*All views are my own. I’m also not a politics student nor a political expert, nor claim to ever side with a sole politician or political party.*
A big part of political rhetoric, and emotion-building rhetoric of late has been the use of: “We are not ______”
When Manchester was bombed on the 22nd May 2017, our great northern city which I am honoured to call home, we quickly reminded ourselves and each other that we would not be shaken. There were many “we are not” phrases.
Today is 9/11, and I usually stay away from the media on memorial days. Not because I feel nothing, it’s usually because I feel too much. It’s an overcoming feeling of sadness but also hope that really takes it toll on me if I think too much.
Now, I’m not a Trump fan, and I don’t usually talk politics on Kulayrosas, but so much of President Trump’s speech at the Pentagon (which I managed to catch live on BBC News) resonated with me. Of course, it was packed with rhetoric and his speech will be pulled apart and analysed by both journalists and English Language and Politics students from this day on, but I felt he successfully tackled such hard topics to talk about with passion in lieu of anger. (That’s something I never thought I’d say.)
One line spoke to me and has such religious undertones, particularly in the Christian faith of being united and therefore, not shaken:
“When America is united, no force can break us apart.”
Defence Secretary Mattis spoke before President Trump, and one ‘We are not ______’ line of his spoke to me most:
“We are not seaweed drifting in the current.”
This just is a line that I find so personally empowering. We are not waiting to be taken; we are not allowing ourselves to drift; we are constantly on-the-ball, ready to tackle whatever life throws at us.
God’s love is relentless. And thus, we relentlessly pursue Him. God doesn’t carry us as if we’re seaweed and He’s the current, instead we swim like fish in his world, directed by His paths for our lives. It’s magical, really.
Love,
Anna
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