Obama's Inauguration Speech (Blog 2, Week 1)

On Tuesday, January 20, 2009 President Barack Obama created history as he became the first African American president the United States has ever elected. Also, Obama is one of the best public speakers America has heard; he excites, empowers, and enthralls all audiences. Through the development of communication studies the sophists and Aristotle have presented ways for one to achieve the art of public speaking, and President Obama has mastered their requirements. 

To begin, Obama employs several of the sophists teachings while he presents his speech. Most apparently, Obama displays Gorgias founding that public speeches should excite and inspire people. This was evident through the number of people present at his speech since Obama has spoken with authority that energizes the crowd throughout his campaign. Also, The sophists were known for studying persuasion, and President Obama relays his promises to the audience as he persuades them they will come true. A specific quote that caught my attention (because I was persuaded and in awe by everything Obama was saying) was when Obama asks the audience the question it is, "Not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether is works?" Additionally, I noted that Obama persuaded the audience as he stressed that America should want to have their children and grandchildren live a beneficial life in the states, so everyone must take responsibility and be self-giving in all their actions.

Moreover, Obama applies all of Aristotle's requirements to be successful as a public speaker. First, his generation of ideas and disposition within his inauguration speech were impeccable. Obama was able to discuss all important stances in our government (economy, schooling, welfare, health care, and the war) without making the speech sound choppy or confusing. Also, Obama's style of delivery for his speech was one of a kind. Obama's various tones during his speech  genuinely excited the members of the audience because they were lead to believe they felt his compassion behind his words. Finally, Obama's inaugurational speech illustrated perfection through the memorizing of his speech; even though, while he was getting inaugurated he stumbled a little, but this was actually nice for the audience to see to prove that he was a human with nerves. 

In conclusion, President Obama must have examined the foundation of communications to help him create and present his powerful speech.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjnygQ02aW4