President George W. Bush; January 20,2001

US basics

 

• America‘s faith in freedom and democracy
• Unity / Union
• Ideals
• Civility, courage, compassion, character
• America, at its best, is also courageous
• America, at its best, is compassionate
• America, at its best, is a place where personal responsibility is valued and expected
• Future generations
• Reform Social Security and Medicare
• Reduce taxes
• Church, God, Faith
• Declaration of Independence
• Virginia statesman John Page wrote to Thomas Jefferson: “we know the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong. Do you not think an angel rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm?”
• Duty

 

 

Stylistic devices

 

• Contrast, parallelism: to protect but not possess, to defend but not to conquer
• Symbolism: Now it is a seed upon the wind, taking root in many nations
• Anaphora:  “We will…”
• Repetition: citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens
• Repetition: Never tiring, never yielding, never finishing
• Symbolism: And an angel still rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm.
• Repetition: America, at its best…
• Alliteration: Civility, courage, compassion, character