Bush promotes liberty, character in inaugural speech

By Tom Strode - Jan 31, 2005 - comment

President Bush promised the United States would back the spread of freedom throughout the world even as he urged a strengthening of American character as a product of such liberty in his second inaugural speech Jan. 20.

After being sworn in for a second term, Bush said this country’s “vital interests and our deepest beliefs” are united in the cause of freedom. “The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands,” he said. “The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world.”

Speaking for only 21 minutes, the President said American policy is “to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world. All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know—the United States will not ignore your oppression or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.”

Bush told America’s young people, “Make the choice to serve in a cause larger than your wants, larger than yourself. And in your days you will add not just to the wealth of our country but to its character.”

The exercise of freedom should be marked by service and mercy, especially toward the weak, he said. “Americans, at our best, value the life we see in one another and must always remember that even the unwanted have worth. And our country must abandon all the habits of racism, because we cannot carry the message of freedom and the baggage of bigotry at the same time.”

ERLC President Richard Land, who was in the audience for the ceremony, called it “a great speech that reaffirmed the timeless verities of the American people—that freedom is the God-given right of every human being and that America is the hope for freedom-loving people all over the world. And I’m sure that there are people who live in servitude and degradation and oppression around the world who will be encouraged and given renewed hope by President Bush’s proclamation that when they stand for freedom they have a friend in the United States of America.”
The text of the speech is available online at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01/20050120-1.html .

Further Learning

Learn more about: Citizenship, Human Rights, Religious Liberty

Post a Comment




Notify me of follow-up comments?

Before You Submit Your Comment (below), Read This:

Thank you for your interest in the ministry of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (SBC).

Comments are moderated to preserve the family-oriented nature of this website and in an attempt to avoid comment spam. We welcome opposing viewpoints, and we will not turn comments away as long as your views are presented with respect to everyone.

Your comments will not appear immediately and are subject to editing or deletion. We will make every attempt to check new comments in a timely manner, though there will likely be delays on the weekends and around holidays.

Please follow the these guidelines to insure your comments will be posted:

  1. Use a real name, at least a real first name. We find folks are less-rude online when not hiding behind a screen-name.
  2. Name-calling and vulgar-language will not be tolerated. Zero-tolerance is our policy. We will not spend time editing profanity. If it contains foul language, your post will be deleted. Oh, and we decide what is and what is not vulgar.
  3. Comments must be on topic. General comments (compliments, complaints, and otherwise) are best delivered here or expressed on your own personal Web site.
  4. And please, do not type in ALL CAPS. It looks like you're screaming at people.

Additionally, within Baptist polity, please recognize that many issues and decisions are addressed at a local church level. SBC denominational (national) offices have no control and desire no control over the activities of a local church. This entity is not responsible for overseeing and insuring the ethical behavior of Southern Baptist pastors or church members. If your concern involves a legal civil or criminal matter, we suggest you contact the proper local officials.

Issues involving pastoral staff or other church members, local Baptist associations or state Baptist conventions are local issues. Therefore the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission cannot and should not address such issues. While we regret we are unable to assist you, we encourage you to seek a biblical resolution of the issue at the local church level. If your question or submission pertains to a matter covered in this text, it is likely we will not acknowledge your submission.

Other than that, we welcome you and hope to see thoughtful discussions at ERLC.com