At Progressive Revival, Diana Butler Bass analyzes President Obama’s melding of moral and civic language in last Wednesday’s health care speech:
President Obama made the moral case for health care reform by appealing to the best aspects of American character, reminding us of our history, and by making people accountable for their actions. He called us to neighborliness and generosity. He drew a life-affirming picture of a caring community, asking everyone to do his or her part, outlining the responsibilities of deep democracy. What was striking about his speech is that he made no specific biblical reference, cited no one religious tradition, and praised no single ethical system. Instead, he developed a moral case based on compassion, care, and common humanity drawing from the general principles of “do unto others” and “love your neighbor as yourself.” He invited all of our religions, spiritualities, and ethical systems into the meaningful work of healing.
[…]Tonight was about the moral “we.” President Obama delivered a hope-filled speech that called us to stop being part of a camp—and instead see our “camp” as the wider American family. Those of us who are rich, who are poor, who are in-between, those who are ill, who are healthy, who one day may be infirm. We are in this together. He made the case that we need each other, that we have a common purpose of caring for each other and making a better future together. He did it inclusively—inclusive in his ethical reach, inclusive in his political reach, inclusive in his reach toward civility.
Read the full post here, and read the full text of Obama’s speech here.