A special night

Watching the State of the Union is an annual treat for me. The address is America's annual refresher course in civics. It's the one time each year when members of Congress actually stay in the chamber together and, for good measure, they invite the president's cabinet, the Supreme Court and a healthy diet of dignitaries to join them. Tuesday's presidential address was no different. Gone are the days when members of Congress declined to attend because of their political differences, and back is the spirit (at least outwardly) that we need to work together to achieve our common goals. \nFrom the moment that Vice President Richard Cheney was interrupted by applause -- as the Afghan Interim Leader Hamid Karzai entered the chamber -- until President George W. Bush left the dais there was something special about Tuesday night's speech. When the Sergeant at Arms made his famous proclamation of "Mr. Speaker, the President of the United States," the stage was set for one of the most important speeches of Bush's presidency. \nWhether Republican or Democrat, now is the time for Americans to put aside previous opinions and give everyone a fair chance to make his point. A year ago, I might have been more likely to make a quip about the president than I would have been to listen fairly to his speeches. But the last months have made me realize that political pre-judgment is unfair and unproductive. That's not to say that everything the president says should be taken as true, but, if nothing else, it's time to give him, and all policy makers, our respect and attention.\nThat being said, there were plenty of noteworthy points in Bush's address to Congress. The president began his address by declaring that, despite being a nation which is at war and in recession, "The state of our union has never been stronger." In this sense, Bush recognized that the greatness of a country is not necessarily in shopping malls or pocket books, but rather, in the hearts of her citizens.\nAmerica has proclaimed her greatness by coming together with a common purpose. However, we can't be complacent with the current patriotic fervor that has swept the country. The president spoke of his plan for a "USA Freedom Corps." This is but one vehicle for ensuring that Americans don't forget to act in a manner befitting of the title "American."\nBefore Sept. 11, it was rare to see the American flag flying outside of homes, but today it is common. The true test will be to see if, once the war on terror has left the front pages, the flags will continue to fly. We must live up to the president's challenge to be civic minded citizens in times of war and in times of peace. If the patriotism which has swept the country in recent months can continue into the future and if we can continue, as the president says, to "act first and foremost not as Republicans, not as Democrats, but as Americans," then the words of praise that have been heaped upon America will be merited. Americans must become informed citizens in order to keep our government on the right track. We must help our fellow man and show up to the polls this November. This, and nothing short of it, will ensure our country's continued greatness.