Identification and Constitutive Rhetoric in President Obamas 2009 Inaugural Speech - Essay Example

Identification and Constitutive Rhetoric in President Obama’s 2009 Inaugural Speech Situation Analysis The text is a speech by President Barack Obama. The newly elected President made his maiden speech as the president of the United States of America at the U.S. Capital in Washington DC. Although he had been elected several months earlier, the president had not been sworn in and, therefore, had not assumed presidential powers until January 20, 2009, the day he made the inaugural speech. President Obama’s inaugural speech was made at a time when the U.S. was facing several crises and challenges. The speech also was made at a time when the U.S. was facing a financial crisis. The financial crisis, which began in the country, affected many nations spread across the world. As a consequence of the financial crisis, many Americans were jobless or lost their jobs, the healthcare sector was in trouble even as more and more people needed medical cover as protection against rising medical costs (President Barack Obamas Inaugural Addresspar 4-5). Being his first address as the president of the greatest nation on earth, president Obama sought to achieve several goals through his speech. One of the main purposes of the speech was to reassure Americans and give them hope in spite of the prevailing social-political situation that the country was facing. The speech was also an address to the entire world; allies and potential allies, hostile nations and groups, the Muslim community, and poor nations. Only years earlier, the United States of America had engaged in war with Iraq and Afghanistan. The war between the U.S. and the two countries was based on the premise that the administrations of the two countries were promoting international terrorism by hosting leaders of international terrorist groups or financing their activities. Apart from the issue of terrorism, the U.S. engaged the two countries for oppressing their people and violating their civil rights. Because of the stance that the Bush administration had taken with respect to the two countries, different quarters criticized the U.S. government of terrorizing and bossing other countries. The country was thus facing a lot of criticism from different players in the international arena and its relations with many countries, especially those in the Middle East were strained. President Obama faced a number of constraints even as he made his inaugural speech. For one, his audience was quite diverse. Appreciating the diversity of that characterized the Anerican nation, Obama stated that, “We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth;..” (par.18). Although he is addressing the public from Washington DC, the entire country is watching and listening to him through different media. His message is being broadcast and is sure to reach the people and leaders of African, Asian, and European countries. His message is also sure to reach leaders and members of terrorist groups and nations that perceive the U.S. as the real terrorist. Because of his diverse audience, Obama has to choose his words carefully. One of his calls to his audience and particularly to the Muslim world was peace. Taking note of the fact that his words could instigate unrest and violence, the president had to use soft words wherever he could. At the same time, he had to pass a strong warning to those leaders and nations that thrived on oppressing and terrorizing their people. In this respect, he had to use strong words and emphasize his stand on terrorism. Yet another constraint that Obama faced was with respect to his identity as an African American. For a long time in the history of America, African Americans had been treated as lesser citizens and did not enjoy certain rights. In as much as the political environment had changed over the years, many people still cast doubts as to whether he (as an African American) could perform well as a president. Perhaps, in the minds of many, he was going to be a weak president. Furthermore, his personal identity was a subject of debate. While others argued that he was not a bonafide citizen of the country, others questioned his religious affiliation. The questions that surrounded the identity of President Obama could have negatively impacted on his reputation. However, the effects of these questions were diminished by the fact that he had been duly elected and was highly esteemed as the president of the country. President Obama applied the concepts of identification and constitutive rhetoric to achieve his goals of calling Americans and the world at large to unite. In this paper I will discuss identification and constitutive rhetoric and apply them to president Obama’s first inaugural speech. Literature Review One of the rhetoric tools that I will apply in analyzing President Obam’s inaugural speech is identification. According to Burke, identification occurs through division and consubstantiality and more often than not is always not used intentionally. Jasinksi (305), concurs with Burke on the concept of identification as he notes that “(identification) is the flip side of division”. What the two authors mean is that identification as a rhetoric tool finds application because individuals are divided against each other. Consubstantiality according to Burke (22) is a state that is characterized by people being joined and separated at the same time. Among other points, consubstantiality and division commonly are experienced with respect to gender, ethnicity, experience, and gender. Burke (22) further notes that the divisions that are a major cause of separation between people can be overcome through identification. On his part, Jasinksi (306) notes that identification as a rhetoric tool can be used both as a means and end; to identify with the audience and to identify with a specific group. Apart from identification, Obama uses constitutive rhetoric in his inaugural speech. Constitutive rhetoric basically is the act of constituting culture, community, and character through discourse. With respect to constitutive rhetoric, Charland states that it “does more than create an image of its audience; it generates the conditions of possibility that can structure the identity of those to who it is addressed (Jasinski107)”. For constitutive rhetoric to be applicable, interpellation should be a reality. In other words, there must be a relationship between individuals and ideology. Charland emphasizes the importance of narratives in the construction of constitutive rhetoric. In his words, he notes that constitutive rhetorics are “not merely (ideological) because they provide individuals with narratives to inhabit as subjects and motives to experience, but because they insert ‘narratized’ subjects-as-agents into the world” (Charland, 1987, p. 143). One person that has analysed Obama’s inaugural speech is Liilia Batluk. In her analysis of Obama’s inaugural speech, Liilia Batluk notes that the president makes use of a lexicon chain. In this regard, Obama carefully chooses his words in his call to his countrymen to work toward or embrace expected changes (Batluk 18). Batluk also notes that one of the core themes in the inaugural speech is unity. In several instances, the president cites historical events that have served to unite the people of America much as he used the collective term “we”. Fischer’s analyses Obama’s inaugural speech at great length. Fischer’s analysis of Obama’s inaugural speech touches on a number of rhetoric tools and concepts that the president applied in his address. Some of the tools that Fischer (par. 2-8) cites include metaphor, parallel structure, antethesis, allusion, anaphora, and epistrophe. Speaklikeapro concurs with Fischer to a great extent in the rhetorical devices that Obama used in his speech. Some of the tools of rhetoric that Speaklikeapro (par. 1-7) cites include tricolon, parallelism, asyndeton, anaphora, polysyndeton, and antithesis. One example of the application of antithesis in the speech according to Speaklikeapro (par. 19) is when the president states, “know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy”. Yet another analyst that has critiqued Obama’s speech is Atkoinson. Atkinson notes that Obama uses imagery and alliteration in his speech, such as in the statement, “Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms” (par. 10). As evidenced above, different analysts and critics have analyzed Obama’s inaugural speech. The different analysts have focused on different tools of rhetoric. While this is the case, no analyst has so far discussed the president’s use of identification and constitutive rhetoric in spite of their glaring presence in the speech. By analyzing how Obama uses identification and constitutive rhetoric, I will show that that the speech serves mainly to unite the people of America in their diversity as well as bring the world to a common ground of reasoning in spite of the divisions that characterize it. In addition to discussing the concepts of identification and constitutive rhetoric, I will add to new knowledge by showing that Obama sought to unite the world and undo what his predecessor had done – create a rift between the U.S. and the Middle East. Analysis and Interpretation As previously noted, identification is closely associated with division and consubstantiality. Consubstantiality in this respect is a state in which people are both separate and joined. Some common points of consubstantiality and division including ethnicity, race, gender, and experience to name but a few. Although identification may be difficult to recognize, its application in many speeches is sure. As noted by Hochmuth, identification can be both a means and an end. Apart from applying identification as a rhetoric tool to identify with his audience in his inaugural speech, President Obama uses it to identify with different groups of people and bring them to a common ground as well as to identify and address the common enemy. In president Obama’s speech, the use of identification is evident in several cases. In a bid to give his audience, particularly Americans, hope, the president identifies with those who struggled to see the United States of America reach where it is currently. He notes at one point that “For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth” (President Barack Obamas Inaugural Addresspar. 12). By using “us” in this statement, the president brings his audience to a common ground. The president also identifies with the plight of African Americans several decades ago and the achievements as a way of showing his audience how the country has made positive steps with respect to the respect of freedom and equality. Only decades earlier, African Americans were considered lesser Americans who had no right to vote and therefore could not occupy the highest office ion the land. In his words, he notes, “a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath” (President Barack Obamas Inaugural Addresspar 25). In this respect race and ethnicity are used as points if division and consubstantiality. In the speech, Obama also applies the identification in addressing Muslims, other nations, and those that are inclined toward terrorism and misdeeds. The president also applies otherness to address those who are against the nation or who are pessimistic about its course. He notes that “Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans...” (President Barack Obamas Inaugural Addresspar. 15). In this case, the division between humans is quite evident; there are those that have no question regarding America’s ambition and those who truly believe in it. The president seems to call those who have no faith in the country’s ambition to join the bandwagon that bears those who are optimistic about the country’s future. In this statement, the president seeks to unite his countrymen in the face of those who disbelieve in the American dream. Obama distances his country from nations and groups that are out oppress or terrorize people. The concept of otherness and identification are evident in the speech in the words, “To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their societys ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy” (President Barack Obamas Inaugural Addresspar. 23). The president also addresses the “other” parties with whom the U.S. is in disagreement by noting that, “and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.” (par.18). The use of the collective term “we”, the president effectively identifies and addresses the common enemy while uniting those across the world who are peace loving. Obama’s inaugural speech was not just directed at his countrymen but at the world at large. As the newly elected president of the United States of America, the president occupied a position of great authority and therefore commanded the respect of American citizens, as diverse as they are, and of the world at large. The relationship between Obama and African Americans, minority groups in the U.S., U.S. citizens, the Muslim world, poor nations and developing nations is quite evident in the speech. Being the first African American president of the U.S., Obama commands the respect of African Americans and, by extension, other minority groups in the country. The relationship between Obama and this group of people is significant considering that historically, they have been subjected to discrimination and other civil wrongs. Being the president, Obama is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the country, and indeed the world, makes positive steps toward the establishment of democracy and peaceful coexistence, and the respect of civil and human rights. These few examples show that there is interpellation between the President and his audience. Jasinski (107) notes that narratives “…construct[s] a history for the collective identity that has been constituted” (Jasinski 107). Obama uses several narratives that serve to create or establish a collective identity in his speech. In a bid to call his countrymen and women to unity, the president narrates how the country has made positive strides with through the labour and perseverance of different people. In his words, “It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things…” (Obama par. 9). Another narrative that the president uses to unite his people relates to the wars that Americans have fought in the course of history so that the country became stronger and better. Even as the president invokes historical events, the president makes use of the collective identity “us”. In his words, “For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn” (par.10). Yet another narrative that Obama uses in his address to draw his countrymen and women to a common ground and create a unifying identity is with respect to the founding fathers. In this respect, he states that, “Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations” (Obama par. 21). Apart from using narratives to reinforce his relationship with his audience, President Obama uses narratives to identify and reinforce beliefs. A few sentences down his speech, President Obama declares that, At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents” (Obama par. 2). In this case, the president is reinforcing the belief that as a community or society, Americans are strongly attached to certain ideals and faithful in honoring the constitution and the declaration of independence among other important documents that have shaped the history of the country. The president also constitutes the American society as one that is full of hope and stands united in the midst of crises and challenges. In his words, the president states, “On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord” (Obama par. 7). One main feature in relation to constitutive rhetoric is the call or demand for action. President Obama takes an early step to declare his call for action directed at the people of America soon after setting the ground for this. He sets the ground by reminding his people of the grievous situation of the country and the challenges that American citizens are facing. In this respect he notes, “That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood…” (Obama par. 2)… “Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real” (Obama par. 6). He then goes ahead to give his people hope and reassures them that the future is bright. In this respect, he states, “But know this, America - they (the challenges that America is facing) will be met” (par. 7). After going to great lengths to capture the attention and set the ground, he begins to issue demands and calls to action. He calls on his countrymen and women to get to work so as to build the nation, overcome the challenges, that the country is facing, and disapprove the skeptics that feel that America is on its way downwards from greatness. He states, “The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act” (par. 14 In several instants, Obama makes use of the phrases “let us” and “let it”, all of which signal a call to action. At one point, he states that, “So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled”, (Obama par. 33). ). In this case, he is basically calling his people to give deep thought to the situation of the country and the long path that America as a society has trodden to reach where it is. In another instant, he notes, that “Let it be told to the future world..” (par. 34). Yet again, he states that, “Let it be said by our childrens children that when…..” (par. 35). In these cases, the president is making a call not only to Americans but the world at large to consider America’s history and its bright future and declare it to future generations. Conclusion In conclusion, President Obama’s inaugural speech was punctuated with identification as a rhetorical tool. As a rhetorical tool, identification is associated with division and consubstantiality. Some of the strategies that Obama applies with respect to identification are common ground, antithesis, and collectiveness. Obama uses identification to persuade his audience to view positively his point of view. He also uses identification to make his audience identify with past and present events and situations, and people. On the other hand he applies the same tool to draw together the people of the world in their diversity to a common ground of thinking and to a table of peace, democracy, and mutual understanding. Even as he does this, he applies otherness to distance his country and government from those who thrive on terrorism or seek to oppress other people. To this extent, the division that exists between the U.S., friendly nations, and friendly groups and individuals, and their opposites is addressed. In many words, the president persuades those on the other side of the moral spectrum to shun evil and work with the rest of the world in building a peaceful world. President Obama also applies constitutive rhetoric to constitute a community and culture. The president positions himself as a person of authority and proceeds to establish interpellation between himself and his diverse audience. By using narratives, the president reminds his countrymen and women of the course that the country has trodden. By using the collective terms “we” and “us”, the president constitutes a community before addressing it toward taking a particular action. The American culture as constituted by the president is one that upholds hard work, peace, and democracy and that is guided by certain principles and ideals. On the other hand, it is a culture that shuns and abhors oppression, laziness, terrorism, and anything that goes against public good. Works Cited Atkinson Max. Rhetoric and imagery in President Obama’s inauguration speech. 2009. Web. Batluk, Liilia. Rhythm and rhetoric: A Linguistic analysis of Obama’s inaugural address. Halmstad University. N.d. Web. http://hh.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:427453/FULLTEXT03.pdf Burke, Kenneth. A Rhetoric of Motives. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1969. Print. Charland, M. Constitutive rhetoric: The case of the peuple Québécois. The Quarterly Journal of Speech, 73, 133-150. 1987. Print. Fischer, Judith. The Rhetoric of President Obamas Inauguration Speech. 2009. Web. http://www.law.louisville.edu/node/2720 Jasinksi, James. Sourcebook on Rhetoric: Key Concepts in Contemporary Rhetorical Studies. Thousand Oaks, California. Sage Publications Inc. 2001. Print. President Barack Obamas Inaugural Address Jan. 20, 2009. Web. Speaklikeapro. Barack Obama: First Inaugural Address. N.d. Web. http://www.speaklikeapro.co.uk/Barack%20Obama%20Inaugural%20Address.htm Read More