?Faith, Hope and reconciliation, by Faith Bandler, August 1999 What is this speech about/ Purpose: The concept of Reconciliation is central to this speech, Bandler is inclusive in her arguments addressing all Australians: Aboriginal, white, young and old. This speech is about unity of purpose. There is a challenge to reinspire audience so that they will keep going. This speech looks to the future.
Bandler points out that reconciliation has slowed since 1967, the tragedy of the “stolen generation” and a new racism has emerged (“excused” as free speech).
Her aim is to unite her audience not divide them, to achieve this she uses inclusiveness, and positions her to be a part of the audience. Context: Delivered in 1999, when Faith Bandler was 79 years old. Her husband- a Jewish holocaust survivor.
Comes at the end of 50 years of political activism and 32 years after she battled for Aboriginal people to gain Australian citizenship in the 1967 referendum. In the 1990’s the movement for reconciliation between Aboriginal Australians and white Australians intensified. Followed in 2008 was the apology in Parliament by PM Kevin Rudd to the stolen generation. The speech was delivered 50 years after white Australia gained Australian citizenship. Before that they only had British citizenship.
She linked this brief period with the 32 years that Aboriginals have had Australian citizenship. Ironically, both groups have only recently gained their freedom. Key issues and values: Reconciliation is a good thing, and has slowed since 1967 Progress has been a struggle for Aboriginal people White and black people should be able to find their common grounds as human beings For governments to deliver, people have to put pressure on them, and this has to be now and has to be done by us Techniques/Language forms and features “es:
The Essay on Dead Heart Representation Of White Australian Aboriginal Law
The movie Dead Heart uses the background of a murder mystery to further explore this complex issue of Aboriginal culture and traditions and the inevitable clash that results when white Australians try to impose their own system of beliefs, values and history upon Aboriginal people. The film is set in the small aboriginal community of Wala Wala, in remote outback Australia, in which lies the ...
Structure, Opening phase- acknowledgement and thanks’; middle phase- obstructions to reconciliation and achievements to date; final phase- need for discussion and a challenge, ‘If not now, when? If not us, who? ’ Informal, friendly opening- ’I was here once before’ establishes tone of familiarity ‘All honoured guests’ – Assert the serious issues that constitute the focus of her speech Anecdotes- ‘My learning was rather hard and slow’ – speaks from a personal experience, authentic, personal, humility that no one is perfect.
Sight imagery- ‘ignorance’, ‘blindness to others…way of life’ – Effective as she speaks of ignorance and blindness to other peoples’ way of life- thus, need for acceptance and healing the wounds and indignities of the past. Dynamic verbs- ‘lived’, ‘breathed’, ‘struggled and climbed the ramparts of the rugged past. ’ – Reinforce the notion of great effort; a challenge that had to be overcome and fought-listeners can picture the scene. Alliteration, “rugged past, reaching the summit” helps the sentence flow Link to other speeches: Keating, ‘Common, ordinary people’
