Introduction
Nations from different parts of the globe have gone through certain stages before reaching their current state. The inhabitants of other countries have colonized the citizens in most of the nations because of their resources. The acts of colonization were accompanied by several negative impacts on the colonized countries. Among the serious impacts were wars.
Wars occurred in an attempt to attain freedom. The war led to financial and economic instability in the concerned countries. Presently, some countries have become economically stable while others are still striving to return to their previous states. The concerned countries have signed treaties amongst themselves while others have sought financial help from their neighbouring stable nations. This paper will give the comparison and contrast between the JFK inaugural address and the Truman doctrine speech.
Similarities between the two speeches
First, both speeches are talking about the same country. The JFK inaugural address is being directed to the new generation of the Americans. The person describes how the United States has been interrupted by wars. The person goes ahead to describe how the old generation has shed blood for their peace.
The speech describes the efforts that they will put in to ensure that peace and freedom is attained in the neighbouring countries. Brewer denotes in this speech as follows, “let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty” (22).
The Truman doctrine speech is also focussed on the United States of America. The speaker talks about the impacts of war in Greece. Press denoted in his book that, “Greece is in desperate need for financial and economic assistance to enable it to resume purchases of food, clothing, fuel, and seeds” (18).
The speaker goes ahead to talk about the efforts of the United States in ensuring their fellow countries resume to their former state. According to the report in the speech, the government of the United States of America funded other countries with $341,000,000,000 to enhance world freedom and peace.
Differences between the two speeches
In the JFK inaugural address, the speech is made after the Americans have already attained the freedom that they wanted. The speech is addressed to the citizens of the new generation who never witnessed the blood shed during the time of war. In his book, Sondhaus denotes that, “we observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom—symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning—signifying renewal, as well as change” (45).
The Truman doctrine speech was addressed after hearing pleas from Greece. The citizens of Greece were seeking economic and financial assistance from the US. The main motive of the speech was to address the issue of war. The aim of the speaker was to elucidate on the negative impacts of wars. He also wanted to urge the citizens of the United States that it is their responsibility to ensure that peace and economic stability are attained in Greece and Turkey.
According to the JFK inaugural address, individuals of a country have a responsibility of ensuring that freedom is attained in a country. The evasion of poverty in a country will depend on the ability of its citizens. Furthermore, the speaker attests that the rights of the citizens of a country emerge from the creator and not the kindness of the country.
Press attests that, “the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God” (30). In the Truman doctrine speech, the speaker states that a nation can attain its freedom through assistance from another country. While addressing the Americans, he attests that nations from different parts of the globe look up to the United States for help.
In this speech, he affirms that “the free peoples of the world look to us for support in maintaining their freedoms”. In the speech, he denotes that if the government of the United States does not assist Greece and Turkey, then the impacts will be much more devastating.
In the first speech, the speaker urges the neighboring nations on the south of America to join hands with them in ensuring that absolute peace is attained. They also pledge the citizens in the other countries to try their level best to oppose aggression. In the availability of wars amongst nations, peace may not be attained.
The second speech, which is the Truman doctrine, talks about how the citizens of Greece have been living in fear and horror of attacks. He also talks about the financial aids of different countries in an attempt to bring financial stability in Greece. Even though the country has many resources, it is languishing in total poverty that was brought forth by the colonial governments.
Conclusion
Conclusively, both speeches have tried to address the negative impacts of warfare. The main theme of both speakers is to tackle the issues of aggression and promote peace and freedom amongst the citizens of various countries. They have also tried to address the importance of sustaining peace in a country. In fact, it is very important to ensure that peace is sustained in various countries of the world. This should be the responsibility of all citizens.
Works Cited
Brewer, Susan. Why America Fights: Patriotism and War Propaganda from the Philippines to Iraq. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print.
Press, Jacques. Directory of American Scholars: English, speech & drama. New York: Bowker, 1974. Print.
Sondhaus, Lawrence. America, War and Power: Defining the State, 1775-2005. Madison: Taylor & Francis, 2007. Print.