It was inspiring to see that if you strip away the network hype and the camera positioning and the bands and parades, the inauguration of a new president is really a very brief and simple affair. A few words earnestly spoken, and done.
People I was with thought that
To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.was a great line. So did I. I'm sure further analysis will show most of the speech came from a combination of prior speeches -- they always do. But that doesn't matter. A presidential inauguration is a time when we remind ourselves and the world what we are about.
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What are we about? The countless examples of Bush Derangement Syndrome don't tell us, and I look forward to them fading away. In some quarters they will be replaced with a naive disappointment over Obama's inevitable grappling with reality. Those of us who were not deranged will offer respect, if early indications are to be believed. Further afield will be some people who simply can't be pleased.
Out of all this our diversity is forged; and from diversity, strength and, eventually, prosperity. Forget about peace. Peace follows when enough people do enough of the right things right. But until every one of humanity's countless diverse communities embrace the values of tolerance, understanding, and negotiation, peace will remain an elusive dream. What we have to do is remain (in this order) strong, free, and prosperous.
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Who said this? Guess, don't Google.
"So it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world. This is not primarily the task of arms, though we will defend ourselves and our friends by force of arms when necessary. Freedom, by its nature, must be chosen, and defended by citizens, and sustained by the rule of law and the protection of minorities. And when the soul of a nation finally speaks, the institutions that arise may reflect customs and traditions very different from our own. America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way."
7 comments:
How sad that you can't admit the man's undoubted eloquence without a slimy inference that his words are stolen. You're no grounds, of course, for suggesting they are. It's just ill-will. You've no grounds either for trying to cover your tracks by suggesting most other speeches are plagiarised. That's not true either, except to the extent that the same themes are always covered, and the same conclusions always drawn.
I begin to ask myself why you can't just accept that times have changed for your side. Is this really a tide you feel you have to swim against? Are you so enamoured still of Bush that you so deprive yourself of the feelgood factor of a day like Tuesday? If so, I pity you, because you're facing eight years of it, dude, at the very least.
grapes sums it up nicely. i feel honestly sorry for anyone that can't see the stunning beauty of this time in our history.
it feels so good to feel good again.
America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way.
This is GWB. Too bad his actions spoke louder than words.
Whence this negativity? The speech had the feel to me at times of a compilation, but this would be normal for inaugural speeches, and besides I could be wrong. To infer my opinion is a slimy inference was itself a slimy act.
Of course he's eloquent, undoubtedly so, and I've said so before. But so what?
Why do you want everyone else to be in love with him too? Are we not allowed this day to remain rational?
He'll be a good president. I'm not saying otherwise.
I am not enamored of Bush. I am glad to see him go.
But times have not changed over here. What has changed? This is the thing no one has yet successfully explained.
His politics are "liberal" mainstream. It's cool he's the son of a non-American (I was going to say immigrant but his father never really immigrated). It's cool that like many other presidents he rose above having a bastard for a father. He has a talent for uniting people, and that's a huge plus. He's shown more smarts on foreign policy so far than I expected. He's hand in glove with Bush's disastrous bailout series. Yes, I'm pre-judging on that one. What's to fall in love with?
It was a good day. Sorry it gets ruined if not everyone goes with the flow.
actions spoke louder than words
Remind me again where he imposed a strictly American style of democracy. Don't say Iraq. They are still finding their own way. It ought to take awhile.
I don't mean to glorify the outgoing with that quote. My point was really that, IF these speeches matter, then B and O aren't so far apart. And if they do not, well then, eloquence gets you little enough.
Remind me again where he imposed a strictly American style of democracy.
He said we wouldn't impose, but he also said ur goal instead is to help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way.
He just wanted the other countries to find their own democratic way, no matter if their democratic way isn't the way we would've chosen for them. (No matter if the people don't necessarily =want= a democracy like ours.)
Was Bush totally supportive of the results of the Gazan election when the guys he didn't like got into power?
Venezuela had an election too. Bush wasn't terribly supportive of their government either.
I was kind of blown away by this part:
"As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. 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. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more."
Jon Favreau is an excellent speechwriter. So is whoever Bush was reading in your quote.
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