I CAN'T HEAR YOUR WORDS BECAUSE YOUR ACTIONS ARE SO LOUD IN MY EARS

I just listened to most of the president's speech at the Notre Dame graduation. I turned to Fox News, and there it was. Fox was fair and balanced in its discussion of the speech afterward. In fact, the pro-Obama spokesman was very good, in spite of my disagreement with his conclusions.

It is unusual for me to watch the president's speeches. I would rather read the text than listen to them.

One reason for this is that listening to him tends to upset me. I have to bring my strong reactions to what he says under control.

But, he had some good things to say in this speech (as he often does). The only problem was that I kept asking myself (and him): "DO YOU EVER LISTEN TO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?"

I found it hard to listen to him, even though what he was saying was good. He talked about all of us having respect for others, even when we differ. He recognized the difficulties of some of the choices that we face. He said that we should not demonize each other when we have sharp differences of conviction about issues such as abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and similar things. He said that we should not caricature the positions of others when we differ with them.

But then I REMEMBER THAT HE DOES THE VERY THINGS HE URGES US NOT TO DO.

In this speech, he caricatured the position of those who oppose embryonic stem cell research by speaking of those who oppose stem cell research, as if the two positions are the same. I suppose there may be some who oppose stem cell research of any kind - but I have not heard of them. I know of many who support stem cell research, but oppose embryonic stem cell research - that is, securing stem cells from aborted children or from embryos created "in a dish" for the purpose of impregnating a woman who could not have children the old fashioned way. He has not, to my knowledge, ever acknowledged that stem cells are available from other sources: adults, placenta material, and (with special treatment), from skin cells.

His administration has demonized those who oppose abortion as being particularly susceptible to becoming home-grown terrorists. In this, the pro-life position is lumped with others such as disgruntled military personnel who are returning from war-zone tours of duty who are said to be open to recruitment by extremists who want to overthrow the government of the United States of America.

He talked about hard choices - but wants to shut down debate. What was so urgent about passing a "stimulus bill" that it had to be done immediately - before a single congressman or senator (except perhaps some on the reconciliation committee) had the opportunity to read the bill in its entirety - and then sit on the president's desk over a long week-end before he signed it. Was the bill so important - or was there fear on the part of the president and his party that if the nation found out what was really in the bill, the outcry would be so great he might not have been able to get it passed?

What about respect for those who differ? Does he practice what he preaches? Why does he want to, at least in some instances, require doctors and hospitals to perform procedures [read abortions] that violate the consciences of the people involved? To require such is tyranny. The pro-abortion people have long argued that to abort or not to abort is a decision to be left to a woman and her doctor. Is the doctor to have no say in the matter? Must he perform the abortion if the woman insists? Where is the respect for the doctor in this?

So, I have trouble listening to the fair words and smooth speeches of this president. I cannot hear his words because his actions are so loud in my ear.