Change - Nelson Mandela and Motor Cycle Diaries
Non – Fiction Text: An ideal for which I am prepared to die - Nelson Mandela, 1964
Nelson Mandela’s 1964 speech, An ideal for which I am prepared to die, acknowledges varying concepts and perspectives in regards to change. However, it is the purpose of the text to conform the cognitive thinking of European society, contesting against the injustice and oppression of apartheid, white supremacy and black inferiority. The Apartheid legislated discrimination, classifying those lacking simply in white skin as a separate breed unworthy of emotions, relationships, a right to life and human dignity. “They do not look upon them as people with families of their own; they do not realise that they have emotions - that they fall in love like white people do; that they want to be with their wives and children like white people want to be with theirs; that they want to earn enough money to support their families properly, to feed and clothe them and send them to school.”It was this mindset that Mandela fought to change. He fought to challenge the concepts of wrong and right, to form within South Africa a nation of peace and equality. “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.” .
In the context of Mandela’s speech, his purpose was to vindicate the need for a democratic and just country. Therefore, he needed to communicate his ideas in such a way that people would be both emotionally and cognitively persuaded, hence the use of these language techniques. Particularly successful in conveying the message of change is the use of repetition. The repetition of “Africans want to...”, “Africans need....” emphasises the necessity of change within different aspects of their life. As the listener hears the phrase again and again they too are convinced of its authenticity. Mandela has also connected to his audience at an intimate level through the use of first person. “I have cherished the ideal of
Nelson Mandela’s 1964 speech, An ideal for which I am prepared to die, acknowledges varying concepts and perspectives in regards to change. However, it is the purpose of the text to conform the cognitive thinking of European society, contesting against the injustice and oppression of apartheid, white supremacy and black inferiority. The Apartheid legislated discrimination, classifying those lacking simply in white skin as a separate breed unworthy of emotions, relationships, a right to life and human dignity. “They do not look upon them as people with families of their own; they do not realise that they have emotions - that they fall in love like white people do; that they want to be with their wives and children like white people want to be with theirs; that they want to earn enough money to support their families properly, to feed and clothe them and send them to school.”It was this mindset that Mandela fought to change. He fought to challenge the concepts of wrong and right, to form within South Africa a nation of peace and equality. “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.” .
In the context of Mandela’s speech, his purpose was to vindicate the need for a democratic and just country. Therefore, he needed to communicate his ideas in such a way that people would be both emotionally and cognitively persuaded, hence the use of these language techniques. Particularly successful in conveying the message of change is the use of repetition. The repetition of “Africans want to...”, “Africans need....” emphasises the necessity of change within different aspects of their life. As the listener hears the phrase again and again they too are convinced of its authenticity. Mandela has also connected to his audience at an intimate level through the use of first person. “I have cherished the ideal of