Here are the President’s opening remarks for the celebration of poetry and prose hosted by the President, the first lady and the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities that took place at the White House on Wednesday night.
Clearly, the President understands the cultural importance and value of poetry and it is a partisan shame that it is all overshadowed by the ridiculous controversy stirred up by his opponents.
Gerri Willis, a host on the FOX Business Network had this to say of the event “Of all the pressing issues right now, I don’t think poetry should be one of them.”
Really? Why not? As Obama alludes to in his remarks, it is through poetry that we can better make sense of our world and the world around us. He also mentions how many of our soldiers were given a book of poetry as they went off to fight in the World War.
Poetry matters.