Talet påminner till retoriken om talet president Bush höll på kvällen den 11 september 2001, efter terrorattacken mot nationen. Det var den största terroristattacken på amerikansk mark i hela USA:s historia. Dådet vid Fort Hood var den största massaker på en amerikansk militärbas.
Så här sa Obama i sitt videobudskap ovan:
"Thursday’s shooting was one of the most devastating ever committed on an American military base. And yet, even as we saw the worst of human nature on full display, we also saw the best of America. We saw soldiers and civilians alike rushing to aid fallen comrades; tearing off bullet-riddled clothes to treat the injured; using blouses as tourniquets; taking down the shooter even as they bore wounds themselves.
We saw soldiers bringing to bear on our own soil the skills they had been trained to use abroad; skills that been honed through years of determined effort for one purpose and one purpose only: to protect and defend the United States of America.
We saw the valor, selflessness, and unity of purpose that make our servicemen and women the finest fighting force on Earth; that make the United States military the best the world has ever known; and that make all of us proud to be Americans."
Så här sa president Bush i sitt budskap efter 9/11:
"Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes, or in their offices; secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers; moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.
The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed; our country is strong.
A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.
America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.
Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature. And we responded with the best of America -- with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could."
Såväl Obamas- som Bushs ord passade förstås mycket bra för att beskriva vad som inträffat. Men likheten är likväl intressant. Ett annat av Obamas tal som påminde väldigt mycket om ett av Bushs tal, var när Obama talade direkt till Iran på den iranska nyårsdagen nowruz detta år. År 2008 gjorde president Bush precis samma sak - och Bushs ord genljuder i princip ett år senare i Obamas tal. Läs gärna Obamas tal först, och sedan Bushs - likheterna är enorma.
Det är naturligtvis inget fel med detta. En av mina favoritpresidenter - Ronald Reagan - byggde sin politiska karriär på att hela tiden nästan ordagrant citera Thomas Jefferson. Det gjorde han dock högst medvetet. Och även om jag inte tror att Obama (till skillnad från sin vice-president Joe Biden) plagierar andra politikers tal, så tror jag heller inte att han är lika medveten om Bushs tal som Reagan var om Jeffersons ord.
Se även tidigare inlägg:
Dödsskjutning på Fort Hood 20091106
Obama - videovecka 41 20091031
Obamas meddelande till Iran 20090320
Bushs meddelande till Iran 20090321
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