The Second Address Speeches of Barack Obama and Abraham Lincoln: The Similarities and Differences - Essay Example

The Second Address Speeches of Barack Obama and Abraham Lincoln: The Similarities and Differences. January 23, 2009 Barack Obama’s Second Address Speech While thanking the outgoing President George Bush for his service to the nation and the cooperation extended towards a smooth transition, the incoming 44th first African American President started his second address speech by humbly acknowledging the tough tasks that lay ahead of him, the trust bestowed on him to deliver those tasks and the sacrifices that were made by the ancestors. He further stated that despite all the speeches that were made by each successive presidents whether during times of prosperity or at times of peace, the country had carried on till date not because of the explicit skills or the vision of the people in high offices but due to the faith people had in the ideals of the forbearers and being true to the founding documents. The President while reminding the current crisis attributed the weakening state of economy to not just the irresponsibility of a few but as a collective failure to make hard choices. He also mentioned about the loss of jobs, homes and decline of businesses while maintaining that the healthcare costs were shooting up and the schools were failing too many. He emphasized that our ways of life are in fact strengthening our enemies and threatening our planet. He also raised the fearful notion prevailing among the American people that the decline of the country is inevitable and their confidence levels though not accurately measurable was quite unnerving and sapped with the future generations expecting to be living a degraded life. While highlighting this he also reiterated that the challenges faced today are for real and are multiple. While it may not be easy to overcome them overnight he reassured the people of America that it will definitely be overcome. The expectant crowd was delighted by this statement and gave a thundering applause to the President. The President also called into observation the reason behind the gathering stating that hope prevailed over fear and unity of purpose over conflict and disorder. While dismissing the misplaced confidence, false promises and beliefs of politics in the past as unfortunate, he highlighted the real legacy passed on from generation to generation which according to him is a GOD given promise that while all are equal and free, everyone has the equal right to pursue happiness in full measure. There was again a loud applause for making this statement. The President appreciated and reminded the untiring efforts of the lesser known laborers who had been the actual risk takers and doers behind the rugged and long winding path towards the nation’s prosperity and declared that the country is not for the leisure oriented or people seeking pleasure and riches of the country without working hard. He underlined the sacrifices of the fellow countrymen who fought and died in places like Concord, Normandy, Gettysburg and Khe Sahn. These people according to him viewed America as far bigger than the personal ambitions put together and far greater than differences in birth, wealth or factions. He stressed the need for straightening ourselves up and dusting off working our way towards the remaking of America while reminding reassuringly that we still possess the same verve, confidence, skill, expertise, quality in our goods and services that the world has known us for always, both before and even during the beginning of the present crisis. He carried on with absolute confidence that while no stone will be left unturned to transform the current state of economy creating more jobs and increasing growth, focused work in the fields of education, science and technology will have to be driven towards harnessing the natural resources and building modern infrastructure for enhancing trade, commerce and general communication which keeps the country together as it moves forward. The President brushed aside the critics who saw the government as intolerant towards big plans and reminded them of what free men and women can achieve when united with a common purpose as in the past. He stated that development measures that enhance the quality of life for all would receive prime attention than non-progressive ones which will be brought to an end. He also stressed on the importance of gaining public trust in the government by conducting a value based and honest administration. He also cleared the speculation on the role of market in the growth of the economy and emphasized the need for helping every willing person rather than only the prosperous to ensure common good. Highlighting this he mentioned that the success of our economy was not dependent on the size of GDP but the ability to reach out prosperity to one and all the true seekers. He got applause for this from a few likely to be the learned section of the crowd. On an inspirational leadership note he drew the attention of people of the countries in the world towards America quoting that the country is once again ready to show the way to the world to live a life of peace and dignity for every inhabitant of the world. He dismissed as false the choice between safety and ideals saying that the age old ideals instilled by our blood generations in the past are still valid and relevant to today’s world and will be upheld without any compromise under the excuse of mere experience gained over the passage of time. He further clarified that military attacks are not an answer to fascism or communalism but strong alliances and enduring beliefs are a way out as shown by the past generations. The mere possession of power cannot justify our actions as we please but the justness of cause, restraint, humility, leadership through example by the careful use of power can. This was apparently a dig at the previous government’s military misadventures and the resulting costs and deaths. While reassuring that we still had the capacity to exhibit all these traits and inherent characteristics, he alerted that it required even greater resolve and cooperation with countries to face the impending problems of the future. Intending on leaving Iraq responsibly to its people and forging lasting peace in Afghanistan while bridging partnership with old friends and former foes to lessen nuclear threat and rollback the effect of global warming, he simultaneously gave a stern warning to those people who expected an apology from the Americans for their way of life and threatening its defense, making it very clear that the spirit of the American is ever more stronger and the evil intentions of terror will ultimately be defeated. Irrespective of the fact that the country was filled with Christians, Muslims, Jews and Hindus and there was also a mixed existence of language and culture originating from the far corners of the world, the President conveyed this to be a sign of strength rather than weakness. He strongly felt and hoped that one day all differences between race, religion, culture and languages will dissolve completely and America will take the lead to bring in an era of world peace to humanity in common. He indicated to the Muslim world that they should give up blaming the west for the ills of their society and extend hands of friendship expressing confidence in the mutual interest and mutual respect that we are adopting in our way forward from here. They must know well that their own people will have trust in them only when they are constructive rather than being destructive and that ruling by silencing the opposition has not always won as per history. Reaffirming his support and help to the poor nations in their pursuit for better life he also indicated to nations of well being that care and attention should also be given to happenings outside their borders and that the resources of the world must be carefully consumed taking into full consideration the resulting impact. He emphasized the need to change with the world. He requested everybody in the gathering to adopt the spirit of the soldiers who are serving in the distant mountains and desert regions and those who have laid their lives, appreciating and thanking the soldier’s noble intentions of extending selfless service towards the cause of nation’s liberty. The President said that it is the people’s faith and determination on which the country depends and hence like a courageous firefighter who is ready to storm a smoke filled stairway and as a responsible parent who is ready to do everything to take care of his children, people must help each other with kindness and selflessness to overcome difficult situations. While outlining the responsibilities that come with citizenship he directed the nation’s people to return to the valued old truths of hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism. These according to him have been the basis of the historic progress of the country and must be adopted gladly to perform the difficult task of discharging duties to ourselves, the nation and the world in this new era. Referring to this as the source of confidence and the call of GOD to shape our uncertain destiny the President then recalled, rather emotionally the fate of his father, less than sixty years ago, that he might not have been served in a local restaurant, but that today the son is able to take a sacred oath to a high office which underlines the meaning to our creed and our liberty. Remembering the days of birth of America and the incidents surrounding the final moments of the revolution the President quoted the then father of the nation’s words: "Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]." The President while comparing the current situation to be similar as above in terms of a hardship faced during winter and the nation’s fight up against supposedly raging storms and icy currents wanted the people to pass on a message to the future generation that when the time for testing came we did not give up hope or abandon our fight but carried forward with eyes fixed on the horizon and blessed by the GOD given gift of freedom, passing it on to them safely. With this he thanked the crowd invoking Gods’ blessings. Abraham Lincoln’s Second Address Speech The President expressed that there is little new things that he can present after being in power for more than four years with most of the development in the nation being already known to the public. Also the opportunity available during a second address is far less than the first time however a statement as to the future course of action is in order here. He further said that everything is fine and did not want to venture to any predictions for the future. The President stated that only four years ago when a similar address was being delivered, in the face of an unavoidable civil war, to save the Union, there were a few others who were out to destroy the Union. Both sides did not want war. But one of them would rather have war than let the nation survive while the other would go for war rather than let the nation be destroyed. The civil war was attributed to the motives of insurgents who wanted to strengthen the peculiar and powerful interests of the colored slaves largely localized in the southern part of the country and wanted to tear apart the Union by doing this. But they did not imagine that they will face a war of this big a magnitude or duration and wanted the easiest way out without regard to any fundamentalism. The government on its part did not enforce anything more than restricting the enlargement of its territories. The irony was that both the rivals believed in the same GOD and read the same bible but wanted GOD to take sides for food and protection. The President said referring to God’s own ways of punishing the offender instead of completely preventing the occurrence of the offences that we cannot escape the introduction of civil war in the north and south for offenders are there in both places and hence due to our own firm beliefs in the ways of GOD should GOD will that the American slavery is the offence and it must continue then we cannot deviate from the facts that we have attributed to HIS ways of punishing such offences. Let us sincerely pray and hope that the war and its dangerous consequences come to a quick end but still if in fact it is the WILL of GOD to continue war till all the wealth piled up over these two hundred and fifty years of hard work is sunk and each drop of blood is avenged by drawing blood then it is still God’s judgment and righteous ways which will prevail. Intending ill will to none and being charitable to all supported by firmness in the right as GOD gives us the privilege to recognize the right, let us complete our work and help the wounded, their widow and the orphans of the battle while doing out best to obtain lasting peace among ourselves and among other nations. Similarities and Differences between the two speeches Both the speakers are religious and have faith in GOD in that they refer to GOD quite often in their speeches. Both are very time conscious in that their speeches have been very short and brief in time and content. They use precise words instead of a long winding speech. Since Lincoln’s speech did not enjoy the technological advancements that prevailed during Obama’s speech only a few thousands could actually hear in person the speech delivered by Lincoln while millions of people around the world watched the speech of Obama thanks to advancements in electrical engineering and electronic communications. Both the speeches focused on the current crisis prevailing in the country although they were different. It was the civil war which was under focus in Lincoln’s speech while the state of economy and foreign policy was focused in Obama’s speech. Both Lincoln and Obama rarely use personal pronouns in their speeches and elevate themselves to selfless levels. Works Cited Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address (1865), Web, Milestone Documents, Viewed on January 23, 2009, Barack H. Obama: Text of Inaugural Address, Web, Viewed on January 23, 2009, Cottle, Michael, Orr, Christopher, Zengerie, Jason, and the TNR staff, THE PLANK, Barack Obama’s Speech: A Disappointing Hodgepodge, Web, THE NEW REPUBLIC, A Journal of Politics and the Arts, Viewed on January 23, 2009 Cornwell, Rupert, January 20, 2009, Can Obama match Abe Lincoln’s gold standard? Web, Viewed on January 23, 2009, Fullilove, Michael, Jan 2009, Obama’s biggest speech yet, Web, Viewed on January 23, 2009, Reisman, Phil, January 20, 2009, Obama’s words must last much like Lincoln’s, Web, Viewed on January 23, 2009, Read More