Study Questions for President Obama's Address

At what points in our history has the oath of office been spoken during

• rising tides of prosperity?
• still waters of peace?
• gathering clouds?
• raging storms?

President Obama says our nation is at war, our economy in crisis, as "a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also [as a consequence] of our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age." Which hard choices? Whose failure? What is this "new age"? How is it "new"? Where is this New World?

President Obama refers to "jobs shed" and "homes" that have been lost: how many jobs and homes? When?

He writes that "our schools fail too many," but doesn't he mean "teachers fail too many"? What is he talking about? How can "schools fail" people? Is your school failing you? No? Yes? Maybe?

He writes that we suffer from a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and of fears that the next generation must lower its sights. Aren't declines inevitable for every civilization? How long do civilizations tend to last? Who is the "next generation"?

He says that our serious challenges "will not be met easily or in a short span of time"? What constitutes "a short span of time"?

He says that "recriminations and worn out dogmas" have "too long" "strangled our politics." Which dogmas? What are dogmas?

He says that we must "reaffirm our enduring spirit" and "choose our better history." How can anyone "choose" history?

He writes that "greatness is never a given. It must earned." He says that "our journey has never been" . . . the path for those "who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame."

• Doesn't everyone prefer leisure over work?
• Aren't we supposed to seek the pleasure of riches and fame? Isn't that really what America is all about and has been about?

Who fought and died

• at Concord?
• Gettysburg?
• Normandy?
• Khe Sahn?

President Obama writes that "our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions" has "surely passed" and that we must "begin again the work of remaking America"?

• Whose narrow interests have been protected?
• What are these unpleasant decisions that "we" must make?
• Who is this "we"?
  
• How is this "we" to accomplish the remaking?

When he writes that we "will restore science to its rightful place and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality. . . and transform our schools and colleges to meet the demands of a new age," can he be serious?

• To what specific things does he allude in his reference to science?
• How are schools failing to meet the demands of a new age?
• Which demands? How failing?

He says that those who question the scale of "our ambitions" have "forgotten what this country has already done"? To what specific things is he referring? How do you know?

He writes, "a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous." Does our nation favor the prosperous over the poor or the less fortunate or the middle class?

Is America "a friend of each nation"? Have we been? Why should we be? Why us more than other nations?

What specific acts does President Obama refer to when he writes that "our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please." What is entitlement?

We are ready to lead once more? Haven't we been leading? When did we quit?

What does President Obama refer to when he mentions giving up our ideals for "expedience's sake"?

How can power issue from restraint?

Isn't President Obama exagerating when he refers to us as a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus—and non-believers? Are we really—and shouldn't we be—a Christian nation?

Have American polictical leaders attempted to silence "dissent"? Which ones? How? And why shouldn't they attempt to silence dissent?

Who are these people that President Obama says have been "indifferent" and who, he says, we can longer "afford"?

What is the "spirit of service"? How is it born? Who has it? How can we know?How do we acquire it?

How have you served the nation during the last eight years? What have you done with courage and conviction for others? What will you do now?

Upon whom is President Obama calling? Who do you think must answer? How? If not now, when?