In 1960s, the American society had a difficult period. President Lyndon B. Johnson wanted to change the society in order to improve the level of life and increase the prosperity of citizens. He developed the measures that had to be used as the helpful tools in a process of country’s development. It is interesting that, reading the speech in the University of Michigan, President Johnson used words “the future of your country” (Johnson 251).
In this way, he tries to attract the attention of the audience, emphasizing that the future of the country depends on the new young generation which will solve the problems and develop the new course of development. Although the President indicates that the imagination and initiative of young people is the basement of the social building and progress, such statement is typical for the speeches of all politicians and especially when they speak in young public.
However, on the other hand, only the young generation with its ideas and free vision could be a basement of the Great Society. Today, one can notice that those ideas were no more than just words and, in fact, even young generation was unable to solve the social problems and to change the current political course.
Although people were protesting against the war in Vietnam, the government did not take into consideration position of significant part of the citizens. I would like to concentrate an attention on one statement of the President’s speech. The President said that “in the next 40 years we must rebuild the entire urban United States” (Johnson 252) as continue that the country cannot be great if its cities are not great.
However, I believe that a strong and powerful country should coordinate the process of development of both urban and rural areas. It is incorrect to claim that only the great cities would provide enough support to the country’s economy, as the rural communities play even more significant role, supplying the different goods and technologies.
As for me, I see the present speech as an example of the eloquent and expressive way of communication with citizens in order to get their support. The President asks students to “join in the battle to give every citizen the full equality which God enjoins and the law requires” (Johnson 254).
Moreover, according to the President, this “battle” includes the equal rights for all nations around the world. In this case, it is evident that the President tries to make a picture of involvement of young generation in a process of country’s development and choice of the political courses, while, in fact, they are unable to change it and to have an influence on the government.
In the speech Address to the National Association of American Evangelicals, in 1983, President Ronald Reagan emphasizes the spiritual and humanitarian work of the organization as the great example of successful improvement of morality of the citizens. The President indicates a number of sharp topics in his speech such as the illegitimate births and abortions, drugs addiction, etc.
Today, the problem of abortions causes the sharp discussions in the Congress and in society. The most interesting idea of this speech is expressed in the following sentence: “Is all of Judeo-Christian tradition wrong?” (Johnson 311).
For the President, the rule of God is acknowledged; however, there are still various discussions in the society and, thereby, it is difficult for government to develop the measures concerned with religion. The statements and ideas which are good for one community could be rejected by others. It is mentioned in the Declaration of Independence: “In God We Trust”, therefore, the religious invocation proceeds from the beginning of the country.
Although the President indicates that this issue is complicated, he claims that “there’s a great spiritual awakening in America, a renewal of the traditional values that have been the bedrock of America’s goodness and greatness” (Johnson 312). I absolutely agree with the statement that the traditional values are the basements of the great society and powerful country.
When people interact with each other according to the high moral principles, this will lead to the strengthening of nation and common success of the country. On the other hand, the President claims that sin and evil are inseparable parts of society and people always have to deal with them. One of the examples is a long struggle for the equality for everyone and racism that should be forgotten. The nation should never turn back to this problem. The President asks people to pray for the salvation.
The speech is full of such ideas and claims. Although an idea of equality of all nations and races is great and absolutely correct, I cannot consider the present speech as an example of convincing and effective methods. The speech is full of claims to pray and to be equal; however, there are no bright examples or persuasive sentences. Nevertheless, the present speech indicates the significant social issues that were present in the particular historical period.
Work Cited
Johnson, Michael P. Reading the American Past, Volume II: From 1865: Selected Historical Documents. 4th ed. 2008. US: Bedford/St. Martin’s. Print.