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Group Finds Things to Like, Disappointments in Speech

Posted on: Wednesday, 1 February 2006, 12:00 CST

By Joy Campbell, Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.

Feb. 1--Reducing carbon emissions, supporting international aid and a guest worker card for immigrants were some of the things a local State of the Union Watch Group found to like about President Bush's speech Tuesday night.

On the other hand, the president failed to talk much about Americans in the throes of poverty. And while he called on the nations of the world not to let Iran gain nuclear weapons, he failed to tell Americans where that concern may lead.

"The real challenge will be to hold him accountable on the energy plan," said Patti Murphy, who coordinated the watch. "We have heard this energy speech for the last four years, and yet we still don't have results."

About 25 people participated in the local watch, which was part of a national network of more than 200 events coordinated by Sojourners, a Christian ministry focused on spiritual renewal and social justice.

The group critiqued the speech at Real Hacienda on Southtown Boulevard.

Christopher Gutierrez, Bennard Nyamulo, and Aaron Wessman of Hartford watched the speech. All three are Glenmarry seminarians studying to become Catholic missionaries.

"What concerns me the most is the whole issue of war," said Nyamulo, who is a Kenyan and a Brescia student. "... I hope to hear talk of an alternative to conflict."

After the speech, Nyamulo said generally he liked Bush's speech. But on war, he didn't hear what he hoped for.

"He looks at the whole thing in terms of winning, but he should approach it more in terms of peace and reconciliation," Nyamulo said. "You can't win against someone who chooses to die in a suicide bombing."

The watch was sponsored by the Diocese of Owensboro's Hispanic Ministry Office and Social Concerns Office and Brescia University's welfare policy class and Social Work Club.

There were no surprises in the reactions of Daviess County Democrat Vice Chairman Harold Wilson and Republican Chairman Joe Lowe.

"The president used the same rhetoric we've heard, and he presented no real plan to change things," Wilson said. "I agree with the governor of Virginia (who gave the Democratic response): there is a better way."

Lowe, however, said Bush set the right tone and presented a clear plan, especially on social issues such as health care and education.

"I thought he was bold and determined," Lowe said. "In the first part he took time to honor Coretta Scott King and the soldiers saying, don't let those folks die in vain. In the second part, he seemed to say, we're doing well, but there are a couple of changes we need to make. ..."

Wilson said the country can move forward, but the leadership will have to come from Congress.

Both men said they want to see Congress working together on issues.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky.

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Source: Messenger-Inquirer

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