The Inauguration Arguments

President Obama, in his inauguration speech, gives many arguments about what Americans need to do to turn this country in the right direction. Early on in his speech, he lets us know that he has taken the oath of office "amidst gathering clouds and raging storms". By saying this, he is informing us of the situation that we are in. I would also say that he is trying to appeal to us emotionally as he paints a picture of nasty, stormy weather as we are not only in the middle of a war, but also an economic crisis. Both of these things sit heavily on the hearts and minds of Americans. He continues on with emotional appeal as he talks about how we need to make decisions to change the direction that America is going. In doing this, he tells us what has gone wrong; "Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shattered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many". Again, all of us are affected by these things. After President Obama tells us what is going wrong, he informs us through an argument of future that "the challenges...will be met". In this way he offers hope to all Americans. Then, later in his speech, Obama reminds us of our inalienable rights; "All are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness." This statement is an argument of fact for all Americans as it is similarly written in the U.S. Declaration of Independence. It is something that we can all agree upon, a kind of baseline for the American public to come together. Obama also gives an argument of the past as he states what the people before us have done, from the settling of our nation to the major wars we have gone through. He wants to remind us that the people of our history were very ambitious for a better life and that we must carry on that ambitious attitude. Part of his speech is to convince us as he doesn't want us to worry about if the government is too big or small, but just that it works. He wants us to put our trust in the government; in the people who run it. I think this speech is a wonderful inaugural speech at this point in our history. It contains many arguments, many of which reach us on the emotional level as much of America is going through a period of hardships and wondering when it will end.