Between Tradition and Innovation

Question 1

What do we know about Barack Hussein Obama II? (6)

Answer 1

• Illinois state senator 1997-2004, US Senator or Illinois 2005-2008;
• 44th President of USA 2009-2017;
• 2009 Nobel Peace Price;
• Addressing global financial crisis, health care reform, ending US military presence in Iraq, Osama Bin Laden got killed in a raid ordered by him, normalizing relations with Cuba, combating climate change, first to mention the word “gay” and “gay rights” in an inaugural address.

Question 2

What are the main moves of Obama’s inaugural addresses?

Answer 2

1- Constructing presidential identity by exploiting shared values
2- Accepting new official identity as president by borrowing lexicon from predesessors and calling others to action

Question 3

Analyze Obama’s speech focusing on the call to action

Answer 3

He uses the persuasion problem-solution. The action he’s talking about in 2009 is to get out of the financial crisis.
The problem is war, economic crisis, home lost, jobs shed, business shuttered, healthcare too costly, education, energy sources. And also sapping confidence, fear of decline, next generation’s poor perspectives.
The solution is to remain faithful to the ideals of our forbears, and true to our founding documents.

He also uses persuasion based on authority by referring to the founding fathers

Question 4

What are the common themes in Obama’s inaugural addresses from 2009 and 2013?

Answer 4

Era of Peacce
Nation of risk-takers
“Remaking America”
America’s leading role
Never-ending journey

Question 5

What new themes can we find in Obama’s inaugural addresses from 2013?

Answer 5

• Our journey is not complete until…
• Climate change
• Pay equality for women
• Gay rights

Question 6

How can we sum up Obama’s inaugural addresses from 2009?

Answer 6

Faithfulness to the Constitution as a way out of the crisis (unlike the Bush Administration which did not stay true to the values of their founding fathers)

Question 7

How can we sum up Obama’s inaugural addresses from 2013?

Answer 7

Thanks to the adherence to the Constitution America is recovering but there is still a need to bridge the meaning of the keywords introduced by the founding fathers with the realities of our time

Question 8

What is climax?

Answer 8

Rising series of terms, given extra force to the concept – in this case by the repetition of yours