Obama: We Must Change
When President Obama took the stage in Newtown, Connecticut, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. By the time, he read the names of the victims, you could hear the sobs. If you listened to the speech, you probably cried, too. It was a powerful speech, one that managed to articulate the depth of the unspeakable tragedy that struck the community of Newtown two days ago. The president made the point well how this event affects the entire country, and the entire country must work together to make sure this kind of thing never happens again. "Newtown, you are not alone," said the president. "Our world too has been torn apart."
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The sense of unity that Obama delivered in his moving speech was to be expected. The call to arms that followed it, however, was not. After pointing out that this is the fourth time the country has come together after a mass shooting since his presidency began, the president said enough is enough. "We can't tolerate this anymore," said Obama. "These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change." He stopped short of saying exactly what would have to change and how.
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Obama did sound resolute about whatever it is he's going to do, but few people doubt that it will involve changes to gun control laws. It's already begun, of course. Sen. Diane Feinstein already vowed on Sunday morning to introduce a bill that would ban assault weapons as well as high-capacity clips, when Congress reconvenes in January. Around the same time, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg pointed his finger directly at Obama and said that passing firmer gun control laws should be his "number one agenda." Even more sternly, Bloomberg added that Obama could get a bill through Congress. "I think the president, through his leadership, could get a bill like that through Congress. "At least he's got to try," he said. "That's his job."
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And Obama sounds like he's up to the challenge. "Are we really prepared to say we are powerless in the face of such carnage, that the politics are too hard?" he asked America. Critics, however, will be quick to point out that Obama didn't utter the word "guns" once in his speech. But as Brian Fung from The Atlantic pointed out just as quickly, "Lincoln never used the word 'slavery' in the Gettysburg Address."
