Inauguration Analysis. 01/22/09

Analysis of Barack Obama’s
Inaugural Address.


Hassan Moore.
Eng. 1A.


I am, and have always been a patriot, and tireless advocate of social virtue through adherence to the honorable precepts of our founding creed.
I was deeply moved by the overall theme of the address, a leitmotif that I feel was summed up in the section of his speech that stated definitively, that there are cynics who suggest that our system cannot tolerate such ambitious plans as those we aspire to.
But that they must have forgotten what this country has already achieved, and that the ability of a free people, when “imagination is joined with common purpose, and necessity to courage”, has been the saving grace of this nation.

He renews the thought our ambition and ingenuity as a people is what makes our country so unique, and worth working to preserve. Also, this section of his speech stood out to me because of the portion where he stated that the “ground has shifted”, and that “the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply”.
I found this to be the thesis and theme of the majority of the speech.


Pres. Obama articulately stressed the point that, though we are faced by many trials, our will cannot be broken. He spoke earnestly about the “building” and “fixing” that this nation needs, and that we need to turn our focus away from destruction and strife, and toward the reconstruction of our nation, and way of life. He also expressed a clear and defined vision of our future as a virtuous nation, one worthy of setting an example for the world.


A theme that was stalwart within this speech, as it is in many of the president’s addresses, was the concept of a return to the ideals which made this nation thrive and develop. The liberties and freedoms which are granted to the citizens of the nation have come at too high a price to allow our efforts as a people to have been in vain.


Pres. Obama delivered his speech with consistency, pride and composure.
He spoke in broad literal and figurative terms that allowed the audience to perceive both his overall vision and the actions that are necessary to fashion this country into a more socially responsible nation. One that is strong and industrious, respected and admired.
I believe that this message, his “doctrine”, will be recalled and recited for generations to come.



The inaugural address of Pres. Obama has made me very optimistic about this countries propensity to change and growth, and I consider it be one of the great speeches of modern times. Let us all work together to ensure liberty’s survival.

“Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.” - George Washington.