Jocelyn Brocato: President Obama's Address on ISIL

There was no time wasted in President Obama's address to the nation on Wednesday night.  In only the second sentence of his address, the President delivers his objective to "degrade" and "destroy"-- two words that project the ideal American image of intimidation and determination when facing threats such as ISIL that conflict with the values that have shaped the country since its establishment.  Through the use of examples such as the raid on Osama bin Laden, the President attempts to place confidence in viewers that the United States is more than capable of defeating ISIL.  The resolution in his voice as he calmly delivers the address further proves the confidence he has in American forces to achieve this goal.  In one instance, there was a break in the President's calm facade when he addressed the terrorists directly, firmly saying that "there is no safe haven" for those who threaten the United States.  This statement was most effective and confirms the nationalistic assumption that America is a brute force against any group that comes at odds with the values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that the founding fathers protected.  The President delivers his plan in four steps, carefully outlining the specific actions that will be taken to defeat ISIL and highlighting America's alliances with other countries in accomplishing this goal.  Obama concluded his address by listing other hardships the United States has faced such as 9/11 and the economic recession, shedding light on the resilience of the American people that has been evident since its founding.  The media truth that is most apparent in Obama's address in Truth 4: everything that happens has happened before.  The threat ISIL poses is not one that is new to the world.  Historical events such as the Holocaust, Armenian genocide, and the numerous deaths due to the Arab-Israeli conflict serve as constant reminders that evil can never be fully rid of in the world.  Hopefully the President will be steadfast in the actions he laid out in his address so that ISIL can be defeated and one less evil can threaten the earth.