President Obama's inaugural speech


The 44th president of the United States of America was sworn into office earlier today (and I watched the ceremony on CNN in the wee hours of the morning). His speech highlighted the troubles USA - he - is going to face once he steps into the Oval Office. And like any good president, he assured the country that those challenges will be met.

I would have expected him to highlight his history-making ascent as the first African-American president, but he didn't (or at least not explicitly). Its absence, I think, is a good thing: he is now president of the American people, regardless of race and colour. Hopefully, his not being a Caucasian could actually bridge the gap between the USA and the countries it is in conflict with.

My favourite part of his speech was:
"... greatness is never given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom."
An apt reminder for a generation being swallowed by materialism.

The transcript of his speech can be found in:

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