Inauguration Assignment

Today while watching Obamas inauguration speech I noticed a lot of key aspects of what we have been learning about in class. One of the things that was mentioned quite frequently was the Constitution of the United States. One thing Obama had said was "At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we, the people, have remained faithful to the ideals of our for bearers, and true to our founding documents." Here he is saying that the fact that America has been able to live on and basically prosper is because of those who were in office as well as the founding documents ( Constitution) and the founding fathers (the men who wrote and signed those documents). But in my opinion I think that Is a bunch of B.S. I feel like Obama is simply sugar coating the real issues that have happened in America and is simply giving the " American answer" to these questions.

He says that America has stayed true to our founding documents yet, comparing the words of the Constitution to the actions of certain people who have run the government, or laws that have been passed, there are very few who actually followed it. For example, " no cruel and unusual punishment"? I would categorize slavery as cruel, whipping and beating and murdering men women and children for a simple crime of trying to read or refusing to provide labor as cruel. I think America has thrived because of those who have stayed true to themselves and what they think is right- people who helps others, and not only themselves, etc. I believe in Obama but, I found contradictions in his speech the same way I found them in the Constitution. So I have come to the conclusion that America has been built by contradictions.