Parsing Some Quotes From Obama's Inaugural Address

The Complete Text Of Obama's Inaugural Address


I finally have had some time to read over the text of the inaugural address. Here are a few things that stood out:

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

A potshot at the outgoing Administration, if there ever was one. AC at Fore Left found some more online, if you care to see more. Someone needs to tell the new staff, the campaign is over and they have already won.

Meanwhile, we continue:

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.

There is one thing we all have to recognize whether we are willing to, or not. Under George W. Bush we have been attacked on our soil, only once. From that point on, none, nada, zilch.

Part of that success is from wiretapping, something I am not particularly pleased about because of the precedent. But beyond that apprehension, it is safe to say that whatever methods GWB was willing to employ, it worked. And for this, we can be thankful. If we deny this an any way, shape, or form, we fool no one.

We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, 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.

I thought this was his strongest statement. But I can only hope that he means it. Somehow, I cannot imagine that his idea of defeating an enemy is anywhere near, the way I imagine it.

We'll see how he responds the first time he has to bomb the hell out of something, and the world cries for the innocent civilian casualties. We'll see how he handles Afghanistan and its neighbor Pakistan, a nation that doesn't police its own territory.

Remember, he campaigned on concentrating the effort on winning in Afghanistan and holding Pakistan accountable, for not keeping the terrorists that saturate the border region in check. We'll see how that plays out, now that he's in the driver's seat.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. 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.

The hand is stretched out, but I will not hold my breath on this one.

Obama can say what he wants. The leaders of Iran, Venezuela, and other hostile nations can say what they want. But until I see good faith from them, I cannot imagine anything good will come out of this.

Good luck with getting them to unclench their fists, Mr. President. Many have tried before you and many have failed. Some have offered everything, except for Jerusalem, and it still didn't work. Their fists are still clenched. Even when they briefly unclench them, they re-clench them behind their backs where no one will see them.

It's going to take much more than words in a speech to persuade killers to stop killing. Killers kill, that's all they know how to do. This is true of the individuals and groups. beside this, it's not prudent to believe those with severe anti-social personality disorders. Not only do they kill, they lie too.