EL GRAN GRADO DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES: LENGUA, LITERATURA Y CULTURA

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UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE EDUCACIÓN A DISTANCIA

GRADO DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES: LENGUA, LITERATURA Y CULTURA

MUNDOS ANGLÓFONOS EN PERSPECTIVA HISTÓRICA Y CULTURAL

PRUEBA DE EVALUACIÓN CONTÍNUA

COMENTARIO DE TEXTO: BARACK H. OBAMA, INAUGURAL ADDRESS, 2009.

CLARA MOMPEAN DE LA POZA

ABRIL 2017

Barack H. Obama, Inaugural address, 2009.

Barack’s Obama “Inaugural address” is a political speech which was developed on the White House, in Washington DC, United States of America, on the 20th of January in 2009.

Barack Hussein Obama II is an American politician who served as the 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and is the first African American to have served as president, as well as the first born outside the contiguous United States. He previously served in the U.S. Senate representing Illinois from 2005 to 2008, and in the Illinois State Senate from 1997 to 2004.

Obama was elected to the Illinois Senate in 1996, succeeding Democratic State Senator Alice Palmer from Illinois's 13th District. In the March 2004, primary election, he won in an unexpected landslide and started speculation about a presidential future, and led to the reissue of his memoir, Dreams from My Father.

Obama was sworn in as a senator on January 3, 2005, becoming the only Senate member of the Congressional Black Caucus. On February 10, 2007, announced his candidacy for President of the United States in front of the Old State Capitol building in Springfield, Illinois.

His speech was addressed to the American people, making history by becoming the first African-American president in the U.S.A.

That speech is remembered by defenders and enemies as the beginning of a new age. His dialogue was well-written and well-read, what it could not be said of the inaugural speeches since 1996.

In his Inaugural Speech, Obama begins by thanking people for the trust they had on him. He mentions Bush not just as mere formality; Obama is spreading his respect towards his predecessor George Bush, independently of if they agree with it or not.

He continues talking about the number of American that had taken the presidential oath and their words during their own Inaugural Addresses. Continuing putting the village as the foundations of the country, being including himself inside of it. And having to be still like that with the next generations of Americans.

Obama proceeds speaking on the crisis for which the country is passing by. The nation is in war, the economy is debilitated, consequence so much of the greed and irresponsibility of some as like of the collective failure now of taking decisions. There have got lost working places, homes and companies that have closed. The health of the country is very expensive, the colleges fail and every day there are more proofs of which the way in since they use the energy, are reinforcing the enemies.

He resumes his speech saying that the spoken previously they are the indicators of the economic crisis of USA that are subject to statistics, there being fear with the American decline having the next generation of citizens reduce their expenses.

The challenges which they face are serious, real and great and, though they will not excel themselves in a short period, America will manage to win.

In these last few paragraphs, Obama shows direct and sincere, without promise to short-term solutions. He knew how to address the economic question about which most of the Americans were worrying, he shows great leadership and determination.

Obama continued talking about why they have met that day and that chose: hope over conflicts. That day they were to proclaim the end of a political epoch and the beginning of a new one.

Although they were still a young nation, the time had come the moment to be reaffirmed, to choose a better history, bringing the idea, having been transmitted from generation to generation, that all are free and equal and deserve to look for their happiness.

Reaffirming the greatness of their nation, it is understood that such greatness must of be gaining. Its trip has never been for those who are cowards or they look only fame and richness. On the contrary, those who are brave and have worked hard are those that lead to the nation for the way.

For them, these persons were who picked their material possessions and were in search of a new life. They supported the exploitation, established the west, endured the lashes and plowed the ground. They fought and died in places like Normandy.

Again, and again these men and women fought, worked and sacrificed themselves to give to the USA a better life. They saw America as a sum greater than all its ambitions, riches, and individual differences.

That is the journey that today is continued. Remains the most prosperous nation and powerful of the Earth. Their workers are just as productive than when the crisis began. Their minds are just as intuitive; their goods and services are needed in the same way. Its capacity is not altered. But it’s time to be protecting narrow interests and go proposing unpleasant decisions probably would have passed. It was time to begin the work of reconstructing America.

Throughout there was work to be done. The state of the economy was demanding action to create new jobs and a new work base. Roads, bridges, power stations would be built, would transform education, restore science and take advantage of the Sun and the wind. All they could do it and all would do it.

In this section of the speech, Obama keeps his message of hope with which won the elections. He speaks straight to all these Americans who have suffered from exploitation. Citing Scripture, refers to the Declaration of independence to continue recalling these struggles of the past that were expired. To conclude this section, reminds everyone that there is still the core of American strength.

Following his speech, he mentions that there are some who put in doubt his ambitions and suggest that the American system does not tolerate many plans of large dimensions. Their memories are short because they had forgotten of what their country had already done, what free people can do with one goal in common.

What the cynics do not understand is that the ground has changed under their fee, that these political arguments, which during so much time have consumed them, are not already applied. The question that is made is if the Government works. It depends on which is the answer, yes or no, will advance or will end.

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