I decided to rewatch the inaugural address this morning, after nearly a week, in hopes that I could glean more from that fifteen minutes. Here are my notes. Also, at the bottom, you'll find the video, brought to you by Hulu and Fox News.
"My fellow citizens..." - He connects himself with the people. Makes himself less of a "rockstar" or "god" to being on pare with everyone.
Use of scripture - "...it is time to set aside childish things."
Reframing of commonly used and exhausted adages - racial unity, freedom, equality.
Remembering and taking pride in the past. Briefly remembering victories and learning from failures?
Get off your butt, stop complaining that it's too hard or not possible, and get back to work/the progress of this nation.
Necessary change, evolution, and development to meet requirements of the future. "All this we can do; all this we will do."
We must do our duties and jobs, each and every one of us, to ensure the progress of our nature. To continue to evolve and grow and be an example.
We must lead the world, be an example of justice, unity, freedom, and prosperity. (Be part of the world?)
It seems as though he's suggesting that we evolve our thought and actions from what we did in Iraq (invade, take over, rearrange, attempt to free the people, but never actually give them the ability to self govern or self rule) to what we must do in Afghanistan (assist the people to rise up against the oppressors and forge, for themselves, the country they deserve). "...and forge a hard earned peace in Afghanistan."
"We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense..."
"We know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness..."
Emphasis on "non-believers". First president to recognize this, growing population in an effort, presumably, to bind us together again regardless of belief and/or faith.
Addresses the Muslim world and fantasist leaders and perverse groups blaming their problems on anyone but themselves.
"...we are will to extend a hand if you are will to unclench your fist..."
Praising the fallen soldiers and forefathers; remembering the past so we may not make the same mistakes.
"A willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves."
It's up to us for this country to continue on.
Need for love, respect, community, and to "lend a hand" to our neighbors (extrapolated, represents the kind of country we must be with regard to the world).
Tuskeegee Airmen, sitting near the president as an example of the past that must be learned from and never repeated.
Remember what this country was built upon, what makes this country; these are the things that remain, must be remembered, and must continue.
"...new era of responsibility."
The task ahead of us is difficult, but we can't continue our lax behavior. We must confront the future with conviction and armed with the tenements this country was created upon.
We all have a job to do. No longer is it the leaders that must do the work, but all of us.
Rare comment about the dying of segregation and racism. He embodies the change that must occur and must be for this country to evolve into that "city on a hill". (standing ovation)
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2 comments:
The one thing I found odd about Obama's speech is it left no room for the possibility that we would fall as THE superpower in the world. Shouldn't he at least consider it, what with China barking at our door? ~Anisa
Or India, Brazil, or Russia.
I felt his calling the US "the superpower" was a reference to the nature of the US. There's something innate in the sinews of America that cannot be denied. Its history, religious doctrine, attitudes toward change and progress are unlike any other. (I say that because I doing feel there's another nation in history that embodies all of these things at the same time; there is, of course, a lengthy discussion in me saying that but lets go on)
So, as far as I'm concerned, at this stage in human history/evolution there is no other "superpower". A country that embodies the future and which most, if not all other, countries look to and mimic.
Maybe that's arrogant, but I've always felt it to be a lot more fact than posturing or puffing up.
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