President Obama, Americans Aren’t Afraid — They’re Angry

Last updated on: January 14, 2016 at 10:18 am by Nancy French

President Obama, Americans Aren’t Afraid — They’re Angry 2016-01-14T10:18:32-05:00 Nancy French

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Embed from Getty Images

The President is a clever one. In his final State of the Union address, he said this:

America has been through big changes before – wars and depression, the influx of immigrants, workers fighting for a fair deal, and movements to expand civil rights. Each time, there have been those who told us to fear the future; who claimed we could slam the brakes on change, promising to restore past glory if we just got some group or idea that was threatening America under control. And each time, we overcame those fears. We did not, in the words of Lincoln, adhere to the “dogmas of the quiet past.”

Who wants to be one of those knuckle draggers who “adhere to the quiet past?” No one! David French extrapolates:

Concerned that the sexual revolution is destroying the family and fraying the fabric of society? You fear love. Concerned that mass numbers of low-skill immigrants are decreasing wages, increasing crime, and overwhelming social services? You fear people who look different from you. Are you demanding that the Obama administration step up its war against ISIS? You’re too fearful and ignorant to realize that, as the New York Times helpfully reminded readers this week, your bathtub is more dangerous than Muslim terrorists.

His rhetoric perfectly set up his emotional plea:

Will we respond to the changes of our time with fear, turning inward as a nation, and turning against each other as a people? Or will we face the future with confidence in who we are, what we stand for, and the incredible things we can do together?

But this misses the point altogether. As French writes, “Americans aren’t fearful, they’re angry.”

The entire alphabet soup of federal agencies has not only failed the American people, they’ve often turned against the very citizens and Constitution they’re required to serve. The IRS attacks the conservative movement. The VA leaves veterans to die. The EPA lawlessly expands its power until it regulates and restricts vast sectors of the American economy. HHS attacks religious liberty. The Department of Education wages war on due process and free speech. The list could go on and on.

We’re tired of a government that targets and harasses us, yet refuses to protect us. And anger, sometimes, is warranted and profitable.

French continues:

Anger can be a virtue — even Jesus got angry — and in this moment of American history, properly channeled anger might be the very thing that restores American strength abroad and begins to correct injustice and rampant abuses of power here at home. Indeed, without anger, we may not have the fortitude to change. To those crying out for “sunnier,” more pleasant politicians, ask yourself if these people have the strength of will to confront entrenched, malignant ideologues in the IRS, DOJ, EPA, BLM, VA, and every other leftist enclave in American government. Ask yourselves if they’re prepared to confront ISIS, Iran, and Russia.

Read the rest of his piece on National Review.

Order my next three books on Amazon:

Read more on the Patheos Faith and Family Channel, follow Nancy on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 13, 2016

Hillary Declines to Answer Questions about Women in Sex Abuse Scandals

Next Post

January 15, 2016 Donald Trump Obliterates Ted Cruz's "New York Values" Slam

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Christmas faith family ministry music Television Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 March 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz