Obama's Inaugural Speech: Hope and Change

[drbob]

       Today at noon, Barack Hussein Obama became the President of the United States and America took one more step toward fulfilling the promise laid out so superbly by Jefferson in the Declaration.  It is one more step up the ladder toward the culmination of Dr. King's and America's dream.  It is an irony, as the President noted, that he took his oath as the leader of this nation in a city where 60 or so years ago, he would not have been served in most local restaurants.       
   His carefully crafted inaugural address set out several themes toward which his administration will be dedicated.  In his speech made a stark and very sharp break with the previous administration.  He spoke about where we (as a nation) have been, our current situation, and where he intends to lead us. 
   He said American will once again become a nation that respects the civil rights of its citizens, offers a hand of peace to those nations that will work peacefully with us, but that we will not back off in our effort to defeat the terrorist who wish to do us harm.  Obama said that American will use its power when necessary, but that power does not mean "...doing anything we want."  He said, in a not too obscure reference to the Bush administration, that America is ready to lead once more by example and that we will be a friend of any people who are willing to work cooperatively for peace and dignity.  He reminded us and other world leaders that we will be remembered by "...what we build not by what we destroy."   
The President noted our economic adversities but told his listeners that America will overcome.   It was a speech filled with hope and an anticipation of a better future for America.  He challenged Americans to put aside differences and start today to get America moving.  He told us that our recovery would be difficult, but he confidently proclaimed that America has done it before and will do it again. 
President Obama, recalling the icy winter at Valley Forge and the words of the father of our nation, ended his speech with these uplifting words: "With hope and virtue let us brave once more the icy currents and endure what storms may come.  Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let the journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter, and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's gift upon us we carried forth that great give of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations." 
   It was in my opinion an excellent inaugural speech and a good start to the change that his administration wants to bring.         

[Palehorse]

Although I have not yet seen his address I have read it. I agree that it was well written and at face value somewhat inspiring. A message of hope, change, and leadership that I sincerely hope comes to fruition.

[smokeykat]

most times the speeches are written by someone else...not the speaker.  I know that Clinton had someone write all his speeches for him.....something I read somewhere...just not sure where it was.

[followsthewolf]

Not in Obama's case.

Several commentators and guests were talking about how Obama wrote his inaugural speech about a week ago and polished it this last week.

And they mentioned that Clinton was up until 2:30 the night before his inauguration putting the final touches on his speech, which he wrote himself.

[Sandy Eggo]

In some cases, the speeches are written and the person delivering the speech leaves the meaning of it newclear..er..ahem...unclear.

[drbob]

It is true that most top executives and political leaders have speech writers.  It works something like this... The executive says to his speech writers here is the gist of what I want to say and they get to work laying out a speech.  Then the executive would look it over and suggest changes that will make the speech his/her own.  Alternatively, (and this I have read is Obama's way) the executive writes the speech, than gives it to speech writers to polish a bit or suggest wording changes.  Good speakers are usually good speech writers.  Obama is clearly the best speaker that we have seen in office for a long time.  Better, in my view, than Clinton and Reagan, who were both pretty good in their own right. 

It is interesting that Obama went for a more substantive speech, rather than one which would have displayed the classic rhetorical skill he can call on if he wishes.  This is my opinion, but I think he did this because during the campaign one criticism was that he was more style than substance.  So, he chose to give a very substantive Inaugural Address. 

[Ghost of Jaco]

It remains to be seen whether America's first bi-racial president is more "cattle than hat", to borrow a phrase from a familiar source.