Language and Social Context Assignment Coversheet 2007

Student Name Doan Nhu Thuc Quyen

Student ID number 3016043
Unit name Language and Social Context
Unit number 006156
Name of lecturer Dr Deborah Hill
Assignment name and
Assignment 2
number
Title (e.g. of essay) Analyzing Bush’s Inauguration Speech
Due date May 28, 2007

Background:

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At noon of January 20th, 2005, President Bush, the 43rd president of the US,
made an inauguration speech for his second term on the west steps of the US
Capitol, the symbol of American power. During his first term, in spite of the fact
that he encountered a lot of strenuous objection of many countries, Bush sent the
US forces to Afghanistan and Iraq to overthrow the dictators. Therefore, in this
speech, President Bush not only tried to propagate to fight for freedom and
liberation in all over the world but also demonstrated the power of the US.
Besides, he showed his ambition to oppress the tyranny and terrorism. This
speech was broadcast live across the US and the world to millions of viewers.
Many influential politicians such as Vice President Cheney, Mr. Chief Justice,
Former Presidents Carter, Bush and Clinton Senator Hillary Clinton, US defense
secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Homeland security department secretary Tom Ridge,
Secretary of state Collin Powell and National security adviser Condoleezza Rice,
etc attended to the ceremony.

Sociolinguistic concepts:
Power and hierarchy:
The major sociolinguistic concepts in Bush’s inauguration speech are power,
hierarchy, solidarity, politeness, collectivism and individualism.

According to Fitzgerald (2003: 23), “the most useful dimension for explaining
communicative behaviour is the power distance dimension”. Power is divided into
high power and low power. Power can be understood by turn taking, interruption
and changing topic. In fact, in a conversation, the superordinate tends to
dominate the topic and interrupts the subordinator. Saville-Troike (2003:256)
says that voicing (both active and passive) and transitivity conceal power and
powerlessness.

Moreover, power and hierarchy are closely related. Hierarchy is often based on
features such as age, gender and family background. For instance, the
relationship between the old people and their young offspring clearly

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demonstrates the hierarchy in which the elder members of the family are more
powerful and have to be respected by the younger ones.

Solidarity and politeness:

Women and men tend to show their politeness in different ways. Coulmas (2005:
101) says: “women in many societies are commonly expected to, and actually,
choose more polite strategies than men”. Politeness can be both positive and
negative. According to Coulmas (2005: 85), negative face expresses the want not
to be forced by others, while positive face implies the aspiration to be admitted by
other people. In Vietnam, people often show their positive politeness when giving
compliments. For instance, Vietnamese people usually say: “You look so
beautiful” or “You have a really nice necklace” to show that they care about the
others and want to be accepted. On the other hand, Western people tend to
show the negative politeness. When asking for permission, they may make the
question “Would you mind if I open the window?”

According to Wardhaugh (1986: 277), “positive face looks for solidarity”.

Wardhaugh (1986: 277) also says that negative politeness leads to respect,
excuse and indirectness and etiquette. For example, in the Vietnamese
language, young close friends usually show the positive politeness when using
pronouns “may” (“I”) and “tao” (“you”). On the contrary, using pronouns “ong/ ba”
(“you”) and “toi” (“I”), old people often show their negative politeness or
deference politeness. Furthermore, people also show the hierarchical politeness
in which the “higher” use pronouns “cau” (“you”) and “to” (“I”) to imply that they
want to be friendly with the “lower”. Conversely, the “lower” imply the
independence face strategies by using pronouns “anh” (“you”) and “em” (“I”).

Collectivism and individualism:

Fitzgerald (2003: 23) says: “in collectivist societies, relationships take on great
importance and there can be complicated ties of loyalty and obligation among
ingroup members”. In Eastern countries, the parents-children relationship seems

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to be more harmonious than that in Western countries. Caring for other family
members is considered a duty necessary to be fulfilled. A member often thinks of
his or her family’s benefit before making a decision. Moreover, the relationship
between neighbors is also more intimate because they are often concerned
about people in their community.

Hofstede (1991) and Smith & Bond (1999) in Fitzgerald (2003: 28) point out that
“individualism has been closely identified with modern, wealthy developed
countries”. Thus, in most Western countries, individual interests are the top
priority. Furthermore, unlike a person in collectivist society, the one in individualist
society takes full responsibility for any mistake he or she causes.

Analysis:
This is an inauguration speech, thus; the prevailing tone must be formal, solemn
and ceremonious. The key word throughout the speech is freedom, freedom for
America, and freedom in the entire world. That is the cause America has been
fighting for since its foundation day. In his speech, the President uses the words
such as “free”, “freedom” and “liberty” approximately forty-nine times.

The first outstanding feature of the speech to be discussed is the power of the
US and the President himself. According to Saville-Troike (2003: 255), “the most
transparent linguistic signs of power are the lexical and morphological structures
which are commonly employed in language to encode status and prestige”. Bush
tries to prove his authority by using the pronoun “I”. He also indicates his own
power by showing his determination and confidence “to fulfill the oath”.

Beside his power, Bush mentions the immense power of America. In paragraph
8, he hints the strength of America by promising “to help others find their own
voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way”. Realizing the
tremendous power of American, Bush uses adjectives “unlimited” and
“considerable” to describe the influence of America on the world. In paragraph

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10, although Bush does not refer to 9/11, he makes readers understand the
vigorous strength and the steely determination of American government and
people to defeat terrorism after that day. In paragraph 12, American power is
discussed in the aspect of the relationship between the US and other
governments. In fact, to some extent, the US confirms their power by interfering
in other countries’ affairs (“We will encourage reform in other governments by
making clear that success in our relations will require the decent treatment of
their own people.”). Moreover, with its strength, America has helped many
countries to liberate themselves. In paragraph 19, using metaphorical image of “a
fire” to talk about freedom, and the parallel structure “warms those who feel its
power” and “burns those who fight its progress”, Bush implies the great power of
freedom and that of America. Thanks to its power, the US has confidence in
victory and the President seems to be very confident to fight against oppressors
who restrict human freedom; therefore, Bush says: “We go forward with complete
confidence in the eventual triumph of freedom” and “we are ready for the greatest
achievements in the history of freedom."

Understanding clearly the power of the US and that of himself, Bush uses the
tone that visibly shows the hierarchy. In fact, features of power and hierarchy in
this speech seem to closely interweave with each other. Both hierarchy and
power are shown in Bush’s flowery words about his duty (“My most solemn
duty”). To show the hierarchy of America, Bush talks of the determination of his
country (“We will persistently clarify the choice before every ruler and every
nation”). Moreover, America’s immense stamina is implied in his speech by the
way Bush talks to other countries (“America speaks anew to the peoples of the
world” and “America will walk at your side”). Understanding that his country is a
superpower, Bush speaks in a rather condescending voice. Talking to the
oppressed, reformers, rulers and his allies, the President uses four times of “can
know”. As for dictators, Bush chooses the phrase “need to know”; it seems that
Bush is threatening those countries. In addition, the use of imperative form (“To
serve your people you must learn to trust them”) is an obvious implication of

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hierarchy. Furthermore, being the most influential power in the world, the US
undertakes the difficult tasks (“Our country has accepted obligations”). “Helping
raise up free governments” and fighting the enemies show Bush’s recognition
that America has responsibility to carry out these tough duties. Being aware of
America’s high-ranking position, Bush considers that he has the right to say:
“America proclaims liberty throughout all the world”.

Aware of his power, Bush also promotes for the policy of his country. He tries to
justify his belief in US’s role in liberation of tyrant-ruled peoples. (“We do not
accept the existence of permanent tyrant because we do not accept the
possibility of permanent slavery.”). Bush also indicates the hierarchy when he
talks to his fellow citizens. According to Fairclough (1989: 46) there is a visible
relationship between demand and power. In fact, to make his tone more
powerful, Bush says: “I have asked” and “I ask our youngest citizens”. By making
the order using parallel structure (“Make the choice to serve in a cause larger
than your wants, larger than yourself”), Bush has shown his high-ranking position
to his citizens. Being a president, Bush understands his weighty responsibility
toward his fellow citizens. Thus, in paragraph 23, with his power, he makes
promises to his citizens (“To give every American a stake in the promise and
future of our country, we will bring the highest standards to our schools, and build
an ownership society. We will widen the ownership of homes and businesses,
retirement savings and health insurance - preparing our people for the
challenges of life in a free society.”)

Having enormous power, Bush often calls for solidarity in his speech. At first,
Bush describes the situations of the world which “simmer in resentment and
tyranny”. When he mentions the crime of tyranny (“prone to ideologies that feed
hatred and excuse murder – violence will gather, and multiply in destructive
power, and cross the most defended borders and raise a mortal threat”), Bush
uses the image of a volcano to refer to accumulative bloody crime of terrorists. In
order to praise “the force of human freedom” and call for solidarity, Bush uses

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phrases such as “break the reign of hatred and resentment”, “expose the
pretensions of tyrants”, and “reward the hopes of the decent and tolerant”.
Appealing to the interdependence and solidarity between America and many
counries in the world Bush uses the parallel structure “liberty in our land” and
“liberty in other lands” to indicate the equality and the reliance on each other of
America and other countries. In paragraph 8, by saying: “we will defend
ourselves and our friends by force of arms when necessary”, Bush implies the
solidarity in his speech. According to Saville-Troike (2003: 259), “from a political
viewpoint, we is an involvement strategy which ranges in meaning in this
instance from inclusive”. Bush’s solidarity orientation is also shown in his words
with his allies. He uses phrases like “honor your friendship”, “rely on your
counsel”, and “depend on your help” in paragraph 18. Bush indicates the need of
solidarity by stating similar words “rely” and “depend”. Using the contrastive
concepts of “free nations” and “freedom’s enemies”, Bush means the necessity of
solidarity among all country. Furthermore, the use of the metaphor “the
concerted effort” and “a prelude to our enemies’ defeat” not only demonstrates
the strength of the allies but also threatens their enemies.

Besides mentioning the solidarity among peoples of the world, Bush refers to the
solidarity among Americans. Bush calls for the contribution of his youngest
citizens because he realizes that history needs the continuation of many
generations, and he wants to connect all generations of American to carry out the
American value of liberation. Bush points out that “liberty for all does not mean
independence from one another”. He highly appreciates the love, and
phylanthropy of those “who look after a neighbor and surround the lost with love”.
The President points out that the solidarity within Americans is consolidated by
the freedom that has united them (“Americans of every party and background,
Americans by choice and by birth, are bound to one another in the cause of
freedom.” And “We felt the unity and fellowship of our nation when freedom
came under attack, and our response came like a single hand over a single
heart.”).

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Because of the power and hierarchy that the US has achieved, Bush is
immensely proud of his country. To open his speech, the President praises the
Constitution of the US (“we celebrate the durable wisdom of our Constitution”).
In paragraph 6, he continues expressing his pride in his ancestors’ achievement
of acknowledging the “rights, dignity and matchless value”, which are “America’s
vital interest” and “deepest beliefs”. In paragraph 14, Bush goes on discussing
American history. He also quotes the words of President Abraham Lincoln, the
symbol of slavery abolishment and freedom to encourage fight for freedom.
(“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and, under
the rule of a just God, cannot long retain it.” ). Talking about Homestead Act, the
Social Security Act and the G. I. Bill of Rights, not only does Bush want to assert
the rightness of America’s policies, which highly think of human rights and
benefits, but also shows his pride in American history. Introducing the Declaration
of the US and the Liberty Bell, Bush is extremely proud of American values and
history, which always hold human rights and freedom in high regard.

As he implies in paragraphs 10 and 27, Bush has immense pride in American

great power and history, and he is proud to be its citizen and in particular, its
president. He takes it for granted that his responsibility is to protect his country, a
superpower of the world (“My most solemn duty is to protect this nation and its
people against further attacks and emerging threats.”). He also has confidence in
making an effort to reunite his country after many divisions. (“I will strive in good
faith to heal them.”)

In addition to pride, Bush shows modesty as well. In paragraph 8, Bush humbly

considers that US only guides other peoples to freedom. (“America will not
impose our own style of government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help
others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way.”).
He continues with a rather unpretentious tone when saying that “America’s
influence is not unlimited”. Moreover, in paragraph 26, Bush hints his modesty

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through politeness. He asks questions instead of giving a demand to his citizens:
“Did our generation advance the cause of freedom? And did our character bring
credit to that cause?” Bush shows that America is a humble country when saying
“Not because we consider ourselves a chosen nation; God moves and chooses
as He wills.” With the rhetoric, Bush implies that God controls everything in this
world. And the fact that the US helps other countries to fight for liberty is the will
of God.

In his whole speech, in nearly every paragraph, Bush mentions human rights and
freedom for American citizens as well as for people all over the world, which are
the most outstanding American values and the cause that the US has been
fighting for. At the beginning of each paragraph 23, 24 and 25, Bush repeats the
phrase “in America’s ideal of freedom” to emphasize the importance of this
idealism. To make his speech more convincing, Bush seems to be an expert in
parallel structures to imply that everybody is equal (“no one is fit to be a master,
and no one deserves to be a slave”). Next, Bush goes on talking about
domination and freedom, in which the latter is a symbol of the truth and values
that many peoples have been striving for (“The moral choice between
oppression, which is always wrong, and freedom, which is eternally right.”). In
paragraph 12, Bush points out the truth, moral values or American beliefs in
freedom that “there is no justice without freedom, and there can be no human
rights without human liberty.” In paragraph 29, Bush makes his reaffirmation of
the value of freedom more persuasive (“freedom is the permanent hope of
mankind, the hunger in dark places, the longing of the soul.”). Talking to the
“youngest citizens”, those who will decide the fate of America in the future, Bush
shows them the truths that “life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs”.
Besides, Bush tries to pass on the idealism and heroism of America to the young
generation. He also makes those young people proud of American tradition and
history so that they will add to both the wealth of their country and “to its
character”. When making promises to his citizens, Bush also indicates his belief
and engages to pursue American values, in which giving “Americans greater

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freedom from want and fear”, and making their “society more prosperous and just
and equal” are really necessesary. In paragraph 24, Bush continues to talk about
American values. Bush uses play of words “self-government” and “governing of
the self” to make his speech more persuasive. Bush also indicates that American
values have a great foundation when using phrases “edifice of character”, “built
in families, supported by communities with standards, and sustained in our
national life”. He mentions “the truths of Sinai, the Sermion on the Mount”, and “
the words of Koran” to soothe his citizens who have different faiths that American
is a country that has freedom of religion. He also states that the moral, tradition
and history of America will be treasured by many American generations
(“yesterday, today, and forever”). In paragraph 27, Bush is proud of the unity,
another value of Americans in which “victims of disaster are given hope, and the
unjust encounter justice, and the captives are set free.”

In his speech, Bush also demonstrates collectivism. According to Fitzgerald

(2003: 23), collectivism “refers to the extent to which people identify as members
of a group rather than as independent separate entities”. By using pronouns such
as “our” in “our duty” and “we” in “the history we have seen together”, Bush
wants to reunite everybody, every people in the world. In some paragraphs, Bush
uses the pronoun “we” to allude the US but in other paragraphs he solemnly uses
“our Nation” or “America”, which means “Mother Land”, to show that all
Americans stand together and are of the same mind.

Besides indicating his power, in order to make his speech more personal or to
show individualism, Bush uses the pronoun “I” in paragraph 1. He mentions his
own feeling of gratefulness and his own responsibility to his country. (“I am
grateful for the honor of this hour, mindful of the consequential times in which we
live, and determined to fulfill the oath that I have sworn and you have
witnessed.”). He also hints his personal duty when he promises to improve the
life standard of his citizens in paragraph 23.

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In addition to using the rhetorical devices mentioned above such as metaphor,
parallel structure and play of words, Bush makes his speech more impressive
with the use of paradoxical statements. Bush uses the two antonyms “deaths”
and “lives” (“Some have shown their devotion to our country in deaths that
honored their whole lives”) when he shows his gratefulness; or “America will not
pretend that jailed dissidents prefer their chains, or that women welcome
humiliation and servitude, or that any human being aspires to live at the
mercy of bullies” when mentioning human rights and freedom. Finally, Bush
ends the speech with the key word “freedom”, which not only makes his speech
more effective but also shows the consistency throughout the speech.

In conclusion, people use language to communicate in both daily life and on

special occasions. To perfectly achieve their intention and purpose, people need
to use language effectively and respect sociolinguistic principles. This speech is
an example of applying linguistic principles expertly. On his second inauguration,
President Bush makes a good impression with his speech. He demonstrates his
eloquence, and achieves the desired impression to the audience thanks to
applying sociolinguistic principles and rhetorical devices.

Reference List
Bush’s speech: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01/20050120-
1.html

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Coulmas, F. 2005. Sociolinguistics: the study of language choices. Cambridge.
CUP.
Fairclough, N. 1989. Language and Power. Harlow: Longman.
Fitzgerald, H. (2003). Cultural value systems: an overview of the literature
(Ch. 3). In How different are we? (pp. 21-30). Clevedon: Multilingual
Matters.
Saville-Troike, M. (2003). Politeness, power, and politics (Ch. 8). In The
ethnography of communication: an introduction (3rd ed.)(pp. 250-280).
Malden, MA: Blackwell.
Wardhaugh, R. 2005. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. 5th edition. Oxford:
Blackwell.

President Sworn-In to Second Term

Inauguration 2005

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1. Vice President Cheney, Mr. Chief Justice, President Carter, President
Bush, President Clinton, reverend clergy, distinguished guests, fellow
citizens:
2. On this day, prescribed by law and marked by ceremony, we celebrate the
durable wisdom of our Constitution, and recall the deep commitments that
unite our country. I am grateful for the honor of this hour, mindful of the
consequential times in which we live, and determined to fulfill the oath that
I have sworn and you have witnessed.
3. At this second gathering, our duties are defined not by the words I use, but
by the history we have seen together. For a half century, America
defended our own freedom by standing watch on distant borders. After the
shipwreck of communism came years of relative quiet, years of repose,
years of sabbatical - and then there came a day of fire.
4. We have seen our vulnerability - and we have seen its deepest source.
For as long as whole regions of the world simmer in resentment and
tyranny - prone to ideologies that feed hatred and excuse murder -
violence will gather, and multiply in destructive power, and cross the most
defended borders, and raise a mortal threat. There is only one force of
history that can break the reign of hatred and resentment, and expose the
pretensions of tyrants, and reward the hopes of the decent and tolerant,
and that is the force of human freedom.
5. We are led, by events and common sense, to one conclusion: The survival
of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in
other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of
freedom in all the world.
6. America's vital interests and our deepest beliefs are now one. From the
day of our Founding, we have proclaimed that every man and woman on
this earth has rights, and dignity, and matchless value, because they bear
the image of the Maker of Heaven and earth. Across the generations we
have proclaimed the imperative of self-government, because no one is fit
to be a master, and no one deserves to be a slave. Advancing these ideals

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 is the mission that created our Nation. It is the honorable achievement of
our fathers. Now it is the urgent requirement of our nation's security, and
the calling of our time.
7. So it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of
democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with
the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.
8. This is not primarily the task of arms, though we will defend ourselves and
our friends by force of arms when necessary. Freedom, by its nature, must
be chosen, and defended by citizens, and sustained by the rule of law and
the protection of minorities. And when the soul of a nation finally speaks,
the institutions that arise may reflect customs and traditions very different
from our own. America will not impose our own style of government on the
unwilling. Our goal instead is to help others find their own voice, attain
their own freedom, and make their own way.
9. The great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated work of
generations. The difficulty of the task is no excuse for avoiding it.
America's influence is not unlimited, but fortunately for the oppressed,
America's influence is considerable, and we will use it confidently in
freedom's cause.
10. My most solemn duty is to protect this nation and its people against further
attacks and emerging threats. Some have unwisely chosen to test
America's resolve, and have found it firm.
11. We will persistently clarify the choice before every ruler and every nation:
The moral choice between oppression, which is always wrong, and
freedom, which is eternally right. America will not pretend that jailed
dissidents prefer their chains, or that women welcome humiliation and
servitude, or that any human being aspires to live at the mercy of bullies.
12. We will encourage reform in other governments by making clear that
success in our relations will require the decent treatment of their own
people. America's belief in human dignity will guide our policies, yet rights
must be more than the grudging concessions of dictators; they are

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 secured by free dissent and the participation of the governed. In the long
run, there is no justice without freedom, and there can be no human rights
without human liberty.
13. Some, I know, have questioned the global appeal of liberty - though this
time in history, four decades defined by the swiftest advance of freedom
ever seen, is an odd time for doubt. Americans, of all people, should never
be surprised by the power of our ideals. Eventually, the call of freedom
comes to every mind and every soul. We do not accept the existence of
permanent tyranny because we do not accept the possibility of permanent
slavery. Liberty will come to those who love it.
14. Today, America speaks anew to the peoples of the world:
All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will
not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand
for your liberty, we will stand with you.
15. Democratic reformers facing repression, prison, or exile can know:
America sees you for who you are: the future leaders of your free country.
16. The rulers of outlaw regimes can know that we still believe as Abraham
Lincoln did: "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for
themselves; and, under the rule of a just God, cannot long retain it."
17. The leaders of governments with long habits of control need to know: To
serve your people you must learn to trust them. Start on this journey of
progress and justice, and America will walk at your side.
18. And all the allies of the United States can know: we honor your friendship,
we rely on your counsel, and we depend on your help. Division among
free nations is a primary goal of freedom's enemies. The concerted effort
of free nations to promote democracy is a prelude to our enemies' defeat.
19. Today, I also speak anew to my fellow citizens:
From all of you, I have asked patience in the hard task of securing
America, which you have granted in good measure. Our country has
accepted obligations that are difficult to fulfill, and would be dishonorable
to abandon. Yet because we have acted in the great liberating tradition of

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 this nation, tens of millions have achieved their freedom. And as hope
kindles hope, millions more will find it. By our efforts, we have lit a fire as
well - a fire in the minds of men. It warms those who feel its power, it
burns those who fight its progress, and one day this untamed fire of
freedom will reach the darkest corners of our world.
20. A few Americans have accepted the hardest duties in this cause - in the
quiet work of intelligence and diplomacy ... the idealistic work of helping
raise up free governments ... the dangerous and necessary work of
fighting our enemies. Some have shown their devotion to our country in
deaths that honored their whole lives - and we will always honor their
names and their sacrifice.
21. All Americans have witnessed this idealism, and some for the first time. I
ask our youngest citizens to believe the evidence of your eyes. You have
seen duty and allegiance in the determined faces of our soldiers. You have
seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs. Make the
choice to serve in a cause larger than your wants, larger than yourself -
and in your days you will add not just to the wealth of our country, but to its
character.
22. America has need of idealism and courage, because we have essential
work at home - the unfinished work of American freedom. In a world
moving toward liberty, we are determined to show the meaning and
promise of liberty.
23. In America's ideal of freedom, citizens find the dignity and security of
economic independence, instead of laboring on the edge of subsistence.
This is the broader definition of liberty that motivated the Homestead Act,
the Social Security Act, and the G.I. Bill of Rights. And now we will extend
this vision by reforming great institutions to serve the needs of our time. To
give every American a stake in the promise and future of our country, we
will bring the highest standards to our schools, and build an ownership
society. We will widen the ownership of homes and businesses, retirement
savings and health insurance - preparing our people for the challenges of

16
 life in a free society. By making every citizen an agent of his or her own
destiny, we will give our fellow Americans greater freedom from want and
fear, and make our society more prosperous and just and equal.
24. In America's ideal of freedom, the public interest depends on private
character - on integrity, and tolerance toward others, and the rule of
conscience in our own lives. Self-government relies, in the end, on the
governing of the self. That edifice of character is built in families,
supported by communities with standards, and sustained in our national
life by the truths of Sinai, the Sermon on the Mount, the words of the
Koran, and the varied faiths of our people. Americans move forward in
every generation by reaffirming all that is good and true that came before -
ideals of justice and conduct that are the same yesterday, today, and
forever.
25. In America's ideal of freedom, the exercise of rights is ennobled by
service, and mercy, and a heart for the weak. Liberty for all does not mean
independence from one another. Our nation relies on men and women
who look after a neighbor and surround the lost with love. Americans, at
our best, value the life we see in one another, and must always remember
that even the unwanted have worth. And our country must abandon all the
habits of racism, because we cannot carry the message of freedom and
the baggage of bigotry at the same time.
26. From the perspective of a single day, including this day of dedication, the
issues and questions before our country are many. From the viewpoint of
centuries, the questions that come to us are narrowed and few. Did our
generation advance the cause of freedom? And did our character bring
credit to that cause?
27. These questions that judge us also unite us, because Americans of every
party and background, Americans by choice and by birth, are bound to
one another in the cause of freedom. We have known divisions, which
must be healed to move forward in great purposes - and I will strive in
good faith to heal them. Yet those divisions do not define America. We felt

17
 the unity and fellowship of our nation when freedom came under attack,
and our response came like a single hand over a single heart. And we can
feel that same unity and pride whenever America acts for good, and the
victims of disaster are given hope, and the unjust encounter justice, and
the captives are set free.
28. We go forward with complete confidence in the eventual triumph of
freedom. Not because history runs on the wheels of inevitability; it is
human choices that move events. Not because we consider ourselves a
chosen nation; God moves and chooses as He wills. We have confidence
because freedom is the permanent hope of mankind, the hunger in dark
places, the longing of the soul. When our Founders declared a new order
of the ages; when soldiers died in wave upon wave for a union based on
liberty; when citizens marched in peaceful outrage under the banner
"Freedom Now" - they were acting on an ancient hope that is meant to be
fulfilled. History has an ebb and flow of justice, but history also has a
visible direction, set by liberty and the Author of Liberty.
29. When the Declaration of Independence was first read in public and the
Liberty Bell was sounded in celebration, a witness said, "It rang as if it
meant something." In our time it means something still. America, in this
young century, proclaims liberty throughout all the world, and to all the
inhabitants thereof. Renewed in our strength - tested, but not weary - we
are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom.
30. May God bless you, and may He watch over the United States of America.

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