Indledning
Kevin RUDD’s apology to the IndigENOUS People of AUSTRalia is one of the best written political apology speeches of OUR time.
This rhetorical commentary highlights some of these components and explains their USE and effect.
The speech was delivered in the AUSTRalian Parliament in April 2008…
Indholdsfortegnelse
- I move:1
- That today2 we3 HONOUR the IndigENOUS peoples of this land4, the oldest CONTINUING CULTURes in HUMAN history.5
- We reflect6 on their past mistreatment.7
- We reflect in PARTICULAR8 on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations9 – this blemished chapter10 in OUR nation’s history.11
- The time has now come12 for the nation to TURN a new page13 in AUSTRalia’s history by righting the wrongs14 of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the FUTURe.15
- We apologise16 for the laws and policies17 of SUCCESSIVe Parliaments and governments18 that have inflicted19 profOUND grief, SUFFering and loss20 on these OUR fellow AUSTRalians.21
- For the pain, SUFFering and HURT25 of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families26 left behind27, we say sorry.28
- To the29 mothers and the fathers30, the brothers and the sisters31, for the32 breaking UP of families and COMMUNITIES33, we say sorry.34
- And for the indignity and degradation35 THUS inflicted on a prOUD people36 and a prOUD CULTURe37, we say sorry
- We the Parliament of AUSTRalia rESPECTFULLY rEQUEST38 that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered39 as part of the healing of the nation40.
- For the FUTURe we take heart41; resolving that this new page in the history of OUR great continent42 can now be written.43
- We today44 take this first step by acknowledging45 the past and laying claim to a FUTURe46 that embraces all AUSTRalians.47
- A FUTURe where48 this Parliament49 resolves that the INJUSTICES of the past50 MUST never, never51 happen again.52
- A FUTURe where we53 harness54 the determination of all AUSTRalians, IndigENOUS and non-IndigENOUS55, to close the gap that lies between US in life expectancy, EDUCATIONAL achievement and economic OPPORTUNITY.56
- A FUTURe where we embrace57 the possibility of new SOLUTIONS to ENDURING problems where old approaches have failed.
- A FUTURe based on MUTUAL respect, MUTUAL resolve and MUTUAL responsibility.58
- A FUTURe where all AUSTRalians, whatever their origins, are TRULY EQUAL59 partners, with EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES and with an EQUAL stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great COUNTRY,6061
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Uddrag
1 It is interesting to note here that the ‘I’ is ASSUMED to be Kevin RUDD. However, later on in the speech the speaker changes to a slightly AMBIGUOUS ‘we’.
The ‘I move’ is a formality for AUSTRalian parliament. However, it also has a lot of meaning behind it. These words add legitimacy to what is ABOUT to be said, as it is coming from the parliament (this legitimacy thrOUGH AUTHORITY can be interpreted as a form of ethos).
On the other hand, it is probably what was said before every speech that called for acts of oppression towards the indigENOUS peoples, giving it a more eerie tone than is probably intended for some listeners.
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2 ‘That today’ gives a sense of time (Karios). RUDD has defined the time as the present. This is intended to attract the attention of listeners.
Karios often implies (as it the case here) that there is going to be SUDDEN action, which SEDUCES a listener into a state of concentration.
In this case the karios is preparing the listener for the apology. A less SUBtle USE of this tECHNIQUE can be fOUND in Clinton’s apology speech over the Monica Lewinsky case when he starts:
“This afternoon, in this room, from this chair”. As well as time place can be USED, as is done in Clinton’s speech (see bibliography).
3 The ‘we’ MUST be referring to the AUSTRalian Parliament, however this is not made explicit. It is worth noting as the ‘we’ later on in the speech SOUNDS like it may be coming from a different party.
4 ‘Of this land’ demonstrates that there is hesitation or QUESTION regarding their right to dwell in AUSTRalia. AUSTRalia’s past acts of genocide demonstrates that this ISSUE was contENTIOUS.
As SUCH, calling the indigENOUS peoples ‘of this land’ is very symbolic, as it disassociates from ideas of the past. This also characterises the IndigENOUS peoples, giving an ethos that JUSTIFIES their right to live in AUSTRalia.
5 The second part of this CLAUSE amplifies the symbolism of belonging and imposes an implication of rights.
This is an ethos ARGUMENT acting as the minor premise within an enthymeme. The implied CONCLUSION being that the indigENOUS peoples of
AUSTRalia have rights within AUSTRalia. The concept of being ‘the oldest’ implies they have the greatest claim to live in AUSTRalia, which socially implies that they have ‘rights’ to that land
EQUAL to all other AUSTRalians. This poetic LANGUAGe is a USE of auxesis. The two alliterative COUPLEts: “CONTINUING CULTURes” and “HUMAN history” are also very poetic in capTURING the projected VALUES of the IndigENOUS peoples.
Alliteration is very effective in capTURING the AUDIENCE’s attention and COUPLEts are good for reinforcing a point. This is also an example of antonomasia as RUDD has spoken ABOUT the grOUP based on their characteristics.
All of these rhetorical tECHNIQUES are no DOUBt USED to enforce RUDD’s point that these people deserve both praise and apology. This form of rhetorical praise is common amongst epideictic speeches.
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