Faith hope and reconciliation
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
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