StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

President Barack Obamas Inauguration Speech - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
In the following paper “President Barack Obama’s Inauguration Speech” the author provides a critique of President Barack Obama’s inauguration speech delivered on January 21, 2013. Barack Obama has a reputation as a skillful and fluent public speaker…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.1% of users find it useful
President Barack Obamas Inauguration Speech
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "President Barack Obamas Inauguration Speech"

One can witness members of the audience hooting, nodding, or clapping in approval during pauses in the speech. The repetitive usage of the phrase “We, the People.” added a sense of gravity to the delivery, as these were the same words with which the Preamble to the constitution begins. It thus invoked a sense of history and continuity from the time of the Declaration of Independence.When one searches the speech for significant policy measures that would benefit the majority of the population there were hardly any.

Platitude after platitude forms a tired old pattern. Allusions to ‘unity’, ‘racial equality’, ‘destiny’, ‘security’, ‘bipartisanship’, etc flow fluidly from the President’s tongue. There was nothing concrete to suggest if any of these sentiments will translate into constructive policy measures for the people. Seen in this view the speech can be termed as uninspiring. Although the tenor of President’s voice was serious and its effect on the audience somewhat dramatic, there is little of substance to the entire 20-minute long address to the nation.

President Obama covers foreign and domestic affairs without going into specifics. For instance, he says that every child in America should have an equal opportunity for success. But, whether this means a greater infusion of funds for the public education system and an overall reduction in tuition fee is anybody’s guess. Likewise, Obama talked about creating a conducive environment for businesses. Taken as such it is a benign idea, but if he was implying huge bailouts for corporations out of tax-payer money then it is a bad deal for citizens.

The President’s equivocations also spread to the most potent threat facing the survival of the human species (that, obviously, includes Americans). He said that America will do the need to tackle climate change. But one only needs to look at America’s voting record in United Nations conferences on climate change to figure how contradictory the President’s actions were. It is equally unclear how the President will make America a leader in alternative energy technologies. This is a dubious claim to make in light of the fact that America is the leading consumer of fossil fuels in the world and the oil company lobby holds way over members of the Congress and the Senate.

In sum, the inaugural speech by President Obama is pleasing on the ears of a casual listener. But the moment one analysis the assumptions, implications, and practicalities behind the words, an unpleasant message emerges. The message to American people is to expect nothing drastic in terms of improvement of their quality of life. The President’s allusion to the legacy of a long chain of Presidents that will continue for centuries into the future is rather telling. It is the President’s way of saying that perhaps some President in the future will do something substantive to reduce the distress suffered by a majority of the American population.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(President Barack Obamas Inauguration Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words, n.d.)
President Barack Obamas Inauguration Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words. https://studentshare.org/politics/1623145-this-is-speech-class
(President Barack Obamas Inauguration Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words)
President Barack Obamas Inauguration Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words. https://studentshare.org/politics/1623145-this-is-speech-class.
“President Barack Obamas Inauguration Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words”. https://studentshare.org/politics/1623145-this-is-speech-class.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF President Barack Obamas Inauguration Speech

Informative Speech

Name: Professor: Course: Date: Your Day in Court Court experiences are intimidating and unpleasant for the first time offenders.... The experience is made even worse when you are not accompanied by a law practitioner to guide you through the court processes.... I faced this hallowing experience, firsthand, a few weeks ago when I got flagged down, on my way to school, for my first driving ticket....
3 Pages (750 words) Speech or Presentation

A Speech About Tennis Shoes

A speech about tennis shoes Respected Chair, distinguished guests of the day, and my dear friends, As you all know, Tennis is a well known game which has fans all over the world.... A speech about tennis shoes Respected Chair, distinguished guests of the day, and my dear friends, As you all know, Tennis is a well known game which has fans all over the world.... With this I conclude my speech....
2 Pages (500 words) Speech or Presentation

Commemorative speech on Princess Diana

PRINCESS DIANA Respectable professor and colleagues!... It is an attractive opportunity to pay humble tribute to the lady who is loved by all of us.... The Lady Diana is a distinguished one in the queue of princesses.... She lived a life of legend and left the marks of her grace on our hearts.... hellip; There are millions of events related to the kind hearted lady which will remain in our minds and make us remember her....
1 Pages (250 words) Speech or Presentation

Speech Analysis

13 May 2011 speech Analysis Assigned Peer, Mike Schroeder, delivered a persuasive speech “Why stem cells should be used” to an uninformed audience.... The goal of the speech was to influence the attitude and beliefs of the audience relating the ethical aspects of using stem cells in medical practice.... 482-488), Mike Schroeder started his speech strongly, clearly establishing his ideas and focusing the audience to grasp the meaning of his message positively....
5 Pages (1250 words) Speech or Presentation

Graduation speech

YOUR NAME HERE DATE HERE Graduation speech Staff and students, it is my pleasure to address you today as we stand validated for our commitment to satisfying the international affairs curriculum and move forward in our long-term goals and objectives as a new group of professionals.... HERE HERE Graduation speech Staff and it is my pleasure to address you today as we stand vali d for our commitment to satisfying the international affairs curriculum and move forward in our long-term goals and objectives as a new group of professionals....
3 Pages (750 words) Speech or Presentation

Labor Law Campaign Speech

“Hello, all!... Welcome to Russo's and thank you for coming tonight.... I hope you guys enjoyed the porterhouse steaks, salmon or chicken franchise!... The dessert table will be out shortly.... I want to first tell you how much you are appreciated here at Bruno's Buonissimo Cheap Painters.... hellip; I am the employer however without all 300 of you this operation would not be able to function....
5 Pages (1250 words) Speech or Presentation

Analysis of President Bush's Address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People

The president's speech is one that is directed to the Congress and the American people.... Present during the speech are top government officials including departmental secretaries and different states legislative officials.... The speech is a reaction to the 9/11 attack and a declaration of War against Alqaeda and the Taliban regime.... The speech takes place on 20th September, 2001, only nine days after terrorists hijacked two American planes and crushed them on the twin towers....
3 Pages (750 words) Speech or Presentation

Obamacare: The Impact on American Citizens

Name Instructor Institution Date Obamacare: The Impact on American Citizens and Healthcare On March 23, 2010, president barack Obama enacted into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPCA), also known as Obamacare, to gradually take effect starting its launch which intends to overhaul the longstanding healthcare system in the United States.... Obamacare: The Impact on American Citizens and Healthcare On March 23, president barack Obama enacted into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPCA), also known as Obamacare, to gradually take effect starting its launch which intends to overhaul the longstanding healthcare system in the United States....
3 Pages (750 words) Speech or Presentation
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us