ERJ+Notes

=__Second Inaugural Address__=

Themes:

 * War: neither side wanted or expected war to last as long as it did
 * Pride: Abraham Lincoln did not want the union to be destroyed
 * Unity: A.L. believed that the country was still one, though divided temporarily, because of **faith in religion**
 * Ideal: of Peace and Freedom: A.L. wanted to attain peace within the union (via the connection of religon) and the world

President Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address was centered around the civil war as well as its causes and effects. His speech embodied many realist tendancies. One unspoken cause of the war was the slavery issue, which was one of the greatest differences that the north and south were torn apart by. Slavery was a well known cause of the war but for political reasons, at the beginning of the war, Abraham Lincoln could not state this as a deciding factor to carry out the war. The main foundation for building the war against the Confederacy was to preserve the union. In his speech, Lincoln says that neither side would take war as their first choice but the Confederacy would rather start a war to break the country, whereas the Union would accept the war to save the country.

Another main point of the President's speech was that the United States is together under one god, but divided in their prayers and god could not fulfill the wishes of both sides. However, just as it was gods will to bring about the institution of slavery, in the end it was his will to remove it all together. This in itself showed Lincoln's confidence towards his cause. Even though the war had not finished he was sure that god would choose to end slavery as it was unjust and unfair.

Lincoln wanted to save the union and would use any means to do it. Whether it by by means of war, or rallying the country to come together under one god. Lincoln's ideal country of freedom and peace was achieved, but he was not alive to experience it.

=__President Bush's Second Inaugural Address__=

Themes:

 * Unity: All people of all races, creed, and ethnicity under the American flag were attacked by terrorism
 * Caution: The so-called enemy could do more damage if they get their hands on weapons of mass destruction
 * Enemy: Khalid Sheik Mohammed, al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein
 * Past: Cold War may actually become a reality
 * Parallel: Iwo Jima and D-Day are remade in the Middle East, as the it will be fought just like Europe and Asia had been in the past
 * Pride and Unity: The wanting to keep the American spirit alive through connectivity. We are one.

When presidents take their second term in office they must once again give an inaugural speech, better known as a second inaugural address. Our current president in Washington D. C. is George W. Bush. His second inaugural address has a different approach and speaks on varying subjects in comparison to our former presidents. President George W. Bush was our president during the critical period of 9/11. He is also currently president during our reconstructive period, post 9/11. Terrorism seems to be the major topic at hand.

He makes it sound like war is inevitable. He states and proposes that this is the most necessary time for the citizens of America to band together. He feels that all people of all races, creed, and ethnicity have been assault by terrorism. George W. Bush suggests we take caution so that our enemies will not get their hands on weapons of mass destruction. This way we will not repeat history with another Cold War. However, he does contradict his notion of not repeating the past. He claims we must do what our forefathers had done in Europe and Asia. He parallels 9/11 as what had happened on D-Day and at Iwo Jima. His second inaugural address is quite unlike that of Abraham Lincoln’s. President Abraham Lincoln’s address was of reconstruction, restoration, and peace. President George W. Bush’s address is more of a declaration of a never-ending war.

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