The Power of Barack Obama's Inaugural Address

The power of Barack Obama's Inaugural Address

President John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th President on January 20, 1961. Fifty years later, President Barack Obama was sworn in as 44th President of the United States and delivered his Inaugural Address on January 20, 2009. I, as a younger generation, believe the content of Barack Obama's Inaugural Address is more influenced than John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address. President Obama tells directly what he could do for the country, and how he would fix the country to get out of the economic crisis.

After America won the World War 2 against Japan. Life in America began to return normal. Soldiers went home to see their parents and wives after years of fighting. Industries stopped producing war equipment and started to produce goods that made Americans' life enjoyable. Jobs opened for many people in America. The American economy was stronger than ever at this time. This was also a good opportunity for John F. Kennedy when he became the president of the United States of America. President Kennedy delivered his inaugural address on January 20, 1961. He was confident to say America was the strongest and wealthy country in the world and America was the country set example for other countries. In addition, he used a lot of complex sentences and beautiful worlds to describe the America and the people, and he even offered to help or assist those countries that are poor if permitted: 'To those people in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required.' (Goshgarian, 463) Opposite with president Kennedy, president Obama has become the president of the America while the country is facing economic crisis that the country is facing with hopes of getting over it. This is the reason why the speech of Obama is geared more on economic progress within the country. President Obama didn't use many beautiful words to describe the America like president Kennedy. He even described the America is the weak country, but not as weak as people think. He pointed out directly what Americans are struggling at: 'Homes have been lost, jobs shed, business shuttered. Our health care is too costly, our school fail too many, and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.' (Goshgarian, 466) President Obama woke up the Americans, and let the people know that the problems that Americans were facing are real and serious. After president Obama let the people knew what problems they were facing at, he assured the people by saying "All this we can do. All this we will do." (Goshgarian, 467) It is undeniable that president Obama is more eloquent compared to president Kennedy. President Obama's words seems more power and definitely than president Kennedy. After fifty years, the economic is so much different than before. At this moment, Americans are only care about how can president Obama saving the country, rather than care about which country is the strongest like president Kennedy said.

President Kennedy asked what the Americans can do for the country, and let not ask what the country can do for the Americans. He emphasized that not only himself will work to make the country better, but the Americans should also work with him to make the country stronger than ever: 'Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the desert, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.' (Goshgarian, 464) After of let both side make the country get better