a lot done.
And he did it with confidence. In a time of the worst plague of our world history, Joe Biden brought order to the chaos in America. He did it with the soft gravelly voice of an elderly man. He did it with respect for the women behind him and at his side. He introduced a child-care plan for his country that could work. He wants the minimum wage to be a living wage. He is promoting caring over confrontation.
How different it was, after the past four years, to see a leader holding out the olive branch to the opposition. He is willing to compromise in detail but was plain in his intent to change how America treats its citizens. His strategy was clearly jingoist, “Buy America” and such—simple words for all to rally to but strategic in intent. America’s allies will not be mistreated as they were by the previous administration. This is a president that rushed to vaccinate his country but still took time to think of and send vaccines to its neighbours.
It was critically important in the speech that the president said, “We have to prove that democracy works.” Democracy is under attack around the world. And nowhere is the attack more serious than in the USA. In the bitterly polarized political climate of America, it is critically important that all realize the damage that continued polarization can cause.
The lessons of the last four years in the United States showed Americans and people around the world the potential weakness of the once most powerful country in the world. Internal division is the secret weapon of enemies. Joe Biden’s call is for unity.
On Wednesday, April 28, 2021 the president was talking to the congress, the American people and to the rest of the world. It was an important message.
-30-
Copyright 2021 © Peter Lowry
Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to [email protected]