It seems that Americans (and people in general, I believe) are very sensitive when it comes symbols and quotes of all sort. Rhetoric drives a lot of what we do, after all. It also seems that most memorable American presidents had at least one phrase in their inaugural speech that become a global symbol of what America stands for. For instance, Kennedy uttered the world famous ”Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” in his inaugural speech, while Roosevelt cornered the equally famous “There is nothing to fear but fear itself”. I wonder what Obama’s historic catch-all phrase will be:
I have three candidates so far:
1. The world is changing and we are changing with it.
2. You will be remembered not but what you destroy, but by what you have built. (I have to pay royalties to somebody else for spotting this one)
3. In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned.
Any more ideas?