Will you watch the State of the Union?

Will you be watching President Joe Biden's State of the Union speech this evening?

That's our Question of the Week for our readers.

If you will be watching on television, will you be doing it out of habit — you make a point of it, every year — or because you are particularly interested in this year's executive branch-congressional check-in?

Do you watch it for the spectacle, or the substance?

The spectacle is certainly something unique in American politics. The sergeantat-arms shouting out, “Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States!” The length of the applause that follows that. Getting a gander at the members of the House, the Senate and many of the justices of the Supreme Court, so rarely gathered together in one place. The crowd-pleasing lines meant to prompt a clap, or even a standing ovation. Any catcalls from the members of Congress in their best blue suits and repp ties? Any tearing-up of a copy of the speech by the disgusted speaker of the House?

Or perhaps it's the interesting guests in the balcony invited by the president, cabinet members of members or Congress. Last year, at the very beginning of the war that came of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it was the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. This year, one of the guests, invited by California Sen. Alex Padilla, will be Monterey Park Councilman Henry Lo in the aftermath of the tragic mass shooting in his city.

In our divided nation, do you think it's possible for a partisan American to watch the State of the Union with a kind of, well, disinterested interest? Not bringing your biases for or against the current president with malice or admiration aforethought, but merely listening to each sentence and judging it on its merits or lack thereof? Do you think any serious, real news will be made by the president tonight?

If you choose to write in after rather than before the speech is made, what did you think of it? Given the national discussion about Biden at 80 being our oldest president ever, how do you think he's holding up?

Email your thoughts to opinion@scng.com. Please include your full name and city or community of residence. Provide a daytime phone number (it will not be published).