In his inaugural address as the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama told Americans must understand that “understand that greatness is never a given.” He urged his fellow citizens to remake America by tackling the conflicts of this era.
Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States as millions watched the inaugural ceremony in person and across the world. On a breezy cold day in Washington, Obama became the first African American to be U.S. president. Around 2 million jammed into the National Mall to watch this historic occasion.
Audiences around the world were anticipating Obama’s first address to the nation as president. Obama spoke for 20 minutes on the fiscal crisis engulfing the U.S. and how he would clean up America’s public image. He even took a few small swipes at the Bush administration’s decisions.
“Our economy is badly weakened,” he said on stage, “a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.”
He also said, “Each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.”
Obama made sure to mention the past eight years of a surveillance society dominated by the Patriot Act. “As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.” On CNN, the camera then panned to frame former President Bush, who looked stone-faced and unresponsive.
Several times during the address, Obama told his fellow Americans about the need for action. “But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.”
He acknowledged some are unsure whether his plans for change are realistic. “What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them – that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply.”
An intriguing moment occurred when Obama not only gave a shout to several major religions, but also recognized the atheist presence in the U.S. “We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers.”
Obama also delivered a mixed message to the Muslim world, telling them diplomacy will be chosen over violence, and Muslim leaders who “sow conflict, will face their own people who “will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.”
As per his other speeches, a poetic rhythmic quality dominated several portions of the address. Here’s a section that used an effective tool of repetition to increase the pace.
“This is the price and the promise of citizenship. This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny. This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed.”
Obama was actually president of the U.S. prior to being officially sworn in. According to the constitution, an incoming president is sworn by noon on the appointed day. Obama addressed the nation at 12:07 p.m ET.
Two moments of humour graced this momentous occasion. During the presidential oath moment, Chief Justice John Roberts and Obama had an awkward moment destined for blooper reels tonight. Obama’s misstep occurred when he jumped in before the “do solemnly swear” part, throwing Roberts off stride. Then it was Roberts’ turn to flub — he placed the word “faithfully” in the wrong place during the portion that should say, “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States.”
Roberts told Obama to say, “…that I will execute the office of President to the United States faithfully.” Obama paused for a second, stumbled out the phrase eventually and the rest of the oath went on smoothly.
Some nice humour touched the benediction delivered by Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, who co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Dr. King. Dr. Lowery ended on a cheeky note, calling for the day “when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead man and when white would embrace what is right.”
After the address, Obama and his wife Michelle escorted former President Bush and Laura to a waiting helicopter. The Bushes leave the Capitol at 12:55 p.m., a full half-hour before they were scheduled to leave. The Obamas waved. So did hundreds of departing revellers when the Bushes flew overhead.
