On January 25 at 9pm, President Barack Obama will give his third State of the Union Address to Congress, and THIRTEEN will be there to cover the entire speech, including post-speech analysis from the PBS NewsHour team.
Obama’s speech will be much longer, but how would you summarize the state of our nation in just 6 words? We’ve teamed up with SMITH Magazine, creator of the Six-Word Memoir® project to seek your 6 Word State of the Union Address. Submit below.
Special thanks to all who submitted entries. The contest has ended and we’re happy to reveal the six winners we’ve selected:
- More civility. Less violence. Greater hope. - Robin Cutler
- We are presently in a pickle. – Barbara S.
- E PLURIBUS UNUM. Says it all. – Debbie Lackowitz
- I still don’t have health insurance. – Shirelle White
- Hope is easy, change is harder. – Peter Friedmann
- We need to lower our voices – George Conduso
Responses to "Share Your Six-Word State of the Union"
Sense of Common Purpose? No longer.
Twenty-four hour entertainment at all costs.
Round the bases, remember the base.
Can’t we all just get along?
Obama up, Palin down, Union safe.
Country sucks but not my fault
The audacity of hope? Still hopeful.
America will vote in 657 days
Accountability by ALL citizens for growth.
One is all, all is one.
George Washington’s Farewell Address warned us.
Things will get better… we hope.
Aging Superpower craves comeback. No nudity.
Hey, at least I’m not Palin.
Learned Colleagues – wait ’til next year.
A Tale Of A Struggling Empire
Embracing Our Future As One America
Jobs, healthcare, Iraq, morale: all down.
Hilary, you still want the job?
yadda yadda yadda, that’s it. applause.
Vitriol until the end? Respectfully, no.
WORKIN’ HARD MOVIN’ FORWARD FOR ALL
Billionaire Yank Execs Sell China Everything
Our nation is again moving forward
one step forward- two back
No more fussin’, best start hustlin’
POPULATION STILL IN STATE OF DENIAL
We are now governed by adults.
Kick the can for how long?
Striving to Save the Sinking Ship
More civility. Less Violence. Greater hope.
Corporate America’s shill will elucidate beautifully.
I wish I wish I wish
UNITED WE STAND….DIVIDED WE FALL
Reps/Dems think gov’t is team-sport NO!
right way long way don’t quit’
Past imperfect. We’ll restructure our economy.
All empires fall! America must change ?
Recovery on track; future looks good.
We are presently in a pickle.
We are all walking the plank.
Look, that could have gone better.
Ill fares the land, alas alack!
Corporations, Rich rule; the People suffer!
Realistically, patiently and cautiously optimistic.
E PLURIBUS UNUM. Says it All.
Reality too daunting; We’ll keep pretending.
Stop blaming
Start competing
Build here!
Strengthening, persevering one nation under God.
With liberty and justice for all.
Corporate political money corrupts all politicians
Rocky midterm. Must get better soon.
Let hope triumph despite Congressional discord.
Hoping for a year without shooting.
In denial. Want benefits won’t pay.
Too much warfare, too little wisdom
Not tackling the most difficult issues.
Entire Government in dire need of Roto-Rooter
I believe it is getting better!
Let’s agree to communicate more respectfully!
Back up, back down, back off.
… it was the worst of times. ( from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens)
Wait… we owe China a TRILLION???
Come on, Bush was WAAAAAAAAY worse!
Hey, we still got VEGAS, right?
Yes we can… compromise. On everything.
Hope meets reality, short memories winning.
John Boehner Lies (When He Cries)
A bit better. Still not great.
Work, America, work. (pause. pause. pause.)
Bogged down in ruinous national debt.
Stuck in Bush Gang backwash.
We are on the rebound folks.
Together, with Obama, we shall overcome!
A lot better under President Obama.
Spending and regulating populace into servitude.
Split apart hopefully coming together soon
Divided Fragile Misled Need Real Journalists
If only I could, I would.
Working together is so last century
we all want to worry less
Come on now! A little help?
You would prefer Sarah Palin? Really?
We need jobs. We are hurting.
1. confused
2. divided
3. wasteful
4. disinterested
5. hopeful
6. resilent
Everyone must pitch in for change!
Our wars = Corporate control raw materials.
Much better than before Barack Obama.
This job is really really hard.
WE NEED JOBS NOW! BUY AMERICAN
Very optimistic about this country’s future
Please no more fixation without representation
1. Recovery with wars equals slow growth
2. Politics solves nothing worth fighting for
3. All can stand, only one rules
4. Lives lost equal hardships abound worldwide
5. No sense in storing some cents
Our nation doing better.Our president too.
Our nation doing well..President too,
Nation doing better. President stronger too.
Dysfunctional, mean, stupid, annoying and broke.
“The banks have won, you lost!”
i still don’t have health insurance.
1. i still don’t have health insurance.
2. bi-partisan cooperation might make a difference.
3. nobody single gets good tax cuts.
4. obama’s better than life before obama.
5. politicians think renewable energy’s a joke.
ALSO, ON A SIDE NOTE:
6. it’s 2011. where’s my flying car?
Jobs wanting,
taxes blamed,
nation divided.
More history changes, more stays same.
We have seen the promised land
College playoffs: The time has come.
Good job with room for more!
News, we are on our way!
Divided we fall – United we stand
Going downhill and overrun with illegals
We’re all in this together….
Together, we can reach our goals.
We need to get it together.
The Rich are Sucking Our Blood
Republicans keep sabotaging attempts at progress.
The future, unknown, still beckons.
makeup
Hope the President makes up for lost time and lost opportunities. He would be making up for the”shellagh” or shellling he got at the mid-term elections he in November. Hence the six letter word “makeup” would describe hisState of the Union Speech.
Enough with the cosmetic surgery, America.
I have been betrayed by Obama.
Horrible Bush Legacy Remarkable Obama Progress
The ship be sinkin fast folks!
Please, jobs, PLEASE. That is all.
We are UNITED States; remember this.
Need Jobs, No Jobs, No Hope
Fear and anger must not overwhelm.
We must all work together now
Spending our grandchildrens futures away fast!
Other than giving the details on what we must work together on,I think this pretty much sums up what the president will say;whether anyone listens is another story!
Where did all the jobs go?
Back from the brink, now forward
Will USA become #1 again?
Down the tube? We’re halfway there.
Fellow Americans, why should we fear?
We STILL can! (Please, Mister Boehner.)
Is this all there is?
Hopelessly divided over how to proceed.
We are in a state of soft tyranny which must come to an end!
COULDN’T BE BETTER OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT !
We’re turning the corner confidently forward.
A VERY WIDE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
I believe we are turning the corner confidently forward. Better days are ahead of us.
Out of Afghanistan Save lives and money
#2.
Jobs wanting;
taxes blamed;
debt rises.
Moving steadily ahead and getting stronger.
Barack Obama is our only hope
Accomplishments… surely. But we have issues.
Serve the people, not the corporations.
State of Discord:
bereft
inept
surly
Let there be peace on earth.
Needs work. Don’t ever give up.
Absolutely, change has come to America!
Mr. Boehner, You’re NOT the President!
Fat cats fatter, everyone else skinnier.
Human life mightn’t survive future wars.
THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE IN AMERICA
Congress may have lost its way
Listen now to our better angels.
a dream unrealized; far from Camalot
Looking better. Sitting Up. Taking Nourishment.
Great Idea. Good Fun. Thanks Much.
Gasping for air in dangerous currents
THE BILL OF RIGHTS FOR ALL
We are in an economic crisis
Don’t trust or believe in him.
Why can’t we live together peacefully?
Continuing to Reach for Greatness
Obama, all show and no Go!
Stay true to our core principles.
INEQUALITY WILL BRING OUR COUNTRY DOWN.
Going, going, gone to corporate America
BDSL – all up from here.
Lines drawn, rhetoric soars, compromise lost.
We Americans can do much better.
Don’t worry, Be happy.
We’ll persevere.
Just us won’t work any more.
Best of times, Worst of times
presidential determination can make the difference.
Banks bailed out; hourly workers jobless!
God Bless America – It Needs Help!
God Out, Mankind In, America Falling.
Gridlock is good, say the voters.
President Obama keep country moving forward
We’re Americans. We can do better.
Promise, this year will be better.
Reduce debt now. Entitlements killing us.
Slowly becoming a second rate power
Help our Grandchildren save our planet.
Our Union is tested and durable!
The Chinese want their money back
WE ARE PREOCCUPIED WITH THE NEGTIVE
Ideologically disrupted State of the Union.
OBAMA CARES AND SO SHOULD WE
Ill in body…angry in mind…
Two step forward, one step backward.
two steps forward, one step backward.
Economy drives forward; Republicans hit reverse.
Hope is Easy, Change is Harder
Look out your window and rejoice.
A Socialist Democracy is an oxymoron.
Still waiting for governing by adults.
Build it now. Build it here!
Return to basic principles-the Constitution.
“We must work together,” Obama tweets.
Real Jobs! Real Jobs! Real Jobs!
On the verge of Greatness again !
Have hope, America. It gets better.
recovering but needs less fractiousness
Renew country’s ability to right itself!
under siege by reactionary republican troglodytes
No longer a source of pride
The best-laid schemes … gang aft agley
Superpower to Languish Without Renewed Dedication
Troubled, needing cooperative effort from all.
Turbulence ahead, fasten your seat belts!
polarized by ideology-driven far-right.
Time to stop greed and bitterness.
Government mindset needs reworking to work.
The War Is Here, Not In Afghanistan
Looking forward to a working government.
War is here, not in Afghanistan
Recovery is going to be slow.
Down now; on the way Up!
It can only improve from here.
Greedy few destroy life for many
Moving from reflection to inflection point
Our taxes pay for our civilization.
There’s been change. You wanted entertainment.
The rich’s greed must be reversed.
We need to lower our voices
Dem/Rep When are they for America?
House divided against itself stands still
God forgive, we know what, we do.
Open eyes to majority/minority, not self.
There’s nowhere to go but UP!!
Partisan S N A F U
U.S. SEEKING COMEBACK. IT WILL SUCCEED.
The SOTU sucks! Obama MUST Go!
Think positive and always act positively!
emetic
Things have changed. Grow up, America!
Headed for hell in a handbasket.
Better; not out of the woods
America awakening starts to shift policy
Republicans foil. Guns recoil. Teabaggers boil.
Change is inevitable, progress is designed.
Tis a Long Road To Nowhere.
This is America, lets do better
Once divided.Later united.We’ve proof.
Fat and unhappy; Stuck on stupid.
The truth used to substantiate policy
Give President Obama a fair chance!
We have room for improvement JOBS
Together we thrive, divided we fail.
Jobs bad; health sad; folks mad.
We are still a great country!
Hope and determination will prevail.
No place to go but up.
We have survived other trying historical periods, and we will survive this one, and come out better for it.
Despite depression, we can create success.
could be better could be worse.
A nation trying to think clearly.
The United States is falling apart.
Please remember, we are all responsible.
The Founding Fathers are doing flips.
Let’s make something already!
The USA isn’t a Community Organization.
Inertia doesn’t last forever. United we…
Many hurting but Hope is alive!
Remember, we are the country Let’s encourage not disparage.
respect & personal responsibility
Still can be…
Obama could if congress would engage
Houses divided will not bring Change
The Fall of the American Empire
The torch has been passed” (JFK)…we dare not drop it
The state of the union is: “the rich winning the class war.”
America needs to return to manufacturing.
People need jobs soon to survive.
Must keep our hope/faith in our President.
Recovery is slow but is coming!
Government by the rich for the rich evermore.
Wealthy men up, working men down.
The future is in our hands.
Get jobs and manufacturing back here.
Missing $64 trillion = 4GDPs
Bipartisanship takes more than one side.
Remember this: Republicans ruined your country.
Hail to the flag.We’re free.
The best is yet to come.
Without clean environment, we’re all screwed.
Educate, think, plan, cooperate, solve, succeed.
We must invest in America’s future.
Moving forward – beyond fear and anger.
We continue to move forward together.
America, don’t give up on manufacturing.
Up the creek without a paddle
Storm-tossed but sailing with soul
Little actions louder than big words.
Getting better all of the time
All we need ..MADE IN AMERICA
Only UNION can maintain our existence
This is not yankees vs redsox
Opportunity? Just a knock knock joke!
Our long National Nightmare is ending
Can’t afford it? Don’t buy it.
Help jobs war taxes environment thankful
Too many words- too few actions!
Only one more address to go!
Trying to turn obstacles into opportunities…
Corporate greed betrays USA through outsourcing.
Enthusiastically entering a decade of improvement.
Cooperation not Conflict, People before Power.
Not enough time, not enough courage
THIS MUST BE ABOUT OUR CHILDREN
For America’s sake, let’s work together!
Nation strong, needs innovation to succeed.
Divided we stand, united we fall.
1/20/61-1/25/11
No matter how heavy, we must carry the torch
United together to compete worldwide
Back to Basics we must go.
EAGER, APPREHENSIVE AND READY FOR CHANGE !!!
Rich getting richer, poor getting poorer.
The best Nation in the world
go see eat play study buy
We’re in good hands with Obama!
POLITICAL USA,PROUD EMPIRE RUINED NEGATING
the messy state of the union
Innovation. America’s path to greatness again.
The future is in our hands
Hanging in there. Hopeful, yet cautious.
So much better without partisan boundary.
We the people. Must do better.
In America we do BIG things!
Oil industry sucks life from US.
Need return of governing by adults.
The future is ours to win.
More than ever, us versus them.
Improving rapidly from the Bush fiasco.
Party’s over. Sleeves up. Let’s roll!
great country, great people, great challenge.
America a country built on dreams
1. Our future is up to us
2. We can do it–together
3. American ingenuity will create the future
Emerging Mass Awareness of a New Vision
We Wonder Why – Yet Do Nothing
1. Bring me something good to eat
2. Status quo has made us static
3. Selfishness and Indifference have divided us
4. Organic hamburgers and fresh potatoes–done.
This is our generation’s Sputnik moment.
Would the Founding Fathers recognize us?
Winning the science Fair
Obama’s 1st priority when he took office should have been the economy, then jobs. Not healthcare. If this “Healthcare Bill” is so good, why should all the politicians and their staffs, be allowed to exempt themselves from this manditory coverage. How can something so monumental as this bill, be passed, when nobody knows exactly what the entire content of said bill contains. We should be afforded the same exact coverage that our elected officials are recieving. It’s only fair.
Change we can believe in — maybe.
Real answers – not magic. Stop hating!
Are we smart enough to survive