In the presidential inauguration of 2013, returning President Barack Obama delivered a speech that touched based on many of today's current issues. Obama used his credibility and similarities to citizens to draw in listeners and to also attract those who may oppose him. Some of the issues addressed were the economy, rising of the middle class, woman's rights, gay rights, immigration, social security, healthcare, college students, and also rebuilding alliances with other countries. At least one of these topics appeal to every one of the citizens of the United States, which made his speech that much better. The current issues addressed were the ones that allowed him to have a second term, because these are the things that must change. The usage of these topics in the speech, demonstrate the "connections" form of ethos. People connect to these topics, making the speech more persuasive for them.
The speech would not have been as strong if the issues addressed were issues that majority of the citizens didn't apply to. Obama spoke on problems that are rarely addressed or even attempted to solve. For example, gay rights. This is the first inaugural speech where the gay community was taken into consideration and their problems were talked about. "Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law - for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well", is what President Obama said in order to defend gay rights. This quote was surely appealing to the LGBTQ community, and also it supporters.
Another group who's rights were tales about was women. Even after the right to vote was given , women have still been given the short end of the stick. Barack Obama said, "For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts", this quote was specifically appealing for myself because I am a woman. When I graduate from college and I am looking for a stable career, I do not want to have to worry about issues such as not being able to find a job because if my gender, or being paid less because of my gender.
Other issues such as immigration, Medicare, social security, and economy are just as important. Economy is one of the most important issues addressed because many of the problems the United States is facing is due to a failing economy, with the growth of the economy many of the problems will be solved.
Another thing that made the speech strong, was the fact that the president often used the word "we" and the phrase "my fellow Americans." These words creates a bond between the president and the citizens. It creates an allusion that he is one of us and facing the same problems that we are, even if he isn't. The bond made by using those words, made his speech more believable. He isn't only going to fix these problems because he has to, but because he is suffering just as much as everyone else.
To sum everything up, majority of the speech was about equality. Equality between financial and social classes, equality between races and ethnicities, genders, age, and sexual orientation. The biggest goal of President Barack Obama is to make sure all of his citizens feel equal and have freedom. His goal is to maintain what our country was built upon, freedom, making sure all people have the right to Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness.
