The world was watching as Barack Obama took his ceremonialoath of office in Washington, sounding a message of unity to a nation that hasbeen bitterly divided by a long and bruising election campaign, economic strifeand military misadventures abroad. But the president devoted little time andattention to foreign affairs in his 20-minute address; he remained firmlyfocused on the numerous problems he will have to deal with at home. In echoingthe words of the Founding Fathers, Obama recognised that a gulf continues toexist between the ideals of the past and the realities of the present.
“What makes us exceptional ” what makes us American ” is ourallegiance to an idea, articulated in a declaration made more than twocenturies ago,” he said. “Today we continue a never-ending journey, to bridgethe meaning of those words with the realities of our time. For history tells usthat while these truths may be self-evident, they have never beenself-executing.”
Obama went on to outline his priorities for his second term,the achievements he hopes will define his legacy: supporting the middle class;addressing climate change; ensuring that older Americans are taken care of intheir “twilight years;” driving through immigration reform; and working towardfull equality under the law for gays and lesbians.
Four years ago, Obama’s inaugural address carried a heavyload of internationalism. This time around, his appeal was to his fellowcountrymen, with mention of the outside world mainly restricted to assurancesthat more than a decade of war was now over.
The president faces a host of challenges on the foreignpolicy front as he enters his second term. The war in Afghanistan is windingdown for American forces, but the country's future, and the results of the11-year intervention, remain uncertain. Israel’s parliamentary elections havebeen done with but the Middle East seems as far from peace and stability asever. Iran may or may not be developing nuclear weapons, and tensions withChina continue. These issues will have to be addressed, but the president choseto focus on his domestic agenda.
Obama wants to promote true equality at home while trying tomaintain stability abroad, but economic challenges will undoubtedly takepriority. “For we, the people, understand that our country cannot succeed whena shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it,” said Obama.The United States will not abandon its role as world leader, he emphasized. “Wewill support democracy from Asia to Africa, from the Americas to the MiddleEast, because our interests and our conscience compel us to act on behalf ofthose who long for freedom,” he said.
“And we must be a source of hope to the poor, the sick, themarginalized, the victims of prejudice ” not out of mere charity, but becausepeace in our time requires the constant advance of those principles that ourcommon creed describes: tolerance and opportunity, human dignity and justice.”
It is an ambitious agenda; it remains to be seen whether thepresident will have the time and the strength to carry it out.
