The State of Two Unions

In reading Henry V, I found myself inundated in politics today. As I was watching the State of the Union Address by President Obama, I made several connections to some lines in the play. Here's a brief rundown of the points that came down to mind.

• President Obama stated that there needed to be bipartisan efforts in order for the government to accomplish anything of value. In 1.2, Exeter states that "For government, though, and low, and lower, put into parts, doth keep in one consent, like congreeing in a full and natural close, like music" (180-183).  I don't know about what others think, but I'm thinking that modern politics hardly sound like music. The intense discords between mudslinging hooligans is not of the same caliber as the intense discords that ease off into some kind of resolution. If there is no working together, then the parties just take turns passing bills when their party is the majority, and it changes with the elections. It becomes very difficult for real progress to be made.
• King Henry V declared that England needed to be prepared not only to invade France, but also to defend itself from invasions from the Scots. Obama said we need to look at our infrastructure which has fallen over the past several years, and find a way to build it back up again. 
• He talked about several key issues that would help build us back up in the world again, including increased availability of high-speed internet access, good resources, high-speed trains, and improving the road systems. We need to have a good strong base in order to be able to do anything to help other countries. 
• Part of that strong base is our children's education. If the kids aren't taught well, then the future of the country is also in danger. We shouldn't educate other people, and then send them off to other countries to compete against us and our businesses. We should use the education system to build up the nation. President Obama called for good teachers to rise up and serve their country. It's interesting that the call has gone from soldiers to teachers.

Well, those are some of the ideas that were floating down in my head. They aren't spectacularly well developed right now, but I plan on looking further into the ideas of education and politics in relation to Shakespearean plays. I also plan on writing what I had researched before I watched the Address and wrote this instead.

Have a glorious day!