....the line from the
printed text does not include his interjection: "...let us remember it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/12/obama-arizona-memorial-sp_n_808335.html">{-- "it did not" --<interjected>} but rather because only a more civil and honest public discourse can help us face up to the challenges of our nation..."
As I made clear from my post I thought it was a wonderful speech. As I said - in the first paragraph of the OP:
"It was statement of healing, meant to honor the victims of this tragedy and to console a nation. With those objectives in mind he had to speak as our leader, a man of no political party (he could not be seen as taking sides in any political debate). With his words, President Obama rose to the occasion and delivered a beautiful, moving, inspiring speech. It was entirely "fitting and proper", given the solemnity of the occasion, that he eschew party affiliation in his address."
(in case you didn't 'get it' the "fitting and proper" is an allusion to the
http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm">Gettysburg address - Hint: I am implying something with the allusion.)
All that being said, it is however, entirely permissable to take exception one statement out of the speech .. with his interjection. I believe (as I explained in OP) he went further than he needed to with this statement. He obvioulsly felt he needed to provide an explanation for the tragedy. I feel this was superfluous.
as I said in OP:
I think it would have been entirely acceptable for the president to leave this statement out and just say something like:
"This is not the time or place to enter into the discussion of the cause or contributing factors to this tragedy. We are here to honor the victims of this tragedy, those who fell and those who fight on. We will not be distracted from that solemn duty." ...and let it go at that. This was not the time to answer that question (as much as he felt he needed to).
I went on to refer to his statements (
which I referred to as inspiring):
"How can we honor the fallen? How can we be true to their memory?"
His answer was inspiring:
"I believe we can be better. Those who died here, those who saved lives here - they help me believe. We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us. I believe that for all our imperfections, we are full of decency and goodness, and that the forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us."
and...."I want us to live up to her (referring to Christina Teylor Green, the 9 year old victim) expectations. I want our democracy to be as good as she imagined it. All of us - we should do everything we can to make sure this country lives up to our children's expectations."
to which I added:
I propose that in addition, we can best honor those who were attacked and fell in the exercise of their rights as citizens, by not shrinking from our duty to fully discern and understand the causes of this crime and by taking such steps as are necessary to prevent there being anymore victims of such a tragedy.
The President himself said: "..yes, we must examine all the facts behind this tragedy. We cannot and will not be passive in the face of such violence."
With that Mr. President I whole-heartedly agree.
.... I said I thought it was a GREAT speech, a moving and inspiring speech. But I stand by my assessment that he didn't need to add: "let us remember it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy -- {
it did not <interjected>}..."
Let's leave that discussion and determination for another time, another place --- not the memorial service for the victims of this tragedy.
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....NOTE....last night on CHarlie Rose he had a few journalists on talking about the PResident's memorial address. I believe it was Sean Wilentz, Princeton University historian who speaking first said something like: (going on memory here).
'The President spoke as our leader, the nation's healer. He couldn't talk about some things.(referring to what were the contributing factors or causes, if you will, of this tragedy.) But we can talk about them.' You can watch the tape on that site, if so interested.