What is demanded then is a return to truth; what is required of us is a new era of responsibility: we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world . . . Duties we seize gladly . . .
Giving our all to a difficult task . . .the price of our citizenship. . .
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed: this is why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served in a local restaraunt can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath. . . .
Nothing but hope and virtue could survive. . . American in the face of our common dangers. . . let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue let us brave once more the icy current. . . when we were tested . . . we did not turn back nor did we falter. . . we carried forth that great gift of freedom and carried it forward to future generation.
This is rhetoric–very old-school Protestant–we have not seen in my time. Perhaps since Jimmy Carter?
I’m not being snarky. If this works, it would be very good for America’s character. But is this what we need right now?