Comparison of Obama‟s First and Second Address

norms shared among the citizens. Once they are set as truth, it is easier to rule the people. Those norms are old in wordy matter, but Obama recreates the meaning to bear out his political interest. The norms or values are in the text and each are positioned in the social practices which Obama wants to acquire. They are Nationalism, American Creed, Democracy, Liberalism, Equality and Utilitarianism, Patriotism and Self-help, Pluralism, Collectivism, Action and Responsibility, Time and Change, and Optimism. It is important for Obama to blend those values with his objective in Remaking America, Rebuilding the economy, and Dealing with the political affairs. Those social practices can only be done if they provide good reasoning. When Obama speaks about Nationalism, he means a loyalty and devotion to America and it will support the state‘s decisions and actions. Nationalism itself sets the attitude toward their national identity which results in the pride in most aspect of the nation. Politician usually talks about this when seeking for approval. Furthermore, Obama also speaks about Patriotism which means a nationalist person has the willingness to sacrifice oneself to promote the country‘s good. Obama uses this knowledge to raise the individual‘s effort to do something for the country under the government‘s direction. Thus, it will be labeled as a patriotic deed. However, Obama also puts the nation of Pluralism as he realizes that America is shaped by people of many backgrounds. There are many immigrants come to America as well. He wants more support for his terms of office and by considering things like this he may grow wider support. Obama does not forget to put the American Creed as the underlying idea of his objectives. As written in the Declaration of Independence, liberty is a permanent aspect of human nature. Government is then the law maker and has the task to enforce the law and judge the law in particular cases. Obama implicitly promises insurance to the protection of human rights just like any other politicians who needs support for the programs. He reminds the people about Democracy as a way to protect the interest of individual when actually democracy is a mode of activity in which people can arrive at a conception of what their interests are. So, there is a big possibility that some rights are omitted due to larger interests. Obama also speaks about liberty. Liberalism in Obama‘s view holds the definition of negative freedom which means the absence of coercion by others. It is also the concept of opportunity which emphasis on what opportunity is open to the people. Obama seems to provide wide opportunity to the people but still the opportunity is always limited in numbers. At this point, what is allowed or not is decided by the people alone but by the one with power. Moreover, he preserves also the value of Equality which respects the basic moral rights of human to do whatever he chooses with whatever he legitimately owns as long as he does not violate the rights and property of others. One‘s will should not interrupt other‘s right and keep the importance of the good of union. Here, Obama speaks of Utilitarianism to legitimate some opposed program as a