Inauguration

Throughout the inauguration many different types of arguments were brought up.  Before presidents and their accomplishments were one of the first things President Obama brought up.  He begins talking about the past Americans whom were faithful to our forefathers, founders, and our founding documents.  Comments that emphasized the great importance that we the American people have had in the past were brought up in a way to encourage Americans to support and stand up for their country even in times of doubt.  This represents emotional and logical appeals.  It represents emotional appeals because it points out the American public directly and relates what the President is talking about directly into the common American home.  It gives an average person a job and responsibility to the government, which develops a sense of importance in each person’s mind.  It represents logical appeals by talking about what the common person did in the past for our country.  By looking back and pointing out previous achievements it makes the new responsibilities brought in front of new people seem achievable.

“So it has been, so it must be with this generation of Americans” –President Obama

Right after discussing arguments of the past he begins discussing the new economic crisis that we have entered.  He states that it must be understood by every person that we are officially in need, at war, economically weak from greed, and lost.  He also talked about not only are we economically weak we are weak in confidence in our nation.  This can be defined as an argument of the present as well as the future.  He begins with logical appeals by stating the facts such as how we are at war.  He then moves to emotional appeals by talking about the homes and jobs lost because of greedy Americans not being able to make tough decisions.  Then he talks about ethical appeals by talking about our use of energy that is hurting our environment.  These are all arguments of the present because we are going through these issues as we speak and there is not a clear solution in sight, only hope.  As Americans we do not know what is to come from all our current problems, which is why this can also be an argument of the future.  President Obama clearly states that the end is not closely in sight or easily in sight, but our needs will be met in the future.  By encouraging Americans that there will be a fix to everyone’s problems it give them hope that the future will be a little brighter for everyone.

“On this day we gather together because of hope, not fear.” – President Obama

Another form or argument that was used during the inauguration was an argument to make decisions.  President Obama first depicts to the audience all the reasons we have gather today in order to change the past.  He then states that we all have the right to pursue our full happiness because we all are free and equal.  One way this can be defined as an argument to make decisions is that by selecting our first black president it shows that America is making decisions on equality, taking a step forward, and trying new things.  It took many different decisions of the American public to select each president that has been in office.  President Obama also begins to talk about how equality must be a decision of the people.  People must make the decision to work hard and then you will earn great things, but this must be your decision.  Now that equality is growing, make your decisions correctly so that you can achieve greatness. 

“Greatness is never given, it must be earned. Liberty has never been short cuts or settling for less.  It has not been the path for the faint hearted.” – President Obama 

The last type of argument that I found in the recording of the inauguration was an argument of definition.  Before President Obama got up to talk, the speaker of the house made a small speech.  She began to talk about the freedom of the people.  She defined what it meant to be a citizen of the United States of America.  Freedom, equality, and opportunity were just a few of the things that she mentioned.  This defines the freedom of the people by depicting exactly what makes America so unique and different from many countries.  We are a rare type that has so many freedoms and these should be cherished.  This represent the emotional appeal in the argument.  By discussing the different things that encompasses the freedom of the people she presented the great qualities our founding fathers gave to us in order for us to live this type of life that sometimes we all take for granted.

"We must pick ourselves up and begin remaking America" --President Obama