When President Obama spoke at the Newtown Memorial, it was an overwhelming emotional experience. Communication was happening on many levels, mourning for the grieving nation, taking on the politics of gun control that allowed the shooting to happen, reaching out to the community shattered to the core by this tragedy, and comforting the families who lost loved ones.
Obama's Newtown Memorial Speech deserves a second read and discussion among friends.
I found a spiritual message woven throughout the many threads of his magnificent speech.
Obama asked us nine questions during his memorial speech to which he gave only two answers.
The Nine Questions with Two Answers
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1. Can we honestly say that we’re doing enough to keep our children -- all of them -- safe from harm?
2.Can we claim, as a nation, that we’re all together there, letting them know that they are loved, and teaching them to love in return?
3.Can we say that we're truly doing enough to give all the children of this country the chance they deserve to live out their lives in happiness and with purpose?
4..Are we really prepared to say that we're powerless in the face of such carnage, that the politics are too hard?
5..Are we prepared to say that such violence visited on our children year after year after year is somehow the price of our freedom?
The answer to questions 1-5: is NO
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6.What choice do we have?"
7.Why are we here?
8.What gives our life meaning?
9.What gives our acts purpose?
The answer to questions 6-9: is a resounding life affirming
Yes
There’s only one thing we can be sure of, and that is the love that we have -- for our children, for our families, for each other. The warmth of a small child’s embrace -- that is true. The memories we have of them, the joy that they bring, the wonder we see through their eyes, that fierce and boundless love we feel for them, a love that takes us out of ourselves, and binds us to something larger -- we know that’s what matters. We know we’re always doing right when we’re taking care of them, when we’re teaching them well, when we’re showing acts of kindness. We don’t go wrong when we do that.
President Obama provides a powerful and comforting response to a senseless murder of innocents. He gives us a simple compass to guide our nation.
Are we doing right by our children now? Can we do right by our children?
It all comes down to a no and a yes.