2005-1-21
I'm Steve Ember with In the News in VOA Special English.
President George W. Bush says the survival of liberty in America
"increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands."
AUDIO: "The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of
freedom in all the world."
This was a major subject of his inaugural speech as Mister Bush
began his second four years in office Thursday. The forty-third
president of the United States said human freedom is the only force
of history that can defeat hatred.
For half a century, he said, America defended its freedom "by
standing watch on distant borders." Then, years of quiet followed
what he called "the shipwreck of communism."
AUDIO: "And then there came a day of fire."
... the terrorist attacks on the United States in two thousand
one.
Mister Bush said the policy of the United States is to support
democratic movements in every nation and culture. The goal, he said,
is "ending tyranny in our world."
He said oppression is always
wrong, yet freedom must be chosen. America will not force its way of
government on the unwilling, he said.
Mister Bush said tens of millions have their freedom because, in
his words, "we have acted in the great liberating tradition of this
nation." He did not speak directly about the war in Iraq. But said
the sacrifice of those who died for their country will always be
honored.
Snow was on the ground in Washington, temperatures were
near-freezing, and security was extremely heavy. Still, hundreds of
thousands gathered for the inaugural activities. The crowds included
some protesters opposed to Mister Bush and the Iraq war.
The president spoke of the unity that the nation felt after the
September eleventh attacks. He said he would try to heal political
divisions.
He also said the United States "cannot carry the message of
freedom" while there is still racism at home.
Mister Bush spoke again of his desire to build what he calls an
"ownership society." He promised to widen the ownership of homes and
businesses, retirement savings and health insurance. More details
are expected in his State of the Union speech on February second.
His second-term goals include changes in the Social Security
system for retired workers, and also in tax laws and the civil legal
system. There are also record trade deficits and the future in Iraq
to deal with.
Mister Bush defeated John Kerry with fifty-one percent of the
popular vote in November. He led Republicans to bigger majorities
over Democrats in Congress. Yet his approval rating is low compared
to other recent presidents at the start of a second term. His rating
averaged around fifty percent in several recent public opinion
studies.
Political scientists note that American presidents can find it
more difficult to get congressional support in their second, and
final, term. There have also been some second-term political crises.
The last president re-elected, Bill Clinton, was charged in Congress
with lying about his relationship with a White House worker. The
Senate found him not guilty.
In the News in VOA Special English was written by Jerilyn Watson.
I'm Steve Ember.