[2013 Inaugural Speech] President Barack Obama gave his Inaugural Speech for his second term in office. Today also happens to be Martin Luther King Jr Day. As always our president gave a fantastic speech and he addresses a range of issues that he plans to tackle in his second term including gay marriage, climate change, the economy, education, and social security, medicaid, and gun control.
The speech is extremely moving and courageous and and below are some of my favorite quotes from the speech.
“History tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they have never been self-executing.” [2:42]
“America’s possibilities are limitless, for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands; youth and drive, diversity and openness, an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention.” [6:14]
“We do not believe in this country freedom is reserved for the lucky or happiness for the few, we recognize that no matter how responsibly we live our lives anyone of us at any time may face a job loss or a sudden illness, or our home swept away in a terrible storm. The commitments we make to each other; through medicare and medicaird and social security, these things do not sap our initiative they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers they free us to take the risk that make this country great.” [9:19]
“We will support democracy from Asia to Africa, from the Americas to the Middle East because of interests and our conscious compel us to act on behalf of those who long for freedom” [13:07]
“For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law. For if we are truly created equal then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. Our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving hopeful immigrants who still see America as a land of opportunity. Until bright young students and engineers are listed in our workforce rather than expelled from our country. Our journey is not complete until all of our children; in the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for and cherished and always safe from harm. That is our generations task.” [14:38]
“My fellow Americans, the oath I have sworn before you today, like the one recited by others who serve in this Capitol, was an oath to God and country, not party or faction. And we must faithfully execute that pledge during the duration of our service. But the words I spoke today are not so different from the oath that is taken each time a soldier signs up for duty, or an immigrant realizes her dream. My oath is not so different from the pledge we all make to the flag that waves above and that fills our hearts with pride. They are the words of citizens, and they represent our greatest hope. You and I, as citizens, have the power to set this country’s course. You and I, as citizens, have the obligation to shape the debates of our time, not only with the votes we cast, but the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values and enduring ideas.” [17:44]
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