Rhetorical Precis For Redfern Speech

Have you ever written an essay, composed a letter or read a book? What do you need to do these things well? Rhetoric. It is the fundamental building blocks of good education, in enhancing one’s knowledge. It can inspire people to be generous, or provoke people to hate and fear. It can change the world by deepening the purpose of good or bad. Communication involves the beautiful art of interactions and understandings between the souls of our society. Little do we realise, rhetoric is ceaselessly moulding our human experience through the means of persuasion and transformation. Good morning to my fellow Year 12 Good Samaritan advanced students, it is clear that despite contextual differences of texts, the amalgamation of rhetoric, textual integrity,

Great rhetoric persuades the audience into initiating a reconciliation process for the once dispossessed Indigenous people.. The enduring value of persuasion of any speech lies in its ability to rouse emotions, and cut to the heart of controversial issues. This was conveyed by former Prime Minister Paul Keating in his 1992 “Redfern Speech” an exemplary oration that suggested that Australia’s national identity is burdened by past atrocities. “We took the traditional lands… We brought the diseases. The alcohol… we committed the murders.” Pathos through parallelism and inclusive language of “we”, reminds Australians to acknowledge the injustices of the past. Hence, indicating that Keating has successfully persuaded Australians to acknowledge the flaws of the past and rectify these wrongdoings. Furthermore, he successfully persuaded society to initiate a positive national identity. Keating strongly emphasised that “What we need to do is open our hearts a bit. All of us.” The metaphor and truncated sentences emphasises the need to be more open minded, thus gain attention from non-Aborigines to respond to past actions. Ultimately, Paul Keating has effectively utilised ‘great’ rhetoric’ to address the challenges faced by the Indigenous population, and ultimately persuade society in initiating a movement of reconciliation, a small step into being unified and a non-discriminative

Keating’s universal values conveys the need to acknowledge past discriminations, encouraging hopeful beliefs of reconciliation as opposed to assigning guilt. In taking responsibility, he proposes ideas into transforming the attitudes of Australians into improving their national identity by becoming one with the Indigenous people. “If we improve the living conditions… If we raise the standards.... If we open one door others will follow.” Keating uses anaphora in emphasizing that by transforming society in bridging the gap of inequality, we will live in unity. He provides Australians the truths of their past and the sad reality of their contemporary society. Thus, the emphasis of “we” suggest that change will happen when people unit.. Keating has also effectively achieved this sense of urgency towards peace. “Imagine if non-Aboriginal Australians had served their country in peace and war… Imagine if we suffered the injustice and were blamed for it.’ The establishment of pathos and ethos creates an awareness of ethical mistreatment, instilling empathy if we position ourselves in these vulnerable situations. Its great rhetoric is credited for paving the way for 2007’s formal apology to Indigenous Australians thus contributing to recent development of Australia’s reconciliation, namely, the ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Bill 2012.’