Only when our kids are vitally affected do we tend to act...but the straw that breaks the camel's back has now been snapped, and in a thoroughly unpolitical, non-partisan, almost apolitical fashion President Barack Obama has taken the lead...to finally do something...about America's sorry record of civilian violence. He has stepped up to the mark at a turning point in U.S. history and shown the one quality essential in a true leader: yes, leadership. At this pivotal moment. And it's uncannily, eerily, almost palpable - even from afar, via the omnipresent television set - that the nation is, silently but ever so staunchly, right behind him; backing him 100%. In much the same way the entire nation, and much of the world, stood full square behind President George W Bush in the seconds, minutes, hours and days immediately following 9/11. As J R R Tolkien's Samwise Gamgee might have put it: "You've shown your quality, Mr President."
Yes, it could, ever so easily and glibly, quite legitimately be asked: Well, what else could President Obama have done? The answer is: absolutely nothing. Precisely what has been done - for all too long. The point is he hasn't; that's the difference.
Yes, Obama's only taken slight - though not at all hesitant - very tentative steps...thus far. But 'from small beginnings great things may come'. As the 'ole ditty puts it: 'It only takes a spark to get a fire going...'.
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