Introduction
Barak Obama’s speech under analysis is called ‘A More Perfect Union’; the central issue is considered to be the problem of racial discrimination in the USA. The president addressed millions of people highlighting the most problematic aspects of the political and social life of Americans. Obama underlined the principle questions concerning institutionalized racism and racial relationships in the USA. The speech was dated on March 18, 2008; it was broadcast throughout all American society covering the interests of both conservatives and liberals. Obama presented a 37 minutes speech covering the most important and sophisticated problems existing in present-day America.
Theory Application
The speech ‘More Perfect Union’ became the basic method of Obama’s address racial problem in the USA; he covered the issues concerning the current nature of politics and social misprints left on the basis of past governmental instabilities. Obama highlighted the principal aspects of his presidential campaign aimed at moving to freedom, equality, and prosperity of the nation and the USA in general. Obama disclosed a profound interpretation of racial division within American society; he provided critical analysis of racial stalemate permeating the current population of the USA. The speech discloses transcendental rhetoric for the ethnic groups’ members to subscribe to. Deep involvement in the political environs of his activities was shown through his engagement with the question of racial discrimination.
The principal task of the speech was aimed at highlighting the progress to be made by Americans in order to reach stability and justice. Obama illustrated the concept of empathy, presenting it as the basic progressive ideal of the USA. He expressed the basic goal of the nation to perfect the union people live in through avoiding the obstacles of racial relationships.
‘But race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. We would be making the same mistake that Reverend Wright made in his offending sermons about America: to simplify and stereotype and amplify the negative to the point that it distorts reality.’ (‘A More Perfect Union’)
Obama raised the question of the common responsibility of Americans, which is to be expressed through common religion, social order, and political reforms. He calls for common care about each other through empathy concept underline. The speech contains significant rhetorical questions, ‘Why associate me with Reverend Wright in the first place, they may ask? Why not join another church?’ (‘A More Perfect Union’). Obama dived into the depth of American roots and history, explaining the basic reasons for current problems of racial discrimination. He highlighted the power of the American nation functioning as a unity, disclosing the basic ways out of fundamental state problems. The speech is a profound analysis of principle national and social problems to be overcome in the near future.
‘We do not need to recite here the history of racial injustice in this country. But we do need to remind ourselves that so many of the disparities that exist between the African-American community and the larger American community today can be traced directly to inequalities passed on from an earlier generation that suffered under the brutal legacy of slavery and Jim Crow’. (‘A More Perfect Union’)
Barak Obama stressed the concepts of unity as the only means to struggle the problems of racial discrimination; he underlined such issues as the patriotism of his own and of the nation, which common responsibility can become the principal weapon for fighting racism in the USA forever. He noted that awareness and understanding of this fact could become the first step to a problem solution; Obama highlighted a number of examples from personal life showing the experience of living in the atmosphere of discrimination and humiliation. He demonstrated his patriotism and desire to help the USA overcome the barrier of the past and dissolve the central problems of the strong American nation.
Opinion
Barak Obama provided the highlight of the most intricate and controversial issues through his speech ‘A More Perfect Union. It is necessary to underline the fact that Obama made his address through simple and understandable language in order to establish rapport with every American. The basic themes described in the speech were aimed at racism problem solution; he underlined the principle concepts of the current national atmosphere through patriotism and basic national values. One is to stress that Obama really shocked the Americans with the disclosure of potential threats to society caused by ignorance to common responsibility.
Barak Obama presented a profound, powerful, and involving speech covering the most significant questions of the current political and social atmosphere. He successfully described the basic methods of avoiding racial difficulties by means of common responsibility and national awareness. The illustration of ethnic and racial stereotypes within American society appeared to be the basic reason for tension within the country. What is the most interesting in the speech touches the American path to progressiveness. It is necessary to underline the fact that Obama as an expert on American Constitution regulations, declared the central aims to be reached by people in order to become a prosperous nation. People are on their way to freedom, equality, and justice, which can be reached only through unity. The process of making a perfect union depends on the national awareness of society. It is necessary to underline the fact that Obama clearly identified the most prominent site of the union concept. In accordance with the idea he expressed, the Americans are to live in the atmosphere of progressive communities’ development. The union concept can be perfected only by people’s efforts and desires to be free and prosperous. The speech can be considered one of the most successful and deep; it managed to represent not only the historical flow influence on the current American atmosphere but define the basic steps to be made in order to avoid such mistakes in the future.
Obama’s speech is natural and underlines the real problems of the American nation; his words are considered to be filled with some power transferring the truth and seriousness of racism problem on every American. Barak Obama disclosed political drawbacks and grave mistakes made by the government in the past; he underlined rational ways out of discrimination and inequality. His words are aimed at every social class touching the interests of conservatives and liberals, and underline common national purpose in Americans’ way to unity. He stressed the questions through American values to be saved and respected by everyone. Obama managed to explain the tasks of his presidential campaign, which he would try to make with the help of American patriotism and the national unity of people. Barak Obama’s speech is a strong argument to further actions aimed at perfecting the American nation and the country, avoiding and solving grave mistakes of the past.
References
- Barak Obama: A More Perfect Union. 2008. Web.
- O’Hair, Dan. & Stewart, R. A Speaker’s Guidebook: Text and Reference (Plastic Comb). 2nd Edition, Bedford/St. Martin’s. 2003.