Having been at the helm of affairs of the US for the last seven years, President Obama used the platform of the State of the Union Address to highlight his achievements during his tenure, to share his dreams of America, and to project a liberal and accommodative image of America in the eyes of the whole world. Unlike his previous addresses, he didn’t talk much about the fine details of the policies for the next year, but stressed the need to solve the basic problems being faced by the common man in America. He also disclosed his vision for a refined and resurgent America in the years to come. The initial part of the speech was devoted to the success stories of his administration. He talked about how his country recovered from an economic slowdown, how the new source of energy was invented, and how millions of job opportunities were created for the fellow Americans. In the second part, he focussed on the four challenges before the US- equal opportunity and security to Americans, sustainable technological development, ensuring safety to America and following the best political practices at home. In his remarks, Mr. Obama said America should harness innovation and not be intimidated by it (Davis and Shear). He wound up his speech on an optimistic note that divulged his vision for every citizen contributing his or her bit for a better and prosperous America.
The Strongest Points
The best part of the speech was the big change in the image of America that was projected before the world by the President. The President advocated diplomacy rather than aggression. He favoured a joint coalition rather than a unilateral approach to resolve the global issues. He preferred liberal diplomatic ties with anti-American countries rather than continuing with the sanctions imposed on them earlier. He made a strong point that violence can be conquered only by love and peace. He cited the example of how the defiant Iran was made to relinquish its nuclear weapon programme by using the peaceful means and dialogue. Mr Obama also endorsed the opinion that the terrorism is a global malaise and should be fought collectively by the whole world. The speech also included the contribution of America in eradicating the Ebola virus in Africa, thus making the world a safer place. Another catchy aspect of the speech was the care shown for environment. He stressed the need for protecting and preserving the natural resources while innovating for a better future. President also appreciated the competitive spirit of the Americans by recalling how America beat Russia in the space research, despite trailing initially. The flow of emotions, when he proclaimed his expectations from fellow Americans, was another hallmark of the speech.
The Weakest Points
While trying to establish the hegemony of America in the world, he seemed to inflate the reality. He tried to prove that the military strength of America is much stronger than any other country or the group of countries in the world. He referred to China and Russia, when he attempted to prove that America is far more superior to them in solving the international issues. In a subtle manner, he targeted Russia for supporting Ukraine and Syria and called these countries its client states. His claim that the US standing around the world has improved due to his seven years of rule also seemed to be exaggerated.
Work Cited
Davis, Julie Hirschfeld, and Michael D. Shear. "Obama Confronts Americans’ Fears in State of the Union Speech." Politics. The New York Times, 12 Jan. 2016. Web. 2 Feb. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/13/us/politics/obama-state-of-the-union.html?_r=0>.
URL of the Speech- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCXSO-3mt5I
