HSC English Prescriptions: Advanced Speeches

HSC English Prescriptions Advanced speeches 20092014
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2010922
Contents
=ntrod ction......................................................................................................................4 (argaret )t$ood ?Spotty0Handed @illainesses2................................................................................. ; &he Hono ra#le PA Beating (P+ Pri'e (inister < neral Ser*ice of the 3n/no$n ) stralian Soldier..........................................1; !oel Pearson ?)n ) stralian history for s all2........................................................................... 17 ) ng San S Byi Beynote )ddress at the Bei.ing "orld Conference on "o'en...................... 28 <aith Bandler ?<aith+ Hope and Ceconciliation2......................................................................... 70 Sir "illia' Deane+ :o*ernor :eneral of the Co''on$ealth of ) stralia 4n the occasion of an ec 'enical ser*ice for the *icti's of the canyoning tragedy................................................................................................. 77 )n$ar Sadat+ President of Egypt State'ent to the Bnesset......................................................................................7;
Introduction
&he follo$ing speeches are those detailed for st dy in the HSC English 5)d*anced6 co rse for 20092014% 5See English Stage 6 Prescriptions: Area of Study, Electi es, !e"ts: #igher School Certificate 20092014+ p 21%6
Module B: Critical Study of e!ts

&his 'od le re1 ires st dents to engage $ith and de*elop an infor'ed personal nderstanding of their prescri#ed te,t% &hro gh critical analysis and e*al ation of its lang age+ content and constr ction+ st dents $ill de*elop an appreciation of the te,t al integrity of their prescri#ed te,t% &hey refine their o$n nderstanding and interpretations of the prescri#ed te,t and critically consider these in the light of the perspecti*es of others% St dents e,plore ho$ conte,t infl ences their o$n and others2 responses to the te,t and ho$ the te,t has #een recei*ed and *al ed% 5Ceread English Stage 6 Sylla$us+ p ;2 of the )d*anced co rse%6
"onfiction Speeches &he speeches selected for st dy are the follo$ing(argaret )t$ood+ ?Spotty0Handed @illainesses2+ 1994
Pa l Beating+ < neral Ser*ice of the 3n/no$n Soldier+ 1997 !oel Pearson+ ?)n ) stralian History <or 3s )ll2+ 1998
) ng San S Byi+ Beynote )ddress at the Bei.ing "orld Conference on "o'en+ 199; <aith Bandler+ ?<aith+ Hope and Ceconciliation2+ 1999 Sir "illia' Deane+ 4n the occasion of an ec 'enical ser*ice for the *icti's of the canyoning tragedy+ 1999 )n$ar Sadat+ State'ent to the Bnesset+ 1977%
#SC English Prescriptions 2009%201& % Ad anced speeches
(argaret )t$ood #Spotty$%anded &illainesses' <ro' a speech gi*en in *ario s *ersions+ here and there+ in 1994 E(y title is ?Spotty0Handed @illainesses2F 'y s #title is+ ?Pro#le's of <e'ale Bad Beha*io r in the Creation of Giterat re2% = sho ld pro#a#ly ha*e said+ ?in the creation of no*els+ plays and epic poe's2% <e'ale #ad #eha*io r occ rs in lyric poe's+ of co rse+ # t not at s fficient length% = #egan to thin/ a#o t this s #.ect at a *ery early age% &here $as a children2s rhy'e that $ent&here $as a little girl "ho had a little c rl Cight in the 'iddle of her foreheadF "hen she $as good+ she $as *ery+ *ery good+ )nd $hen she $as #ad+ she $as horridH !o do #t this is a re'nant of the )ngel>"hore split so pop lar a'ong the @ictorians+ # t at the age of fi*e = did not /no$ that% = too/ this to #e a poe' of personal significance = did after all ha*e c rls and it #ro ght ho'e to 'e the deeply A ngian possi#ilities of a Dr Ae/yll(r Hyde do #le life for $o'en% (y older #rother sed this *erse to tease 'e+ or so he tho ght% He did 'anage to 'a/e ?*ery+ *ery good2 so nd al'ost $orse than ?horrid+2 $hich re'ains an acc rate analysis for the no*elist% Create a fla$less character and yo create an ins ffera#le oneF $hich 'ay #e $hy = a' interested in spots%
So'e of yo 'ay $onder $hether the spotty0handedness in 'y title refers to age spots% "as 'y lect re perhaps going to centre on that once0for#idden # t no$ red0hot topic+ &he (enopa se+ $itho t $hich any collection of fe'ale0o#ilia $o ld #e inco'pleteI = hasten to point o t that 'y title is not age0relatedF it refers neither to age spots nor to yo th spots% =nstead it recalls that 'ost fa'o s of spots+ the in*isi#le # t indeli#le one on the hand of $ic/ed Gady (ac#eth% Spot as in g ilt+ spot as in #lood+ spot as in ?o t+ da'ned%2 Gady (ac#eth $as spotted+ 4phelia nspottedF #oth ca'e to stic/y ends+ # t there2s a $orld of difference%
B t is it not+ today $ell+ so'eho$ nfe'inist to depict a $o'an #eha*ing #adlyI =sn2t #ad #eha*io r s pposed to #e the 'onopoly of 'enI =sn2t that $hat $e are e,pected in defiance of real life to so'eho$ #elie*e+ no$I "hen #ad $o'en get into literat re+ $hat are they doing there+ and are they per'issi#le+ and $hat+ if anything+ do $e need the' forI
"e do need so'ething li/e the'F #y $hich = 'ean+ so'ething disr pti*e to static order% "hen 'y da ghter $as fi*e+ she and her friend Heather anno nced that they $ere p tting on a play% "e $ere conscripted as the a dience% "e too/ o r seats+ e,pecting to see so'ething of note% &he play opened $ith t$o characters ha*ing #rea/fast% &his $as
pro'ising an =#senian play perhaps+ or so'ething #y :B Sha$I Sha/espeare is not #ig on #rea/fast openings+ # t other play$rights of talent ha*e not disdained the'%
&he play progressed% &he t$o characters had 'ore #rea/fast% &hen they had 'ore% &hey passed each other the .a'+ the cornfla/es+ the toast% Each as/ed if the other $o ld li/e a c p of tea% "hat $as going onI "as this Pinter+ perhaps+ or =onesco+ or 'ay#e )ndy "arholI &he a dience gre$ restless% ?)re yo going to do anything e,cept ha*e #rea/fastI2 $e said% ?!o+2 they said% ?&hen it isn2t a play+2 $e said% ?So'ething else has to happen%2 )nd there yo ha*e it+ the difference #et$een literat re at least literat re as e'#odied in plays and no*els and life% So'ething else has to happen% =n life $e 'ay as/ for nothing 'ore than a /ind of eternal #rea/fast it happens to #e 'y fa*o rite 'eal+ and certainly it is the 'ost hopef l one+ since $e don2t yet /no$ $hat atrocities the day 'ay choose to *isit pon s # t if $e are going to sit still for t$o or three ho rs in a theatre+ or $ade thro gh t$o or three h ndred pages of a #oo/+ $e certainly e,pect so'ething 'ore than #rea/fast%
"hat /ind of so'ethingI =t can #e an earth1 a/e+ a te'pest+ an attac/ #y (artians+ the disco*ery that yo r spo se is ha*ing an affairF or+ if the a thor is hyperacti*e+ all of these at once% 4r it can #e the re*elation of the spottiness of a spotty $o'an% =2ll get aro nd to these disrep ta#le fol/s shortly+ # t first let 'e go o*er so'e essentials $hich 'ay #e ins lting to yo r intelligence+ # t $hich are co'forting to 'ine+ #eca se they help 'e to foc s on $hat =2' doing as a creator of fictions% =f yo thin/ =2' flogging a fe$ dead horses horses $hich ha*e #een p t o t of their pain long ago let 'e ass re yo that this is #eca se the horses are not in fact dead+ # t are o t there in the $orld+ galloping aro nd as *igoro sly as e*er%
Ho$ do = /no$ thisI = read 'y 'ail% )lso+ = listen to the 1 estions people as/ 'e+ #oth in inter*ie$s and after p #lic readings% &he /inds of 1 estions =2' tal/ing a#o t ha*e to do $ith ho$ the characters in no*els o ght to #eha*e% 3nfort nately+ there is a $idespread tendency to . dge s ch characters as if they $ere .o# applicants+ or p #lic ser*ants+ or prospecti*e roo''ates+ or so'e#ody yo 2re considering 'arrying% <or instance+ = so'eti'es get a 1 estion al'ost al$ays+ these days+ fro' $o'en that goes so'ething li/e+ ?"hy don2t yo 'a/e the 'en strongerI2 = feel that this is a 'atter $hich sho ld 'ore properly #e ta/en p $ith :od% =t $as not+ after all+ = $ho created )da' so s #.ect to te'ptation that he sacrificed eternal life for an appleF $hich leads 'e to #elie*e that :od $ho is+ a'ong other things+ an a thor is . st as ena'o red of character fla$s and dire plots as $e h 'an $riters are% &he characters in the a*erage no*el are not s ally fol/s yo $o ld $ant to get in*ol*ed $ith at a personal or # siness le*el% Ho$ then sho ld $e go a#o t responding to s ch creationsI 4r+ fro' 'y side of the page+ $hich is #lan/ $hen = #egin ho$ sho ld = go a#o t creating the'I
"hat is a no*el+ any$ayI 4nly a *ery foolish person $o ld atte'pt to gi*e a definiti*e ans$er to that+ #eyond stating the 'ore or less o#*io s facts that it is a literary narrati*e of so'e length $hich p rports+ on the re*erse of the title page+ not to #e tr e+ # t see/s ne*ertheless to con*ince its readers that it is% =t2s typical of the cynicis' of o r age that+
if yo $rite a no*el+ e*eryone ass 'es it2s a#o t real people+ thinly disg isedF # t if yo $rite an a to#iography e*eryone ass 'es yo 2re lying yo r head off% Part of this is right+ #eca se e*ery artist is+ a'ong other things+ a con0artist% "e con0artists do tell the tr th+ in a $ayF # t+ as E'ily Dic/inson said+ $e tell it slant% By indirection $e find direction o t so here+ for easy reference+ is an eli'ination0dance list of $hat no*els are not% !o*els are not sociological te,t#oo/s+ altho gh they 'ay contain social co''ent and criticis'% !o*els are not political tracts+ altho gh ?politics2 in the sense of h 'an po$er str ct res is ine*ita#ly one of their s #.ects% B t if the a thor2s 'ain design on s is to con*ert s to so'ething $hether that so'ething #e Christianity+ capitalis'+ a #elief in 'arriage as the only ans$er to a 'aiden2s prayer+ or fe'inis'+ $e are li/ely to sniff it o t+ and to re#el% )s )ndre :ide once re'ar/ed+ ?=t is $ith no#le senti'ents that #ad literat re gets $ritten%2 !o*els are not ho$0to #oo/sF they $ill not sho$ yo ho$ to cond ct a s ccessf l life+ altho gh so'e of the' 'ay #e read this $ay% =s Pride and Pre'udice a#o t ho$ a sensi#le 'iddle0class nineteenth0cent ry $o'an can snare an appropriate 'an $ith a good inco'e+ $hich is the #est she can hope for o t of life+ gi*en the li'itations of her sit ationI Partly% B t not co'pletely%
!o*els are not+ pri'arily+ 'oral tracts% &heir characters are not all 'odels of good #eha*io r or+ if they are+ $e pro#a#ly $on2t read the'% B t they are lin/ed $ith notions of 'orality+ #eca se they are a#o t h 'an #eings and h 'an #eings di*ide #eha*io r into good and #ad% &he characters . dge each other+ and the reader . dges the characters% Ho$e*er+ the s ccess of a no*el does not depend on a ?!ot : ilty2 *erdict fro' the reader% )s Beats said+ Sha/espeare too/ as ' ch delight in creating =ago that arch0*illain as he did in creating the *irt o s ='ogen% = $o ld say pro#a#ly 'ore+ and the proof of it is that =2d #et yo 2re 'ore li/ely to /no$ $hich play =ago is in%
B t altho gh a no*el is not a political tract+ a ho$0to #oo/+ a sociology te,t#oo/ or a pattern of correct 'orality+ it is also not 'erely a piece of )rt for )rt2s Sa/e+ di*orced fro' real life% =t cannot do $itho t a conception of for' and a str ct re+ tr e+ # t its roots are in the ' dF its flo$ers+ if any+ co'e o t of the ra$ness of its ra$ 'aterials%
=n short+ no*els are a'#ig o s and ' lti0faceted+ not #eca se they2re per*erse+ # t #eca se they atte'pt to grapple $ith $hat $as once referred to as the h 'an condition+ and they do so sing a 'edi ' $hich is notorio sly slippery na'ely+ lang age itself%
!o$+ let2s get #ac/ to the notion that in a no*el+ so'ething else has to happen other than #rea/fast+ that is% "hat $ill that ?so'ething else2 #e+ and ho$ does the no*elist go a#o t choosing itI 3s ally it2s #ac/$ards to $hat yo $ere ta ght in school+ $here yo pro#a#ly got the idea that the no*elist had an o*erall sche'e or idea and then $ent a#o t colo ring it in $ith characters and $ords+ sort of li/e paint0#y0n '#ers% B t in reality the process is ' ch 'ore li/e $restling a greased pig in the dar/%
Giterary critics start $ith a nice+ clean+ already0$ritten te,t% &hey then address 1 estions to this te,t+ $hich they atte'pt to ans$erF ?$hat does it 'ean2 #eing #oth the 'ost #asic and the 'ost diffic lt% !o*elists+ on the other hand+ start $ith the #lan/ page+ to $hich they si'ilarly address 1 estions% B t the 1 estions are different% =nstead of as/ing+ first of all+ ?$hat does it 'ean2+ they $or/ at the $idget le*elF they as/+ ?=s this the right $ordI2 ?"hat does it 'ean2 can only co'e $hen there is an ?it2 to 'ean so'ething% !o*elists ha*e to get so'e act al $ords do$n #efore they can fiddle $ith the theology% 4r+ to p t it another $ay- :od started $ith chaos dar/+ $itho t for' and *oid and so does the no*elist% &hen :od 'ade one detail at a ti'e% So does the no*elist% 4n the se*enth day+ :od too/ a #rea/ to consider $hat he2d done% So does the no*elist% B t the critic starts on Day Se*en%
&he critic+ loo/ing at plot+ as/s+ ?"hat2s happening hereI2 &he no*elist+ creating plot+ as/s+ ?"hat happens ne,tI2 &he critic as/s+ ?=s this #elie*a#leI2 &he no*elist+ ?Ho$ can = get the' to #elie*e thisI2 &he no*elist+ echoing (arshall (cG han2s fa'o s dict ' that art is $hat yo can get a$ay $ith+ says+ ?Ho$ can = p ll this offI2 as if the no*el itself $ere a /ind of #an/ ro##ery% "hereas the critic is lia#le to e,clai'+ in the 'ode of the police'an 'a/ing the arrest+ ?)haH Jo can2t get a$ay $ith thatH2 =n short+ the no*elist2s concerns are 'ore practical than those of the criticF 'ore concerned $ith ?ho$ to2+ less concerned $ith 'etaphysics% )ny no*elist $hate*er his or her theoretical interests has to contend $ith the follo$ing ho$0to 1 estions-
"hat /ind of story shall = choose to tellI =s it+ for instance+ co'ic or tragic or 'elodra'atic+ or allI Ho$ shall = tell itI "ho $ill #e at the centre of it+ and $ill this person #e a6 ad'ira#le or #6 notI
)nd 'ore i'portant than it 'ay so nd $ill it ha*e a happy ending+ or notI
!o 'atter $hat yo are $riting $hat genre and in $hat style+ $hether cheap for' la or high0'inded e,peri'ent yo $ill still ha*e to ans$er in the co rse of yo r $riting these essential 1 estions% )ny story yo tell ' st ha*e a conflict of so'e sort+ and it ' st ha*e s spense% =n other $ords- so'ething other than #rea/fast% Get2s p t a $o'an at the centre of the so'ething0other0than0#rea/fast+ and see $hat happens% !o$ there is a $hole ne$ set of 1 estions% "ill the conflict #e s pplied #y the nat ral $orldI =s o r fe'ale protagonist lost in the . ngle+ ca ght in a h rricane+ p rs ed #y shar/sI =f so+ the story $ill #e an ad*ent re story and her .o# is to r n a$ay+ or else to co'#at the shar/s+ displaying co rage and fortit de+ or else co$ardice and st pidity% =f there is a 'an in the story as $ell+ the plot $ill alter in other directionshe $ill #e a resc er+ an ene'y+ a co'panion in str ggle+ a se, #o'#+ or so'eone resc ed #y the $o'an% 4nce pon a ti'e+ the first $o ld ha*e #een 'ore pro#a#le+ that is+ 'ore #elie*a#le to the readerF # t ti'es ha*e changed and art is $hat yo can get a$ay $ith+ and the other possi#ilities ha*e no$ entered the pict re%
Stories a#o t space in*asions are si'ilar+ in that the threat co'es fro' o tside and the goal for the character+ $hether achie*ed or not+ is s r*i*al% "ar stories per se ditto+ in that the 'ain threat is e,ternal% @a'pire and $ere$olf stories are 'ore co'plicated+ as
are ghost storiesF in these+ the threat is fro' o tside+ tr e+ # t the threatening thing 'ay also conceal a split0off part of the character2s o$n psyche% Henry Aa'es2 !he !urn of the Scre( and Bra' Sto/er2s )racula are in large part ani'ated #y s ch hidden agendasF and #oth re*ol*e aro nd notions of fe'ale se, ality% 4nce all $ere$ol*es $ere 'ale+ and fe'ale *a'pires $ere s ally 'ere side/ic/sF # t there are no$ fe'ale $ere$ol*es+ and $o'en are 'o*ing in on the star #loods c/ing roles as $ell% "hether this is good or #ad ne$s = hesitate to say%
Detecti*e and espionage stories 'ay co'#ine 'any ele'ents+ # t $o ld not #e $hat they are $itho t a cri'e+ a cri'inal+ a trac/ing 0do$n+ and a re*elation at the endF again+ all sle ths $ere once 'ale+ # t sle thesses are no$ pro'inent+ for $hich = hope they lay a *oti*e #all of $ool fro' ti'e to ti'e pon the to'# of the sainted (iss (arple% "e li*e in an age not only of gender crosso*er # t of genre crosso*er+ so yo can thro$ all of the a#o*e into the ca ldron and stir%
&hen there are stories classed as ?serio s2 literat re+ $hich centre not on e,ternal threats
altho gh so'e of these 'ay e,ist # t on relationships a'ong the characters% &o a*oid the eternal #rea/fast+ so'e of the characters ' st ca se pro#le's for so'e of the others% &his is $here the 1 estions really get diffic lt% )s =2*e said+ the no*el has its roots in the ' d+ and part of the ' d is historyF and part of the history $e2*e had recently is the history of the $o'en2s 'o*e'ent+ and the $o'en2s 'o*e'ent has infl enced ho$ people read+ and therefore $hat yo can get a$ay $ith+ in art%
So'e of this infl ence has #een #eneficial% "hole areas of h 'an life that $ere once considered non0literary or s #0literary s ch as the pro#le'atical nat re of ho'e'a/ing+ the hidden depths of 'otherhood+ and of da ghterhood as $ell+ the once0for#idden real's of incest and child a# se ha*e #een #ro ght inside the circle that de'arcates the $ritea#le fro' the non0$ritea#le% 4ther things+ s ch as the Cinderella happy ending the Prince Char'ing one ha*e #een called into 1 estion% 5)s one les#ian $riter re'ar/ed to 'e+ the only happy ending she fo nd #elie*a#le any 'ore $as the one in $hich girl 'eets girl and ends p $ith girlF # t that $as fifteen years ago+ and the #loo' is off e*en that ro'antic rose%6
&o /eep yo fro' #eing too depressed+ let 'e e'phasise that none of this 'eans that yo + personally+ cannot find happiness $ith a good 'an+ a good $o'an or a good pet canaryF . st as the creation of a #ad fe'ale character doesn2t 'ean that $o'en sho ld lose the *ote% =f #ad 'ale characters 'eant that+ for 'en+ all 'en $o ld #e disenfranchised i''ediately% "e are tal/ing a#o t $hat yo can get a$ay $ith in artF that is+ $hat yo can 'a/e #elie*a#le% "hen Sha/espeare $rote his sonnets to his dar/0haired 'istress+ he $asn2t saying that #londes $ere gly+ he $as 'erely p shing against the notion that only #londes $ere #ea tif l% &he tendency of inno*ati*e literat re is to incl de the hitherto e,cl ded+ $hich often has the effect of rendering l dicro s the con*entions that ha*e . st preceded the inno*ation% So the for' of the ending+ $hether happy or not+ does not ha*e to do $ith ho$ people li*e their li*es there is a great deal of *ariety in that depart'ent 5and+ after all+ in life e*ery story ends $ith death+ $hich is not tr e of no*els6% =nstead it2s connected $ith $hat literary con*entions the $riter is follo$ing or p lling apart at the 'o'ent% Happy endings of the Cinderella /ind do e,ist
in stories+ of co rse+ # t they ha*e #een relegated largely to genre fiction+ s ch as Harle1 in ro'ances%
&o s ''arise so'e of the #enefits to literat re of the "o'en2s (o*e'ent the e,pansion of the territory a*aila#le to $riters+ #oth in character and in lang ageF a sharp0eyed e,a'ination of the $ay po$er $or/s in gender relations+ and the e,pos re of ' ch of this as socially constr ctedF a *igoro s e,ploration of 'any hitherto0 concealed areas of e,perience% B t as $ith any political 'o*e'ent $hich co'es o t of real oppression and = do e'phasise the real there $as also+ in the first decade at least of the present 'o*e'ent+ a tendency to coo/ie0c t- that is+ to $rite to a pattern and to o*ers gar on one side% So'e $riters tended to polarise 'orality #y gender that is+ $o'en $ere intrinsically good and 'en #adF to di*ide along allegiance lines that is+ $o'en $ho slept $ith 'en $ere sleeping $ith the ene'yF to . dge #y tri#al 'ar/ings that is+ $o'en $ho $ore high heels and 'a/e p $ere instantly s spect+ those in o*eralls $ere accepta#leF and to 'a/e hopef l e,c ses- that is+ defects in $o'en $ere ascri#a#le to the patriarchal syste' and $o ld c re the'sel*es once that syste' $as a#olished% S ch o*ersi'plifications 'ay #e necessary to so'e phases of political 'o*e'ents% B t they are s ally pro#le'atical for no*elists+ nless the no*elist has a secret desire to #e in #ill#oard ad*ertising% =f a no*elist $riting at that ti'e $as also a fe'inist+ she felt her choices restricted% "ere all heroines to #e essentially spotless of so l str ggling against+ fleeing fro' or done in #y 'ale oppressionI "as the only plot to #e !he Perils of Pauline+ $ith a lot of 'o stache0t$irling *illains # t 'in s the resc ing heroI Did s ffering pro*e yo $ere goodI 5=f so thin/ hard a#o t this $asn2t it all for the #est that $o'en did so ' ch of itI6 Did $e face a sit ation in $hich $o'en co ld do no $rong+ # t co ld only ha*e $rong done to the'I "ere $o'en #eing confined yet again to that ala#aster pedestal so #elo*ed of the @ictorian age+ $hen "o'an as #etter0than0'an ga*e 'en a licence to #e gleef lly and en.oya#ly $orse than $o'en+ $hile all the $hile proclai'ing that they co ldn2t help it #eca se it $as their nat reI "ere $o'en to #e conde'ned to *irt e for life+ sla*es in the salt0'ines of goodnessI Ho$ intolera#le%
4f co rse+ the fe'inist analysis 'ade so'e /inds of #eha*io r a*aila#le to fe'ale characters $hich+ nder the old dispensation the pre0fe'inist one $o ld ha*e #een considered #ad+ # t nder the ne$ one $ere praise$orthy% ) fe'ale character co ld re#el against social strict res $itho t then ha*ing to thro$ herself in front of a train li/e )nna BareninaF she co ld thin/ the nthin/a#le and say the nsaya#leF she co ld flo t a thority% She co ld do ne$ #ad0good things+ s ch as lea*ing her h s#and and e*en deserting her children% S ch acti*ities and e'otions+ ho$e*er+ $ere according to the ne$ 'oral ther'o'eter of the ti'es not really #ad at allF they $ere good+ and the $o'en $ho did the' $ere praise$orthy% =2' not against s ch plots% = . st don2t thin/ they are the only ones%
)nd there $ere certain ne$ no0no2s% <or instance- $as it at all per'issi#le+ any 'ore+ to tal/ a#o t $o'en2s $ill to po$er+ #eca se $eren2t $o'en s pposed #y nat re to #e co'' nal egalitariansI Co ld one depict the sc r*y #eha*io r often practised #y $o'en against one another+ or #y little girls against other little girlsI Co ld one e,a'ine the Se*en Deadly Sins in their fe'ale *ersions to re'ind yo + Pride+ )nger+
10
G st+ En*y+ )*arice+ :reed and Sloth $itho t #eing considered anti0fe'inistI 4r $as a 'ere 'ention of s ch things tanta'o nt to aiding and a#etting the ene'y+ na'ely the 'ale po$er0str ct reI "ere $e to ha*e a $arning hand clapped o*er o r 'o ths+ yet once again+ to pre*ent s fro' saying the nsaya#le tho gh the nsaya#le had changedI "ere $e to listen to o r 'others+ yet once again+ as they intoned ?=f Jo Can2t Say )nything !ice+ Don2t Say )nything )t )ll2I Hadn2t 'en #een gi*ing $o'en a #ad rep tation for cent riesI Sho ldn2t $e for' a $all of silence aro nd the #adness of $o'en+ or at #est e,plain it a$ay #y saying it $as the fa lt of Big Daddy+ or per'issi#le too+ it see's of Big (o'I Big (o'+ that agent of the patriarchy+ that pronatalist+ got it in the nec/ fro' certain se*enties fe'inistsF tho gh 'others $ere ad'itted into the fold again once so'e of these $o'en t rned into the'% =n a $ord- $ere $o'en to #e ho'ogenised one $o'an is the sa'e as another and depri*ed of free $ill as in+ ?the patriarchy 'ade her do it2I 4r+ in another $ord $ere 'en to get all the . icy partsI Giterat re cannot do $itho t #ad #eha*io r+ # t $as all the #ad #eha*io r to #e reser*ed for 'enI "as it to #e all =ago and (ephistopheles+ and $ere AeKe#el and (edea and (ed sa and Delilah and Cegan and :oneril and spotty0handed Gady (ac#eth and Cider Haggard2s po$erf l s perfe''e fatale in She+ and &ony (orrison2s 'ean S la+ to #e #anished fro' *ie$I = hope not% "o'en characters+ ariseH &a/e #ac/ the nightH =n partic lar+ ta/e #ac/ the L een of the !ight+ fro' (oKart2s *agic +lute% =t2s a great part+ and d e for re*ision%
= ha*e al$ays /no$n that there $ere spell#inding e*il parts for $o'en% <or one thing+ = $as ta/en at an early age to see Sno( ,hite and the Se en )(arfs- !e*er 'ind the Protestant $or/ ethic of the d$arfs% !e*er 'ind the tedio s ho se$or/0 is0*irt o s 'otif% !e*er 'ind the fact that Sno$ "hite is a *a'pire anyone $ho lies in a glass coffin $itho t decaying and then co'es to life again ' st #e% &he tr th is that = $as paralysed #y the scene in $hich the e*il 1 een drin/s the 'agic potion and changes her shape% "hat po$er+ $hat ntold possi#ilitiesH
)lso+ = $as e,posed to the co'plete+ ne,p rgated .ri//0s +airy !ales at an i'pressiona#le age% <airy tales had a #ad rep tation a'ong fe'inists for a $hile partly #eca se they2d #een cleaned p+ on the erroneo s s pposition that little children don2t li/e gr eso'e gore+ and partly #eca se they2d #een selected to fit the fifties ?Prince Char'ing =s Jo r :oal2 ethos% So Cinderella and Sleeping 1eauty $ere o/ay+ tho gh !he 2outh ,ho Set 3ut to 4earn ,hat +ear ,as+ $hich feat red a good 'any rotting corpses+ pl s a $o'an $ho $as s'arter than her h s#and+ $ere not% B t 'any of these tales $ere originally told and retold #y $o'en+ and these n/no$n $o'en left their 'ar/% &here is a $ide range of heroines in these talesF passi*e good girls+ yes+ # t ad*ent ro s+ reso rcef l $o'en as $ell+ and pro d ones+ and slothf l ones+ and foolish ones+ and en*io s and greedy ones+ and also 'any $ise $o'en and a *ariety of e*il $itches+ #oth in disg ise and not+ and #ad step'others and $ic/ed gly sisters and false #rides as $ell% &he stories+ and the fig res the'sel*es+ ha*e i''ense *itality+ partly #eca se no p nches are p lled in the *ersions = read+ the #arrels of nails and the red 0 hot shoes $ere left intact and also #eca se no e'otion is nrepresented% Singly+ the fe'ale characters are li'ited and t$o0di'ensional% B t p t all together+ they for' a rich fi*e0di'ensional pict re%
11
<e'ale characters $ho #eha*e #adly can of co rse #e sed as stic/s to #eat other $o'en tho gh so can fe'ale characters $ho #eha*e $ell+ $itness the c lt of the @irgin (ary+ #etter than yo 2ll e*er #e+ and the legends of the fe'ale saints and 'artyrs . st c t on the dotted line+ and+ 'in s one #ody part+ there2s yo r saint+ and the only really good $o'an is a dead $o'an+ so if yo 2re so good $hy aren2t yo deadI
B t fe'ale #ad characters can also act as /eys to doors $e need to open+ and as 'irrors in $hich $e can see 'ore than . st a pretty face% &hey can #e e,plorations of 'oral freedo' #eca se e*eryone2s choices are li'ited+ and $o'en2s choices ha*e #een 'ore li'ited than 'en2s+ # t that doesn2t 'ean $o'en can2t 'a/e choices% S ch characters can pose the 1 estion of responsi#ility+ #eca se if yo $ant po$er yo ha*e to accept responsi#ility+ and actions prod ce conse1 ences% =2' not s ggesting an agenda here+ . st so'e possi#ilitiesF nor a' = prescri#ing+ . st $ondering% =f there2s a closed0off road+ the c rio s spec late a#o t $hy it2s closed off+ and $here it 'ight lead if follo$edF and e*il $o'en ha*e #een+ for a $hile recently+ a so'e$hat closed0off road+ at least for fiction0$riters% "hile pondering these 'atters+ = tho ght #ac/ o*er the n 'ero s #ad fe'ale literary characters = ha*e /no$n+ and tried to sort the' into categories% =f yo $ere doing this on a #lac/#oard+ yo 'ight set p a /ind of grid- #ad $o'en $ho do #ad things for #ad reasons+ good $o'en $ho do good things for good reasons+ good $o'en $ho do #ad things for good reasons+ #ad $o'en $ho do #ad things for good reasons+ and so forth% B t a grid $o ld . st #e a #eginning+ #eca se there are so 'any factors in*ol*ed- for instance+ $hat the character thin/s is #ad+ $hat the reader thin/s is #ad+ and $hat the a thor thin/s is #ad+ 'ay all #e different% B t let 'e define a thoro ghly e*il person as one $ho intends to do e*il+ and for p rely selfish reasons% &he L een in Sno( ,hite $o ld fit that%
So $o ld Cegan and :oneril+ Gear2s e*il da ghtersF *ery little can #e said in their defence+ e,cept that they see' to ha*e #een against the patriarchy% Gady (ac#eth+ ho$e*er+ did her $ic/ed ' rder for a con*entionally accepta#le reason+ one that $o ld $in appro*al for her in corporate # siness circles she $as f rthering her h s#and2s career% She pays the corporate0$ife price+ too she s #d es her o$n nat re+ and has a ner*o s #rea/do$n as a res lt% Si'ilarly+ AeKe#el $as 'erely trying to please a s l/y h s#andF he ref sed to eat his dinner ntil he got hold of !a#oth2s *ineyard+ so AeKe#el had its o$ner # 'ped off% "ifely de*otion+ as = say% &he a'o nt of se, al #aggage that has acc ' lated aro nd this fig re is asto nding+ since she doesn2t do anything re'otely se, al in the original story+ e,cept p t on 'a/e p% &he story of (edea+ $hose h s#and Aason 'arried a ne$ princess+ and $ho then poisoned the #ride and ' rdered her o$n t$o children+ has #een interpreted in *ario s $ays% =n so'e *ersions (edea is a $itch and co''its infanticide o t of re*engeF # t the play #y E ripides is s rprisingly neo0fe'inist% &here2s 1 ite a lot a#o t ho$ to gh it is to #e a $o'an+ and (edea2s 'oti*ation is co''enda#le she doesn2t $ant her children to fall into hostile hands and #e cr elly a# sed $hich is also the sit ation of the child0/illing 'other in &oni (orrison2s 1elo ed% ) good $o'an+ then+ $ho does a #ad thing for a good reason% Hardy2s !ess of the )05r$er illes /ills her nasty lo*er d e to se, al co'plicationsF here too $e are in the real' of fe'ale0as0*icti'+ doing a #ad
12
thing for a good reason% 5"hich+ = s ppose+ places s ch stories right #eside the front page+ along $ith $o'en $ho /ill their a# si*e h s#ands% )ccording to a recent !i/e story+ the a*erage .ail sentence in the 3%S% for 'en $ho /ill their $i*es is fo r years+ # t for $o'en $ho /ill their h s#ands no 'atter $hat the pro*ocation it2s t$enty% 5<or those $ho thin/ e1 ality is already $ith s+ = lea*e the statistics to spea/ for the'sel*es%6
&hese $o'en characters are all ' rderers% &hen there are the sed cersF here again+ the 'oti*e *aries% = ha*e to say too that $ith the change in se, al 'ores+ the 'ere sed ction of a 'an no longer rates *ery high on the sin scale% B t try as/ing a n '#er of $o'en $hat the $orst thing is that a $o'an friend co ld possi#ly do to the'% Chances are the ans$er $ill in*ol*e the theft of a se, al partner% So'e fa'o s sed ctresses ha*e really #een patriotic espionage agents% Delilah+ for instance+ $as an early (ata Hari+ $or/ing for the Philistines+ trading se, for 'ilitary infor'ation% A dith+ $ho all # t sed ced the ene'y general Holofernes and then c t off his head and #ro ght it ho'e in a sac/+ $as treated as a heroine+ altho gh she has tro #led 'en2s i'aginations thro gh the cent ries $itness the n '#er of 'ale painters $ho ha*e depicted her #eca se she co'#ines se, $ith *iolence in a $ay they aren2t acc sto'ed to and don2t ' ch li/e% &hen there are fig res li/e Ha$thorne2s ad ltero s Hester Prynne+ she of !he Scarlet 4etter+ $ho #eco'es a /ind of se,0saint thro gh s ffering $e ass 'e she did $hat she did thro gh Go*e+ and th s she #eco'es a good $o'an $ho did a #ad thing for a good reason and (ada'e Bo*ary+ $ho not only ind lged her ro'antic te'pera'ent and *ol pt o s sens al appetites+ # t spent too ' ch of her h s#and2s 'oney doing it+ $hich $as her do$nfall% ) good co rse in do #le0entry #oo//eeping $o ld ha*e sa*ed the day% = s ppose she is a foolish $o'an $ho did a st pid thing for an ins fficient reason+ since the 'en in 1 estion $ere dolts% !either the 'odern reader nor the a thor consider her *ery e*il+ tho gh 'any conte'poraries did+ as yo can see if yo read the transcript of the co rt case in $hich the forces of 'oral rectit de tried to get the #oo/ censored% 4ne of 'y fa*o rite #ad $o'en is Bec/y Sharpe+ of &hac/eray2s 6anity +air% She 'a/es no pretensions to goodness% She is $ic/ed+ she en.oys #eing $ic/ed+ and she does it o t of *anity and for her o$n profit+ tric/ing and del ding English society in the process $hich+ the a thor i'plies+ deser*es to #e tric/ed and del ded+ since it is hypocritical and selfish to the core% Bec/y+ li/e 3ndine Spragg in Edith "harton2s !he Custo/ of the Country+ is an ad*ent ressF she li*es #y her $its and ses 'en as a'# latory #an/0acco nts% (any literary ad*ent rers are 'ale consider &ho'as (ann2s +eli" 7rull, Confidence *an # t it does 'a/e a difference if yo change the gender% <or one thing+ the nat re of the loot changes% <or a 'ale ad*ent rer+ the loot is 'oney and $o'enF # t for a fe'ale one+ the loot is 'oney and 'en%
Bec/y Sharpe is a #ad 'other too+ and that2s a $hole other s #.ect #ad 'others and $ic/ed step'others and oppressi*e a nts+ li/e the one in 8ane Eyre+ and nasty fe'ale teachers+ and depra*ed go*ernesses+ and e*il grannies% &he possi#ilities are 'any%
B t = thin/ that2s eno gh reprehensi#le fe'ale #eha*io r for yo today% Gife is short+ art is long+ 'oti*es are co'ple,+ and h 'an nat re is endlessly fascinating% (any doors
17
stand a.arF others #eg to #e nloc/ed% "hat is in the for#idden roo'I So'ething different for e*eryone+ # t so'ething yo need to /no$ and $ill ne*er find o t nless yo step across the threshold% =f yo are a 'an+ the #ad fe'ale character in a no*el 'ay #e in A ngian ter's yo r ani'aF # t if yo 2re a $o'an+ the #ad fe'ale character is yo r shado$F and as $e /no$ fro' the 4ffen#ach opera !ales of #off/an+ she $ho loses her shado$ also loses her so l% E*il $o'en are necessary in story traditions for t$o ' ch 'ore o#*io s reasons+ of co rse% <irst+ they e,ist in life+ so $hy sho ldn2t they e,ist in literat reI Second $hich 'ay #e another $ay of saying the sa'e thing $o'en ha*e 'ore to the' than *irt e% &hey are f lly di'ensional h 'an #eingsF they too ha*e s #terranean depthsF $hy sho ldn2t their 'any0di'ensionality #e gi*en literary e,pressionI )nd $hen it is+ fe'ale readers do not a to'atically recoil in horror% =n )ldo s H ,ley2s no*el Point Counter Point+ G cy &anta'o nt+ the 'an0destroying *a'p+ is preferred #y the other fe'ale characters to the earnest+ sni*elling $o'an $hose 'an she has red ced to a $et #ath sponge% )s one of the' says+ ?G cy2s o#*io sly a force% Jo 'ay not li/e that /ind of force% B t yo can2t help ad'iring the force in itself% =t2s li/e !iagara%2 =n other $ords+ a$eso'e% 4r+ as one English$o'an said to 'e recently+ ?"o'en are tired of #eing good all the ti'e%2
= $ill lea*e yo $ith a final 1 otation% =t2s fro' Da'e Ce#ecca "est+ spea/ing in 1912
?Gadies of :reat Britain%%% $e ha*e not eno gh e*il in s%2 !ote $here she locates the desired e*il% =n s%
4" &oad Gtd+ 1994% Ceprinted #y per'ission of the a thor%
14
&he Hono ra#le PA Beating (P+ Pri'e (inister (uneral Service of the )n*no+n Australian Soldier 11 !o*e'#er 1997 "e do not /no$ this ) stralian2s na'e and $e ne*er $ill% "e do not /no$ his ran/ or his #attalion% "e do not /no$ $here he $as #orn+ nor precisely ho$ and $hen he died% "e do not /no$ $here in ) stralia he had 'ade his ho'e or $hen he left it for the #attlefields of E rope% "e do not /no$ his age or his circ 'stances $hether he $as fro' the city or the # shF $hat occ pation he left to #eco'e a soldierF $hat religion+ if he had a religionF if he $as 'arried or single% "e do not /no$ $ho lo*ed hi' or $ho' he lo*ed% =f he had children $e do not /no$ $ho they are% His fa'ily is lost to s as he $as lost to the'% "e $ill ne*er /no$ $ho this ) stralian $as%
Jet he has al$ays #een a'ong those $ho' $e ha*e hono red% "e /no$ that he $as one of the 4;+000 ) stralians $ho died on the "estern <ront% 4ne of the 418 000 ) stralians $ho *ol nteered for ser*ice in the <irst "orld "ar% 4ne of the 724 000 ) stralians $ho ser*ed o*erseas in that $ar and one of the 80 000 ) stralians $ho died on foreign soil% 4ne of the 100 000 ) stralians $ho ha*e died in $ars this cent ry%
He is all of the'% )nd he is one of s% &his ) stralia and the ) stralia he /ne$ are li/e foreign co ntries% &he tide of e*ents since he died has #een so dra'atic+ so *ast and all0cons 'ing+ a $orld has #een created #eyond the reach of his i'agination% He 'ay ha*e #een one of those $ho #elie*ed that the :reat "ar $o ld #e an ad*ent re too grand to 'iss% He 'ay ha*e felt that he $o ld ne*er li*e do$n the sha'e of not going% B t the chances are he $ent for no other reason than that he #elie*ed it $as the d ty he o$ed his co ntry and his Bing%
Beca se the :reat "ar $as a 'ad+ #r tal+ a$f l str ggle+ disting ished 'ore often than not #y 'ilitary and political inco'petenceF #eca se the $aste of h 'an life $as so terri#le that so'e said *ictory $as scarcely discerni#le fro' defeatF and #eca se the $ar $hich $as s pposed to end all $ars in fact so$ed the seeds of a second e*en 'ore terri#le $ar $e 'ight thin/ this 3n/no$n Soldier died in *ain% B t+ in hono ring o r $ar dead+ as $e al$ays ha*e and as $e do today+ $e declare that this is not tr e% <or o t of the $ar ca'e a lesson $hich transcended the horror and tragedy and the ine,c sa#le folly% =t $as a lesson a#o t ordinary people and the lesson $as that they $ere not ordinary% 4n all sides they $ere the heroes of that $arF not the generals and the politicians # t the soldiers and sailors and n rses those $ho ta ght s to end re hardship+ to sho$ co rage+ to #e #old as $ell as resilient+ to #elie*e in o rsel*es+ to stic/ together%
1;
&he 3n/no$n ) stralian Soldier $ho' $e are interring today $as one of those $ho+ #y his deeds+ pro*ed that real no#ility and grande r #elongs+ not to e'pires and nations+ # t to the people on $ho' they+ in the last resort+ al$ays depend% &hat is s rely at the heart of the )!M)C story+ the ) stralian legend $hich e'erged fro' the $ar% =t is a legend not of s$eeping 'ilitary *ictories so ' ch as tri 'phs against the odds+ of co rage and ingen ity in ad*ersity% =t is a legend of free and independent spirits $hose discipline deri*ed less fro' 'ilitary for'alities and c sto's than fro' the #onds of 'ateship and the de'ands of necessity% =t is a de'ocratic tradition+ the tradition in $hich ) stralians ha*e gone to $ar e*er since%
&his 3n/no$n ) stralian is not interred here to glorify $ar o*er peaceF or to assert a soldier2s character a#o*e a ci*ilian2sF or one race or one nation or one religion a#o*e anotherF or 'en a#o*e $o'enF or the $ar in $hich he fo ght and died a#o*e any other $arF or one generation a#o*e any that has #een or $ill co'e later%
&he 3n/no$n Soldier hono rs the 'e'ory of all those 'en and $o'en $ho laid do$n their li*es for ) stralia% His to'# is a re'inder of $hat $e ha*e lost in $ar and $hat $e ha*e gained% "e ha*e lost 'ore than 100 000 li*es+ and $ith the' all their lo*e of this co ntry and all their hope and energy% "e ha*e gained a legend- a story of #ra*ery and sacrifice and+ $ith it+ a deeper faith in o rsel*es and o r de'ocracy+ and a deeper nderstanding of $hat it 'eans to #e ) stralian% =t is not too ' ch to hope+ therefore+ that this 3n/no$n ) stralian Soldier 'ight contin e to ser*e his co ntry he 'ight enshrine a nation2s lo*e of peace and re'ind s that+ in the sacrifice of the 'en and $o'en $hose na'es are recorded here+ there is faith eno gh for all of s% &he Hono ra#le PA Beating (P Pri'e (inister of ) stralia
18
!oel Pearson #An Australian history for us all'

)ddress to the Chancellor2s Cl # Dinner 3ni*ersity of "estern Sydney
20 !o*e'#er 1998
Chancellor+ disting ished g ests% =t is 'y hono r to ha*e #een in*ited to spea/ this e*ening on so'e 1 estions a#o t ) stralian history that are presently at f nda'ental iss e in this co ntry% = had the great pri*ilege to ha*e #een ta ght history at the 3ni*ersity of Sydney #y Professor Schre der+ $ho $as for 'e inspirational and = hope that the 3ni*ersity of "estern Sydney has shared that pleas re% = $as therefore delighted to accept his in*itation+ # t alas = cannot pro'ise 'y teacher2s rigo r% = co'e only $ith so'e o#ser*ations a#o t ho$ o r pop lar nderstanding of the colonial past is central to the 'oral and political t r# lence $e are still grappling $ith as ) stralians%
= fear ho$e*er that = a' in danger of ind lging in agonising na*el0gaKing a#o t $ho $e are and cond cting $hat Pri'e (inister Aohn Ho$ard calls the perpet al se'inar for elite opinion a#o t o r national identity% = $ill ne*ertheless perse*ere%
=t is *ery clear that g ilt a#o t ) stralia2s colonial history is $hat the )'ericans $o ld call a hot # tton iss e in the ) stralian co'' nity% =t has #een a hot # tton for so'e ti'e no$% Jo $o ld not need to #e a political geni s to #et that the g ilt iss e is one of the /eenest # ttons that the <ederal (e'#er for 4,ley and her follo$ers in o r national go*ern'ent ha*e pressed+ and $ith great electoral resonance%
&he polls $ill tell yo this- 'ost ordinary ) stralians are offended #y any s ggestion that they sho ld feel g ilty a#o t any aspects of the co ntry2s past% &hey *ehe'ently re.ect any responsi#ility for it% (any $ill re.ect any notion that so'e of the legacies of the past li*e in the present and need to #e dealt $ith% &hey $ill say that )#origines ' st stop #eing *icti's and ?sho ld get o*er it+ it2s all in the past+ $e had nothing to do $ith it+ $e are not g ilty+ help yo rsel*es2% 4thers still $ill say ?it2s all in the past+ $e had nothing to do $ith it+ $e are not g ilty # t $e are $illing to help alle*iate yo r present condition%2 =n his Sir Co#ert (enKies Gect re this $ee/+ Pri'e (inister Aohn Ho$ard s pported these *ie$s+ *ie$s that are held o*er$hel'ingly #y the 'a.ority of ordinary ) stralians% He characterises the recent historiography of colonial relations and the disc ssion of ) stralian history d ring the Ga#or ascendancy as ha*ing #een altogether too pessi'istic% <ollo$ing Professor :eoffrey Blainey2s description of the ?#lac/ ar'#and *ie$ of history2 Aohn Ho$ard i'plies that a history has #een c lti*ated #y the politically0correct classes $hich rges g ilt and sha'e pon ) stralians a#o t the national past%
17
Earlier the Pri'e (inister said on the Aohn Ga$s radio progra' in Sydney?= sy'pathise f nda'entally $ith ) stralians $ho are ins lted $hen they are told that $e ha*e a racist+ #igoted past% ) stralians are told that 1 ite reg larly% 4 r children are ta ght thatEso'e of the school c rric la go close to teaching children that $e ha*e a racist+ #igoted past% 4f co rse $e treated )#originals *ery+ *ery #adly in the past *ery+ *ery #adly # t to tell children $hose parents $ere no part of that 'altreat'ent+ to tell children $ho the'sel*es ha*e #een no part of it+ that $e2re all part of a sort of racist+ #igoted history is so'ething that ) stralians re.ect%2 &here is no do #t in 'y 'ind that the Pri'e (inister2s characterisation of the historiography that has de*eloped o*er the past t$enty0fi*e years+ and the partic larly li*ely disco rse in the $a/e of the High Co rt2s decision in the (a#o Case+ $hich . dg'ent can*assed the legal and 'oral i'plications of this history+ is a characterisation that resonates $ith the instincts and feelings of ordinary ) stralians% =t is no$ $ell nderstood that p ntil the 1980s there $as+ in the $riting and indeed teaching of ) stralian history+ the historiographical e1 i*alent of terra nullius: a history that denied or ignored the tr e facts of the colonial frontier% &his $as $hat the late Professor Bill Stanner called the :reat ) stralian Silence% =n $hat = consider to #e a tr ly 'asterpiece lect re series for the Boyer in 1989+ Professor Stanner said-
?E inattention on s ch a scale cannot possi#ly #e e,plained #y a#sent0 'indedness% =t is a str ct ral 'atter+ a *ie$ fro' a $indo$ $hich has #een caref lly placed to e,cl de a $hole 1 adrant of the landscape% "hat 'ay $ell ha*e #eg n as a si'ple forgetting of other possi#le *ie$s t rned nder ha#it and o*er ti'e into so'ething li/e a c lt of forgetf lness practiced on a national scale E the :reat ) stralian Silence reignsF the story of the things $e $ere nconscio sly resol*ed not to disc ss $ith the' or treat $ith the' a#o t%2
&he pop lar+ )nglo0Celtic story of ) stralia2s past $as serio sly distorted #y significant o'issions and #y so'e straight o t fictions+ s ch as the fiction of ?peacef l settle'ent%2 &he certit de $ith $hich history and the h 'anities generally proclai'ed the 'yth of terra nullius 'eant that the legal in*isi#ility of )#original people and a steadfast #elief in o r inh 'anity $as e'#edded into pop lar #elief% 4n the $riting of colonial history in !orth )'erica+ Co#ert H ghes pertinently ad*ises?&he reading of history is ne*er static% Ce*ise $e historians ' st% &here is no s ch thing as the last $ord% )nd $ho co ld do #t that there is still ' ch to re*ise in the story of the E ropean con1 est of !orth and So th )'erica that $e inheritedI =ts sche'e $as i'perial- the epic ad*ance of Ci*ilisation against Bar#aris'- the con1 istador #rings the Cross and the S$ord+ the red 'an shrin/s #ac/ #efore the ca*alry and the railroad% (anifest Destiny% &he $hite )'erican 'yth of the nineteenth cent ry% &he notion that all historians propagated this tri 'phalist 'yth ncritically is 1 ite false- yo ha*e only to read Par/'an or Prescott to realise that% B t after the 'yth san/ fro' the histories deep into pop lar c lt re+ it #eca'e a potent . stification for the pl nder+ ' rder and ensla*e'ent of peoples and the $rec/age of nat re%2
19
Ho$e*er+ there is no$ acc ' lated a ne$ ) stralian history+ to $hich Professor Blainey has also contri# ted+ $hich tells the story of the other side of the frontier% &he contri# tions of Professor Henry Ceynolds and his colleag es at Aa'es Coo/ 3ni*ersity $hich has #een a po$erho se of ) stralian frontier history+ along $ith the oral histories of )#original people+ ha*e ill 'inated aspects of the ) stralian past that had pre*io sly #een # ried% &he national narrati*e no$ recognises and incorporates )#original achie*e'ent+ death and sacrifice%
=t is this narrati*e that $as s #stantially adopted #y the . dges of the High Co rt of ) stralia in their historical s r*ey in the (a#o Case% &he . dges did not . st d$ell on the legal i'plications of the recognition of nati*e title #y the co''on la$ of ) stralia+ they can*assed the historical conse1 ences of this concl sion and its 'oral i'plications% &here are at least t$o e,plicit 'oral i'plications p t for$ard #y the . dges%
<irstly+ A stices Deane and :a dron said that the fail re of the la$ to recognise the rights of =ndigeno s peoples to their traditional ho'elands $hich led to their death and dispersal left the co ntry $ith ?a legacy of n ttera#le sha'e%2
Secondly+ A stice Brennan 5as he then $as6 said that the dispossession of the )#original inha#itants ? nder$rote the de*elop'ent of the nation%2 &hese are t$o #rief # t critical o#ser*ations 'ade #y o r nation2s highest co rt+ $hen confronted $ith 1 estions a#o t the co ntry2s colonial past and the #elated acco''odation of =ndigeno s people in the present% &hese are the /ey instances $hen the Co rt *ent red #eyond its role in declaring o r co''on la$+ and s ggested so'e 'oral leadership% =t is *ery clear fro' $hat the Pri'e (inister and his (inister for )#original )ffairs+ Senator Aohn Herron+ ha*e said a#o t these 'atters+ that they do not deny the depredations against )#original people that are ill 'inated #y the ne$ ) stralian history% Aohn Ho$ard said- ?=n. stices $ere done in ) stralia and no one sho ld o#sc re or 'ini'ise the'%2
Clearly then the de#ate today is not so ' ch a#o t the facts of the past% &here is generally co''on gro nd a#o t the'% &he de#ate is a#o t ho$ ) stralians sho ld respond to the past% &he Pri'e (inister p ts his *ie$ *ery clearly+ he said-
?E in nderstanding these realities o r priority sho ld not #e to apportion #la'e and g ilt for historic $rongs # t to co''it to a practical progra' of action that $ill re'o*e the end ring legacies of disad*antage%2 Senator Herron said in his Enid Gyons (e'orial Gect re recently?= also #elie*e that a clear distinction ' st #e 'ade #et$een the i'portance of ac/no$ledging the in. stices of the past and the need to sec re an ad'ission of g ilt for those in. stices% = do not #elie*e that 'ost ) stralians feel indi*id al g ilt a#o t these in. stices+ for the si'ple fact that they too/ no direct part in the'%%%Certainly+ as a
19
nation+ $e ha*e a responsi#ility to #e fran/ and forthright a#o t those aspects of o r history that are not al$ays palata#le+ and i'portantly to learn fro' the 'ista/es that ha*e #een 'ade% Ho$e*er tr e reconciliation #et$een =ndigeno s and non0=ndigeno s ) stralians is not a#o t assigning g ilt for the actions of o r for#ears% Cather it is a#o t achie*ing an appropriate #alance #et$een ac/no$ledging and respecting the lingering pain fro' past in. stices and acting decisi*ely to ens re f ll e1 ality of opport nity in the f t re%2
)t the height of the nati*e title de#ate in 1997+ in a speech to the Endea*o r <o ndation+ the then Geader of the <ederal 4pposition+ Dr Aohn He$son+ applied his o$n fac lties to these 1 estions and re'ar/ed that- ?) di*isi*e de#ate o*er iss es long gone sho ld ne*er #e preferred to a nifying search for co''on gro nd%2 =n 'y Hancoc/ (e'orial Gect re = arg ed that it sho ld not #e necessary for the tr th to #e distorted in order for $hite ) stralians to #e a#le to li*e $ith the'sel*es% Dr He$son2s s ggestion $as that the tr th a#o t the past sho ld s ffer in the na'e of a nited ) stralia% &he sit ation is entirely the re*erse% =t see's to 'e that the psychological nity of this co ntry depends pon o r ta/ing responsi#ility for the f t re #y dealing $ith the past% )nything less is si'ply e*asion of reality%
= said that there $as e*ery indication that ) stralia is 'at re eno gh to deal $ith these 1 estions- ho$ do $e e,plain the past to o r childrenI Ho$ do $e locate o rsel*es as ) stralians in relation to the di*erse traditions and e,periences that co'prise o r co'#ined heritageI Ho$ do $e as =ndigeno s people respond to the legacy of colonialis' and that #r tal+ tro #led+ c lt re #y $hich $e $ere dispossessedI Do $e re.ect it o tright+ and f rther'ore+ do $e re1 ire )nglo0Celtic ) stralians to sp rn their origins in the na'e of penance and of solidarity $ith sI
= arg ed that s ch a response to o r history is 1 ite inappropriate+ no$ $hen at last $e 'ay #e approaching a state of ?li*e and let li*e2 in this co ntry% =t is at odds $ith the 1 est to disco*er ?$hat nites s2 as $ell as ?$hat separates s2% &here is an e,tent to $hich = agree $ith Co#ert H ghes $hen he o#ser*ed-
?&he need for a#sol te goodies and a#sol te #addies r ns deep in s+ # t it drags history into propaganda and denies the h 'anity of the dead- their sins+ their *irt es+ their efforts+ their fail res% &o preser*e co'ple,ity and not flatten it nder the $eight of anachronistic 'oralising+ is part of the historian2s tas/ E2 = arg ed that $e need to appreciate the co'ple,ity of the past and not red ce history to a shallo$ field of point scoring% = #elie*e that there is ' ch that is $orth preser*ing in the c lt ral heritage of o r dispossessors+ ' ch that = for one $o ld #e loath to rep diate and ' ch that has also #eco'e o rs+ not necessarily #y i'position # t #y appropriation%
= said that contrary to the propaganda of colonialis'+ $hich . stifies o r dispossession thro gh neo0Dar$inian arg 'ents that )#original c lt res $ere doo'ed to e,tinction
20
d e to o r innate ina#ility to ?progress2+ o r c lt res are resilient and adapta#le% "e ha*e ta/en fro' yo and $e sho ld not #elittle o rsel*es #y contending that $e ha*e had no choice in the 'atter% &he re*erse is also of co rse tr e% Jo ha*e ta/en fro' s not . st o r land and not . st all of the icons of =ndigeno s ) stralia+ # t so'e of o r $ays of approaching things ha*e #eco'e an inescapa#le part of ) stralia2s national 'ythology% &his c lt ral interface has not #een entirely $oef l%
B t has the so0called #lac/ ar'#and *ie$ of history #een a#o t apportioning g iltI
=n his speech at Cedfern Par/ in Dece'#er 1992+ the then Pri'e (inister Pa l Beating said this a#o t g ilt?Do$n the years+ there has #een no shortage of g ilt+ # t it has not prod ced the responses $e need% : ilt is not a *ery constr cti*e e'otion% = thin/ $hat $e need to do is open o r hearts a #it% )ll of s%2
=n his recent address to the )sia ) stralia =nstit te at the 3ni*ersity of !e$ So th "ales+ the for'er Pri'e (inister reiterated his *ie$ $hen he said?%%%the process of reconciliation had to start $ith an act of recognition% Cecognition that it $as $e non0)#original ) stralians $ho did the dispossessingF and yet $e had al$ays failed to as/ o rsel*es ho$ $e $o ld feel if it had #een done to s% "hen = said these things+ it $as not 'y intention to i'press g ilt pon present generations of ) stralians for the actions of the past+ # t rather to ac/no$ledge that $e no$ share a responsi#ility to p t an end to the s ffering% = said e,plicitly that g ilt is generally not a sef l e'otion and+ in any case+ the reco''ended treat'ent is confronting the past+ not e*ading it%2
So if #oth sides of this apparent de#ate deny that the allocation of g ilt is necessary for the co ntry to deal $ith the colonial past+ then $hy has it #een alleged that ) stralians ha*e #een rged #y the #lac/ ar'#ands+ thro gh a deliri ' of political correctness+ to feel g ilty a#o t the pastI &he distinction 'ade #y Aohn Herron #et$een ac/no$ledg'ent of the past and g ilt a#o t the past is indistinct fro' the state'ents #y the for'er Pri'e (inister that it $as not a#o t g ilt # t a#o t opening o r hearts a #it%
&he denial of the place of g ilt $ill #e at odds $ith 'any =ndigeno s ) stralians+ for $ho' in. stice is not in the re'ote past # t $ithin their li*ing 'e'ories% &hose $ho feel /eenly the legacy of that past in the present+ in the for' of lo*ed ones $ho no$ s ffer the terri#le psychological conse1 ences of #eing re'o*ed fro' their fa'ilies and #eing instit tionalised+ $ill not readily say that g ilt is an altogether irrele*ant e'otion%
Ho$e*er+ as Social A stice Co''issioner+ (ichael Dodson+ recently o#ser*ed+ it has not #een )#original people tal/ing a#o t g ilt in co'ing to ter's $ith o r history+ it has #een the Pri'e (inister and Senator Herron $ho ha*e #een 'ost an,io s to e,orcise the spectre of g ilt%
21
)s to the 1 estion of g ilt+ = a' 'yself e1 i*ocal% = /no$ *ery clearly that as indi*id als+ ordinary ) stralians cannot #e e,pected to feel g ilty a#o t the past% 4rdinary ) stralians 'ight fairly #e held to acco nt for $hat happens in their o$n lifeti'es and perhaps+ $hat they lea*e for the f t re% =t is indeed a seless o#.ecti*e in the teaching and $riting of history to hold indi*id als to acco nt for the past% Ho$e*er+ as a nation+ the ) stralian co'' nity has a collecti*e conscio sness and conscience that enco'passes a responsi#ility for the present and f t re+ and the past% 4 r collecti*e conscio sness incl des the past% <or ho$ can $e as a conte'porary co'' nity in 1998 share and cele#rate in the achie*e'ents of the past+ indeed feel responsi#ility for and e,press pride in aspects of o r past+ and not feel responsi#ility for and e,press sha'e in relation to other aspects of the pastI &o say that ordinary ) stralians $ho are part of the national co'' nity today do not ha*e any connection $ith the sha'ef l aspects of o r past+ is at odds $ith o r e,hortations that they ha*e strong connections to the pridef l #its% )fter all the heroic deeds at :allipoli and Bo/oda are said to #e o rs as $ell% Gest $e forget,
(y feeling is that g ilt need not #e an ingredient in o r national 5re6consideration of o r history% <or those ) stralians $ho are not still afflicted $ith the o#sc rantist tendencies of the past+ $ho are ntro #led a#o t recognising the tr ths of the past+ and are prepared to ac/no$ledge the legacies of that past+ g ilt is not a feat re apparent in their psychology% =n 'y e,perience+ it is for those ) stralians $ho resist the tr ths of history and $ho yearn for a ret rn to the :reat ) stralian Silence+ and $ho deny so'e responsi#ility to deal $ith the legacy of the past in the present+ that g ilt see's to #e an ingredient% &he 'ore *ehe'ent the denials the 'ore they #etray an an,iety to e,orcise g ilt%
B t if present generations of ) stralians cannot #e held to acco nt for the past+ they are s rely responsi#le for the infidelities of the present% )t the present 'o'ent the Jorta Jorta people of the ( rray Ci*er region aro nd Bar'ah and Shepparton are prosec ting a nati*e title clai' in the <ederal Co rt of ) stralia+ in relation to their re'nant traditional ho'elands% "illia' Cooper+ an ancestor of the present Jorta Jorta clai'ants $rote in 1979 to the then Pri'e (inister+ (r Gyons% He said?= ha*e addressed n 'ero s letters to the editor of the *ario s ne$spapers and find 'y pleas for #etter conditions are+ in nine cases o t of ten+ ?pigeon holed2% ?=n spite of this fact $e li*e in the hope that so'e day the ne$spapers $ill #egin to p #lish the tr th concerning )#original affairs so that the p #lic+ #eing infor'ed+ $ill see that the great e*ils fro' $hich $e are s ffering are re'ediedE
?"e )#origines are a ?protected2 people% = nderstand that the correct 'eaning of the $ord ?protector2 is ?one $ho protects fro' in. ryF one $ho protects fro' oppressionF a g ardianF a regentF one $ho r les for a so*ereign2%
22
?=t $o ld please s greatly to ha*e a protector o*er o r people $ho $o ld li*e p to that standard+ # t ho$ do o r protectorates $or/I E &a/e for instance the police'an $ho $as appointed as a protector of the )#origines in Central ) stralia% He $ent o t one day to arrest a nati*e $ho $as rep ted to ha*e /illed a $hite 'an%
?He stated in his e*idence that he shot 17 nati*es and later shot another 14 and a so0called ?A stice of the Peace2 officially+ $itho t trial+ . stified the consta#le for shooting these 71 people% !o$ E do yo thin/ this A stice of the Peace co ld . stify the Consta#le #efore :od I
?Do yo thin/ that he co ld . stify his o$n . dg'ent #efore the /ingI%%%&he $hole thing is contrary to British A stice and cannot #e . stified e*en #efore a ' ch lo$er tri# nal+ the $hite people 5if they /ne$ the facts6 and of these yo are oneH
?History records that in the year 1771 $hite 'en first landed on the shores of $hat is no$ called Botany Bay% &hey clai'ed that they had ?fo nd2 a ?ne$2 co ntry ) stralia% &his co ntry $as not ne$+ it $as already in possession of+ and inha#ited #y+ 'illions of #lac/s $ho+ $hile nar'ed e,cepting spears and #oo'erangs+ ne*ertheless o$ned the co ntry as their :od0gi*en heritage% ?<ro' the standpoint of an ed cated #lac/ $ho can read the Bi#le pon $hich British constit tion and c sto' is fo nded+ = 'ar*el at the fact that $hile the te,t #oo/ of present ci*ilisation+ the Bi#le+ states that :od ga*e the Earth to 'an+ the ?Christian2 interferes $ith :od2s arrange'ent and stops not e*en at ' rder to ta/e that $hich does not #elong to the' # t #elongs to others #y right of prior possession and #y right of gift fro' :od%%%
?&he ti'e is long o*erd e $hen the )#origines sho ld #e considered as ' ch and as f lly nder the protection of the la$ as any other citiKen of the E'pireE
?&his 'ore partic larly in *ie$ of the fact that history records that in the co''ission originally gi*en to those $ho ca'e fro' o*erseas the strict in. nction $as gi*en that the )#origines and their descendants had to #e ade1 ately cared forE
?&he ta/ing of rightf l #elongings has not yet ceasedE ?"ill yo + #y yo r apathy+ tacitly ad'it that yo don2t care and th s ass 'e the g ilt of yo r fathersI2
"hen on 7 A ne 1992 the High Co rt of ) stralia s ggested that (a#o 'ight #e the fo ndation of a lasting co'pro'ise #et$een the old and ne$ of this continent+ = $as seiKed $ith a con*iction in its correctness% B t 'y concern has not . st #een $ith the narro$ legal 'eaning of (a#o+ tho gh it is critical% = a' concerned $ith the spirit of historical rec/oning and acceptance and co'pro'ise and reconciliation $hich it represents% = ha*e hoped that it 'ight #e possi#le for o r national leaders to gain an intellect al+ if not an e'otional or spirit al+ nderstanding of its i'portance%
27
(a#o thre$ the co ntry into social+ political and psychological t r'oil% = al$ays said that it $as the t r'oil and conf sion the co ntry had to ha*e% )nd the challenge for ordinary ) stralians today is this- that the fo ndation for co'pro'ise that is the ac/no$ledg'ent nder the co''on la$ of England that $ith the so*ereign clai' o*er the ) stralian continent on #ehalf the Cro$n+ ca'e the recognition of the nati*e title of the =ndigeno s inha#itants $ho #eca'e s #.ects of the Cro$n entitled to the protections of the la$ this co'pro'ise co'es fro' their o$n legal and instit tional heritage% (a#o is not a prod ct of =ndigeno s heritage% Cather 'ore it is the prod ct of the co ntry2s English heritage- it is a prod ct of the geni s of the co''on la$ of England%
=f there is one thing a#o t the colonial heritage of ) stralia that =ndigeno s ) stralians 'ight cele#rate along $ith Aohn Ho$ard $ith the greatest enth sias' and pride+ it ' st s rely #e the fact that pon the sho lders of the English settlers or in*aders call the' $hat yo $ill ca'e the co''on la$ of England and $ith it the ci*ilised instit tion of nati*e title% "hat 'ore rede'pti*e prospect can #e painted a#o t the co ntry2s colonial pastI =t . st confo nds 'e that this golden e,a'ple of grace in o r national inheritance is not the s #.ect of national cele#ration% )fter all+ =ndigeno s people are entitled to say- ?it is yo r la$2%
&he a'end'ents to the !ati*e &itle legislation that are proposed #y Aohn Ho$ard2s go*ern'ent a'o nt to a derogation and a di'in tion of the entitle'ents that =ndigeno s people ha*e nder the co''on la$+ $hich $ere negotiated in good faith $ith the <ederal Parlia'ent on #ehalf of the non0=ndigeno s co'' nity+ in 1997% (a/e no 'ista/e+ if the a'end'ents as proposed #y the Ho$ard :o*ern'ent s cceed+ (a#o $ill #e no 'ore% &here $ill only #e so'e re'nant rights% &he spirit of co'pro'ise and 'oral rec/oning $hich (a#o represents $ill #e lost to s and to f t re generations% =t is for o r national leaders to r pt re the spirit and 'eaning of (a#o as a /ey opport nity in o r history+ and for ordinary ) stralians to allo$ this to happen in the co'ing 'onthsF then $e $ill #e held to acco nt% 4f these o#scenities $e $ill indeed #e g ilty%
"illia' Cooper+ $hose hopes for . stice for his Jorta Jorta people are the s #.ect of <ederal Co rt proceedings nder the !ati*e &itle legislation+ $o ld re'ind s-
?&he ta/ing of rightf l #elongings has not yet ceased E"ill yo + #y yo r apathy tacitly ad'it that yo don2t care and th s ass 'e the g ilt of yo r fathersI2
=n concl sion+ $hat s #stance is there in the ne$ e'phasis on o r colonial history that Pri'e (inister Aohn Ho$ard and his (inister are rging and in the cr sade against the #lac/ ar'#ands and their alleged o#session $ith g iltI &he ans$er is- nothing at all%
&he Pri'e (inister has not #een a#le to grasp $hat his predecessor $as a#le to- that it is not a#o t g ilt+ it is a#o t opening o r hearts a little #it%
)nd to ha*e an open and genero s heart in relation to these things - 'eans that $hen yo ac/no$ledge the $rongs of the past+ yo 'ight try to do so ngr dgingly% )n open heart 'eans that if a people ha*e s ffered $rongs and ha*e $o nds that are still /een+ then there ' st #e so'e respect for that% =t $o ld #e inappropriate for s to say to
24
Ae$ish people today+ ?the treat'ent of yo r people has #een terri#le+ # t perhaps $e sho ld not #e so cons 'ed #y it+ 'ay#e it is ti'e to no$ loo/ for$ard2% &hese are 'atters for these people to co'e to ter's $ith% Hectoring #y the leading spo/es'en for the other side of the colonial grie*ance+ $hich the Pri'e (inister represents+ a#o t ho$ $e need to 'o*e on+ is st pid% =t is ngracio s and insensiti*e and $ill ad*ance nothing in the relationship% =t di'inishes one2s sincerity%
(y concern is that o r present national leadership is only thin/ing in ter's of #road characterisations and slogans% ) 'ore rigoro s e,a'ination of the so0 called politically correct+ #lac/ ar'#and+ histories $o ld ha*e re*ealed the fact that no one is rging g ilt pon the ) stralian people%
&he ne$ approach is significantly anti0intellect al% &he ne$ free speech is ta#loid free speech+ $here people $ho sho ld e,pect to acco nt for $hat they say+ are a#le to cond ct so9called de#ate a#o t iss es thro gh ta#loid0style slogans that are caref lly crafted to acti*ate those hot # ttons in o r co'' nity% Blac/ )r'#ands% : ilt =nd stry% Political Correctness% )#original =nd stry% &hese are lines that resonate% &hey $or/ on the e*ening ne$s gra#s% &hey $or/ on the radio air$a*es% So $e end p $ith this #rain0da'aged dialog e #et$een the politicians and the p nters passing for free speech and p #lic de#ate% &he politics of ' t al ass rance% = a' s re that Co#ert H ghes+ $hose se'inal #oo/ Culture of Co/plaint $as to ted as the first foray against political correctness # t is an intelligent and in*igorating criti1 e of anti0intellect alis'+ $o ld #e asha'ed to see $hat is passing for free speech and history in this co ntry today% =f Aohn Ho$ard $ants to properly co'prehend a #alanced and perhaps e*en conser*ati*e criti1 e on ho$ $e 'ight deal $ith o r history+ he 'ight care to read Co#ert H ghes rather than the opinion polls%
2;
) ng San S Byi !o#el PriKe Ga reate .eynote Address at the Bei/in0 1orld Conference on 1o2en
71 ) g st 199; Cead on @ideo
=t is a $onderf l # t da nting tas/ that has fallen on 'e to say a fe$ $ords #y $ay of opening this <or '+ the greatest conco rse of $o'en 5.oined #y a fe$ #ra*e 'enH6 that has e*er gathered on o r planet% = $ant to try and *oice so'e of the co''on hopes $hich fir'ly nite s in all o r splendid di*ersity%
B t first = $o ld li/e to e,plain $hy = cannot #e $ith yo in person today% Gast 'onth = $as released fro' al'ost si, years of ho se arrest% &he regaining of 'y freedo' has in t rn i'posed a d ty on 'e to $or/ for the freedo' of other $o'en and 'en in 'y co ntry $ho ha*e s ffered far 'ore and $ho contin e to s ffer far 'ore than = ha*e% =t is this d ty $hich pre*ents 'e fro' .oining yo today% E*en sending this 'essage to yo has not #een $itho t diffic lties% B t the help of those $ho #elie*e in international cooperation and freedo' of e,pression has ena#led 'e to o*erco'e the o#stacles% &hey 'ade it possi#le for 'e to 'a/e a s'all contri# tion to this great cele#ration of the str ggle of $o'en to 'o ld their o$n destiny and to infl ence the fate of o r glo#al *illage%
&he opening plenary of this <or ' $ill #e presenting an o*er*ie$ of the glo#al forces affecting the 1 ality of life of the h 'an co'' nity and the challenges they pose for the glo#al co'' nity as a $hole and for $o'en in partic lar as $e approach the t$enty0first cent ry% Ho$e*er+ $ith tr e $o'anly nderstanding+ the Con*ener of this <or ' s ggested that a'ong these glo#al forces and challenges+ = 'ight $ish to concentrate on those 'atters $hich occ py all 'y $a/ing tho ghts these dayspeace+ sec rity+ h 'an rights and de'ocracy% = $o ld li/e to disc ss these iss es partic larly in the conte,t of the participation of $o'en in politics and go*ernance%
<or 'illennia $o'en ha*e dedicated the'sel*es al'ost e,cl si*ely to the tas/ of n rt ring+ protecting and caring for the yo ng and the old+ stri*ing for the conditions of peace that fa*o r life as a $hole% &o this can #e added the fact that+ to the #est of 'y /no$ledge+ no $ar $as e*er started #y $o'en% B t it is $o'en and children $ho ha*e al$ays s ffered 'ost in sit ations of conflict% !o$ that $e are gaining control of the pri'ary historical role i'posed on s of s staining life in the conte,t of the ho'e and fa'ily+ it is ti'e to apply in the arena of the $orld the $isdo' and e,perience th s gained in acti*ities of peace o*er so 'any tho sands of years% &he ed cation and e'po$er'ent of $o'en thro gho t the $orld cannot fail to res lt in a 'ore caring+ tolerant+ . st and peacef l life for all%
=f to these ni*ersal #enefits of the gro$ing e'ancipation of $o'en can #e added the ?peace di*idend2 for h 'an de*elop'ent offered #y the end of the Cold "ar+ spending less on the $ar toys of gro$n 'en and ' ch 'ore on the rgent needs of h 'anity as a $hole+ then tr ly the ne,t 'illennia $ill #e an age the li/e to $hich has ne*er #een seen
28
in h 'an history% B t there still re'ain 'any o#stacles to #e o*erco'e #efore $e can achie*e this goal% )nd not least a'ong these o#stacles are intolerance and insec rity%
&his year is the =nternational Jear for &olerance% &he 3nited !ations has recognised that ?tolerance+ h 'an rights+ de'ocracy and peace are closely related% "itho t tolerance+ the fo ndations for de'ocracy and respect for h 'an rights cannot #e strengthened+ and the achie*e'ents of peace $ill re'ain el si*e2% (y o$n e,perience d ring the years = ha*e #een engaged in the de'ocracy 'o*e'ent in B r'a has con*inced 'e of the need to e'phasise the positi*e aspects of tolerance% =t is not eno gh si'ply to ?li*e and let li*e2- gen ine tolerance re1 ires an acti*e effort to try to nderstand the point of *ie$ of othersF it i'plies #road0'indedness and *ision+ as $ell as confidence in one2s o$n a#ility to 'eet ne$ challenges $itho t resorting to intransigence or *iolence% =n societies $here 'en are tr ly confident of their o$n $orth $o'en are not 'erely ?tolerated2+ they are *al ed% &heir opinions are listened to $ith respect+ they are gi*en their rightf l place in shaping the society in $hich they li*e%
&here is an o t'oded B r'ese pro*er# still recited #y 'en+ $ho $ish to deny that $o'en too can play a part in #ringing necessary change and progress to their society- ?&he da$n rises only $hen the rooster cro$s2% B t B r'ese people today are $ell a$are of the scientific reason #ehind the rising of da$n and the falling of d s/% )nd the intelligent rooster s rely realises that it is #eca se da$n co'es that it cro$s and not the other $ay ro nd% =t cro$s to $elco'e the light that has co'e to relie*e the dar/ness of night% =t is not the prerogati*e of 'en alone to #ring light to this $orld- $o'en $ith their capacity for co'passion and self0sacrifice+ their co rage and perse*erance+ ha*e done ' ch to dissipate the dar/ness of intolerance and hate+ s ffering and despair%
4ften the other side of the coin of intolerance is insec rity% =nsec re people tend to #e intolerant+ and their intolerance nleashes forces that threaten the sec rity of others% )nd $here there is no sec rity there can #e no lasting peace% =n its H 'an De*elop'ent Ceport for last year+ the 3!DP noted that h 'an sec rity ?is not a concern $ith $eapons it is a concern $ith h 'an life and dignity2% &he str ggle for de'ocracy and h 'an rights in B r'a is a str ggle for life and dignity% =t is a str ggle that enco'passes o r political+ social and econo'ic aspirations% &he people of 'y co ntry $ant the t$o freedo's that spell sec rity- freedo' fro' $ant and freedo' fro' $ar% =t is $ant that has dri*en so 'any of o r yo ng girls across o r #orders to a life of se, al sla*ery $here they are s #.ect to constant h 'iliation and ill0treat'ent% =t is fear of persec tion for their political #eliefs that has 'ade so 'any of o r people feel that e*en in their o$n ho'es they cannot li*e in dignity and sec rity%
&raditionally+ the ho'e is the do'ain of the $o'an% B t there has ne*er #een a g arantee that she can li*e o t her life there safe and n'olested% &here are co ntless $o'en $ho are s #.ected to se*ere cr elty $ithin the heart of the fa'ily $hich sho ld #e their ha*en% )nd in ti'es of crisis $hen their 'enfol/ are na#le to gi*e the' protection+ $o'en ha*e to face the harsh challenges of the $orld o tside $hile contin ing to discharge their d ties $ithin the ho'e%
(any of 'y 'ale colleag es $ho ha*e s ffered i'prison'ent for their part in the de'ocracy 'o*e'ent ha*e spo/en of the great de#t of gratit de they o$e their
27
$o'enfol/+ partic larly their $i*es+ $ho stood #y the' fir'ly+ tender as 'others n rsing their ne$ly #orn+ #ra*e as lionesses defending their yo ng% &hese 'agnificent h 'an #eings $ho ha*e done so ' ch to aid their 'en in the str ggle for . stice and peace ho$ ' ch 'ore co ld they not achie*e if gi*en the opport nity to $or/ in their o$n right for the good of their co ntry and of the $orldI
4 r endea*o rs ha*e also #een s stained #y the acti*ities of strong and principled $o'en all o*er the $orld $ho ha*e ca'paigned not only for 'y o$n release # t+ 'ore i'portantly+ for o r ca se% = cannot let this opport nity pass $itho t spea/ing of the gratit de $e feel to$ards o r sisters e*ery$here+ fro' heads of go*ern'ents to # sy ho se$i*es% &heir efforts ha*e #een a tri 'phant de'onstration of fe'ale solidarity and of the po$er of an ideal to cross all frontiers%
=n 'y co ntry at present+ $o'en ha*e no participation in the higher le*els of go*ern'ent and none $hatsoe*er in the . diciary% E*en $ithin the de'ocratic 'o*e'ent only 14 o t of the 49; (Ps elected in 1990 $ere $o'en all fro' 'y o$n party+ the !ational Geag e for De'ocracy% &hese 14 $o'en represent less than three percent of the total n '#er of s ccessf l candidates% &hey+ li/e their 'ale colleag es+ ha*e not #een per'itted to ta/e office since the o tco'e of those elections has #een totally ignored% Jet the *ery high perfor'ance of $o'en in o r ed cational syste' and in the 'anage'ent of co''ercial enterprises pro*es their enor'o s potential to contri# te to the #etter'ent of society in general% (ean$hile o r $o'en ha*e yet to achie*e those f nda'ental rights of free e,pression+ association and sec rity of life denied also to their 'enfol/%
&he ad*ersities that $e ha*e had to face together ha*e ta ght all of s in*ol*ed in the str ggle to # ild a tr ly de'ocratic political syste' in B r'a that there are no gender #arriers that cannot #e o*erco'e% &he relationship #et$een 'en and $o'en sho ld+ and can #e+ characterised not #y patronising #eha*io r or e,ploitation+ # t #y /etta 5that is to say lo*ing /indness6+ partnership and tr st% "e need ' t al respect and nderstanding #et$een 'en and $o'en+ instead of patriarchal do'ination and degradation+ $hich are e,pressions of *iolence and engender co nter0*iolence% "e can learn fro' each other and help one another to 'oderate the ?gender $ea/nesses2 i'posed on s #y traditional or #iological factors% &here is an age0old pre. dice the $orld o*er to the effect that $o'en tal/ too ' ch% B t is this really a $ea/nessI Co ld it not in fact #e strengthI Cecent scientific research on the h 'an #rain has re*ealed that $o'en are #etter at *er#al s/ills $hile 'en tend to$ards physical action% Psychological research has sho$n on the other hand that disinfor'ation engendered #y 'en has far 'ore da'aging effect on its *icti's than fe'inine gossip% S rely these disco*eries indicate that $o'en ha*e a 'ost *al a#le contri# tion to 'a/e in sit ations of conflict+ #y leading the $ay to sol tions #ased on dialog e rather than on *icio sness or *iolenceI
&he B ddhist pa arana cere'ony at the end of the rainy season retreat $as instit ted #y the Gord B ddha+ $ho did not $ant h 'an #eings to li*e in silence N= 1 oteO ?li/e d '# ani'als2% &his cere'ony+ d ring $hich 'on/s as/ ' t al forgi*eness for any offence gi*en d ring the retreat+ can #e said to #e a co ncil of tr th and reconciliation%
29
=t 'ight also #e considered a forer nner of that 'ost de'ocratic of instit tions+ the parlia'ent+ a 'eeting of peoples gathered together to tal/ o*er their shared pro#le's% )ll the $orld2s great religions are dedicated to the generation of happiness and har'ony% &his de'onstrates the fact that together $ith the co'#ati*e instincts of 'an there co0e,ists a spirit al aspiration for ' t al nderstanding and peace% &his for ' of non0go*ern'ental organisations represents the #elief in the a#ility of intelligent h 'an #eings to resol*e conflicting interests thro gh e,change and dialog e% =t also represents the con*iction that go*ern'ents alone cannot resol*e all the pro#le's of their co ntries% &he $atchf lness and acti*e cooperation of organisations o tside the spheres of officialdo' are necessary to ens re the fo r essential co'ponents of the h 'an de*elop'ent paradig' as identified #y the 3!DPprod cti*ity+ e1 ity+ s staina#ility and e'po$er'ent% &he last is partic larly rele*ant- it re1 ires that ?de*elop'ent ' st #e #y people+ not only for the'% People ' st participate f lly in the decisions and processes that shape their li*es2% =n other $ords+ people ' st #e allo$ed to play a significant role in the go*ernance of the co ntry% )nd ?people2 incl de $o'en+ $ho 'a/e p at least half of the $orld2s pop lation% &he last si, years afforded 'e ' ch ti'e and food for tho ght% = ca'e to the concl sion that the h 'an race is not di*ided into t$o opposing ca'ps of good and e*il% =t is 'ade p of those $ho are capa#le of learning and those $ho are incapa#le of doing so% Here = a' not tal/ing of learning in the narro$ sense of ac1 iring an acade'ic ed cation+ # t of learning as the process of a#sor#ing those lessons of life that ena#le s to increase peace and happiness in o r $orld% "o'en in their roles as 'others ha*e traditionally ass 'ed the responsi#ility of teaching children *al es that $ill g ide the' thro gho t their li*es% =t is ti'e $e $ere gi*en the f ll opport nity to se o r nat ral teaching s/ills to contri# te to$ards # ilding a 'odern $orld that can $ithstand the tre'endo s challenges of the technological re*ol tion $hich has in t rn #ro ght re*ol tionary changes in social *al es%
)s $e stri*e to teach others $e ' st ha*e the h 'ility to ac/no$ledge that $e too still ha*e ' ch to learn% )nd $e ' st ha*e the fle,i#ility to adapt to the changing needs of the $orld aro nd s% "o'en $ho ha*e #een ta ght that 'odesty and pliancy are a'ong the priKed *irt es of o r gender are 'ar*ello sly e1 ipped for the learning process% B t they ' st #e gi*en the opport nity to t rn these often 'erely passi*e *irt es into positi*e assets for the society in $hich they li*e%
&hese+ then+ are o r co''on hopes that nite s that as the shac/les of pre. dice and intolerance fall fro' o r o$n li'#s $e can together stri*e to identify and re'o*e the i'pedi'ents to h 'an de*elop'ent e*ery$here% &he 'echanis's #y $hich this great tas/ is to #e achie*ed pro*ided the proper foc s of this great <or '% = feel s re that $o'en thro gho t the $orld $ho+ li/e 'e+ cannot #e $ith yo .oin 'e no$ in sending yo all o r prayers and good $ishes for a .oyf l and prod cti*e 'eeting%
= than/ yo %
Ceprod ced $ith per'ission%

29
<aith Bandler #(aith- %ope and 3econciliation' at the &al/in2 p Ceconciliation Con*ention+ "ollongong ) g st 1999
= first $o ld li/e to than/ the =ndigeno s people of the =lla$arra for in*iting 'e to co'e today% = $as here once #efore and so'e of those past 'e'ories ha*e #een stirred $ith so'e of yo $ho' = ha*e had a chance to spea/ $ith+ so than/ yo %
Gord (ayor+ E*elyn Scott+ Ginda B rney and all hono red g ests+ $hen = p t 'y tho ghts together to co'e and spea/ to yo this 'orning+ = fo nd a 'od le in 'y thin/ing% =t $as getting in the $ay% &here $as a little sadness #eca se = felt the reconciliation progra' had slo$ed since 1987 and then the considera#le s pport for those $ho sponsored racis' e,c sed so'e of their terri#le tterances in the na'e of free speech+ and then the terri#le tragedy re*ealed to s of the stolen children%
So #riefly = $ill try to portray 'y tho ghts of these days and the days #efore% Earlier $e tho ght o r efforts $ere set in stone% B t the trac/ hasn2t #een easy and it $as not so% =t is hard to say $hat $e ha*e heard and seen recently+ to hear it $itho t sha'e and anger+ and those are t$o ele'ents $hich tend to stand in the $ay of the planning of good strategies% So'e $ho are here today ha*e li*ed+ #reathed+ str ggled and cli'#ed those ra'parts of the r gged past+ and $hen reaching the s ''it+ ha*e seen the gliness $hen loo/ing do$n the disagreea#le ha#its of those $ho close their eyes to the past+ the $illing ignorance and #lindness to other peoples2 $ay of life+ those $ho long for a ho'ogeneo s society $here all thin/ ali/e% B t =2' pleased to say that o t there+ there are decent people% &hey 'ay ha*e different c lt res+ different political #eliefs+ # t they /no$ there is a need to heal the $o nds of the past+ the terri#le indignities%
(y learning $as rather hard and slo$% =t too/ so'e ti'e for 'e to nderstand+ $hen there are 'illions in the $orld today $ho are h ngry+ 'illions $ho are ho'eless+ 'illions $ho are $itho t $or/+ the $rongf lly i'prisoned+ the deaths in c stody+ the tort red+ the 'ass ' rder of $o'en and children+ $hy in the na'e of creation o r differences sho ld 'atter% "hy is it so hard to find o r co''onalitiesI
&he 'ost co''only *oiced opinions of so'e $ho are $illingly #lind is that $e foc s on the fail res and fa lts and too little praise is gi*en% B t if praise ' st #e gi*en it o ght not to #e gi*en to the po$erf l # t rather to the po$erless+ $ho patiently #ear the #r nt of 'any 'isdeeds and indecencies% So in the str ggle to reconcile yo said it2s a#o t $or/ing together% &hat $ill 'ean lightening the # rden of that terri#le #aggage that has to do $ith o r differences% )nd in the short ter'+ there2s a fair #it to do a#o t it%
70
(any ha*e $or/ed $ith deter'ination+ at 'ost ti'es against tre'endo s odds+ $ith the tal/0#ac/ .oc/eys lined p against the'+ and those $ho are deli#erately #lin/ered and o r tro #led relationships $ith the'% &hey are chained in their st ##ornness+ # t $e are free+ and if $e need to go for$ard $itho t the'+ then $e ' st% &o the yo th present+ and the not so yo ng+ let 'e say this- this 'o*e'ent sho ld #e one $herein $e sho ld as/ not $hat is in it for 'e+ # t $hat is in it for s% &he fair0'inded people o t there can co'e along $ith s% !one is $itho t fa lt+ none is $itho t #le'ish+ # t they greatly o tn '#er the o#.ectiona#le and the cr de%
)t this conference $e 'ight as/ o rsel*es if o r efforts are eno gh to 'a/e this co ntry a #etter place for those $ho co'e after s% So yo + the yo nger $ho are present+ and those $ho are not present+ ha*e a hard .o# to do% Jo ha*e #ro ght change+ tr e+ # t to eli'inate so'e of the in# ilt attit des of this society+ the tas/ is yet to #e tac/led%
&his year ) stralia is cele#rating ;0 years of citiKenship% Before 1949 $e $ere all British s #.ects% "ell+ so'e $ere- it2s not ;0 years since =ndigeno s ) stralians has the right to citiKenship% "e are not to forget the "hite ) stralia Policy+ introd ced at the t rn of this cent ry+ e,cl ded the peoples fro' So th )frica+ the peoples fro' the Pacific =slands and all )sian co ntries fro' ) stralian citiKenship rights% !on0 =ndigeno s ) stralians had the infl ence of the "hite ) stralia Policy+ and those to $ho' it applied $ere considered+ at ti'es+ less than h 'an #eings% &h s the ca'paign for )#original citiKenship rights+ carried on fro' 19;7 to 1987+ $as rather diffic lt% )nd it2s ti'e for s to re'e'#er that rights are not handed on a platter #y go*ern'ents+ they ha*e to #e $on%
&his conference in its deli#erations $ill consider land rights% =n the efforts to hold and protect their land fro' the in*aders in 1799+ there $ere 'any $ho lost their li*es% &here $ere fierce #attles and conflict and+ tr e+ there $ere l lls+ in the 'o*e for land rights% B t e*en in the 'ost isolated co'' nities+ the people spo/e a#o t their land%
<or the e,ec ti*e of 'y co ncil+ <C))&S=+ land rights see'ed to #e p t on the #ac/ # rner% =t $as the 'ost po*erty stric/en in the $hole of ) stralia+ so $e had to #e caref l $ith $hat fe$ reso rces $e had% &hese $ere the 'atters that had to do $ith e1 al $ages for e1 al $or/+ partic larly for the #lac/ stoc/'en+ and other needs li/e ho sing+ ed cation opport nities+ freedo' of 'o*e'ent+ the false arrests% So these pro#le's had to #e dealt $ith and faced and $e had to 'o#ilise the forces to 'eet those needs%
3ntil 1982% )lec @esper ca'e do$n fro' the co'' nity at "ooden#ong in the north of !S"+ and he dro*e s on to for' a s #co''ittee for land rights% = recall )lec addressing the 1982 <C))&S= Conference $ith the #i#le in one hand and the dictionary in the other hand+ and he told s all to get p and fight for land rights% &he
71
res lt of that $as that a s #co''ittee $as for'ed to deal $ith land rights and D lcie <o$ler $as the secretary% Ben Brindle+ $ho' = /no$ the =lla$arra people $ill re'e'#er $ith great affection+ once co'plained to 'e that he co ldn2t tal/ to D lcie+ #eca se all she co ld tal/ a#o t $as land rights% D lcie initiated a petition addressed to the <ederal Parlia'ent for )#original people to reclai' their land% =t2s a fitting ti'e to 'ention #riefly the str ggle of the people for land rights of (apoon+ "eipa and ) r / n+ partic larly $hen Ba ,ite $as fo nd on their lands% )nd $e 'ight ta/e strength #y re'e'#ering their #ra*e actions to co'#at the 'ining co'panies%
Aean Ai''y ca'e to the so th fro' (apoon+ and she told s ho$ her people $ere forced #y the police into #oats to lea*e their land and as they sailed fro' (apoon they sa$ their ho ses and their ch rch on fire% Aean Ai''y and her people had an nforgi*a#le fa lt in the eyes of the $hite people% &hey said the land they li*ed on and the land their fore#ears li*ed on for tho sands of years $as theirs% <riends+ $hat is reconciliation a#o tI =t is a#o t pro'oting disc ssion% =t is a#o t the rights of the =ndigeno s people% =t2s a#o t those rights #eing enshrined in legislation% =t2s a#o t #eing $atchf l and re'e'#ering+ and re'e'#ering that go*ern'ents only /ight i'ple'ent+ and they 'ight not% =t2s a#o t the *iolation of the first people2s rights+ and it2s a#o t *al ing the differences of those c lt res that 'a/e p this co ntry% =n 197;+ the Cacial Discri'ination )ct $as introd ced% )ll rights ' st no$ #e recognised+ and it2s o r .o# to 'a/e s re that they are% =t is rare that a go*ern'ent $ill deli*er o t of the goodness of its heart+ # t history has sho$n that a gen ine people2s 'o*e'ent can 'o*e 'ore than go*ern'ents% =t can 'o*e 'o ntains%
Dear friends+ ' ch pain has #een end red in the past+ and that pain is no longer designated to hopelessness% =t2s ti'e to 'o*e the process of reconciliation for$ard $ith a little 'ore speed% &hat is the tas/% =f not no$+ $henI =f not s+ $hoI
Ceprod ced $ith per'ission of the a thor%

72
Sir "illia' Deane+ :o*ernor :eneral of the Co''on$ealth of ) stralia 4n the occasion of an ecu2enical service for the victi2s of the canyonin0 tra0edy ; ) g st 1999 "e are gathered in great sadness to 'o rn the deaths of the 21 yo ng people $ho $ere /illed in the canyoning accident near here+ last $ee/% &hey ca'e fro' fi*e nations S$itKerland+ the 3nited Bingdo'+ So th )frica+ !e$ Mealand and ) stralia% &heir loss is a profo nd tragedy for their fa'ilies and friends $ho are in the tho ghts and the prayers of all of s at this ser*ice today% "e pray $ith the' for their lo*ed ones $ho ha*e died% )nd $e also pray that+ in the $ords of o r Gord 5(atthe$ Ch%;+ *%46+ they $ill tr ly #e co'forted%
<o rteen of the *icti's of the tragedy ca'e fro' ) stralia% Collecti*ely+ their deaths represent pro#a#ly the greatest single peaceti'e loss of yo ng ) stralians o tside o r o$n co ntry% &hat loss affects not only their fa'ilies and friends+ dreadf l tho gh that is% =t also deeply affects o r nation as a $hole and all of its people%
= ha*e+ as :o*ernor0:eneral of ) stralia+ $ith Senator Aohn Herron of o r :o*ern'ent+ co'e here on #ehalf of ) stralia and of all ) stralians+ to 'o rn the'+ to #e $ith and to sy'pathise $ith their fa'ily 'e'#ers and friends $ho are here+ and to de'onstrate ho$ i'portant they $ere to their ho'eland% <or s+ the tragedy is so'eho$ 'ade $orse #y the fact that they died so far a$ay fro' the ho'es+ the fa'ilies+ the friends and the land they lo*ed so $ell%
) stralia and S$itKerland are on opposite sides of the glo#e% Jet+ in this age of 'odern teleco'' nications+ one effect of the disaster has #een to #ring o r t$o co ntries closer together% 4n e*ery night since the accident+ S$itKerland has #een in e*ery ) stralian ho'e that has #een t ned into the tele*ision ne$s+ as $ell as on the radio+ in all o r ne$spapers and other 'edia o tlets% Con*ersely+ the fact that t$o0thirds of those $ho died ca'e fro' ) stralia has gi*en rise to an increased a$areness here in S$itKerland of 'y co ntry and its people%
S$itKerland has+ of co rse+ itself e,perienced the shoc/ and sorro$ of o*erseas tragedy in the past% Perhaps that has heightened the sy'pathy and nderstanding $hich it has sho$n in recent days% = ha*e already had the pri*ilege of 'eeting $ith yo + (ada' President+ and $ith @ice0President 4gi and e,changing condolences% = $o ld+ on this sole'n occasion+ li/e to e,press to the S$iss a thorities and to the people of S$itKerland+ partic larly the people of the "ilders$il and =nterla/en regions+ o r a#iding gratit de for all the help and assistance they ha*e pro*ided in the after'ath of the tragedy% =n partic lar+ = pay tri# te to the #ra*ery of all those $ho $or/ed in the resc e efforts% "e than/ the' for their s/ill and dedication% = also partic larly 'ention the co'petence+ the co'passion and the /indness of all $ho ha*e helped to loo/ after the s r*i*ors and the relati*es $ho ha*e co'e here%
77
&he yo ng people certainly the yo ng ) stralians $ho ha*e #een /illed all shared the spirit of ad*ent re+ the .oy of li*ing+ the e, #erance and the delight of yo th% &hat spirit inspired their li*es+ and lit the li*es of all $ho /ne$ the'+ ntil the end% "e re'e'#er that and so 'any other $onderf l things a#o t the' as $e 'o rn the' and grie*e for yo ng li*es c t so tragically short% )nd all of s feel and share in their collecti*e loss% <or these 21 yo ng 'en and $o'en $ere part a shining part of o r h 'anity% )s Aohn Donne $rote+ ?!o 'an is an island2% )nyone2s ?death di'inishes2 s all #eca se $e are all ?in*ol*ed in 'an/ind2%
Jesterday+ 'y $ife and =+ together $ith fa'ily 'e'#ers and friends of the ) stralian *icti's+ *isited the canyon $here the accident occ rred% &here+ in 'e'ory of each of the 14 yo ng people $ho ca'e fro' o r ho'eland+ $e cast into the Sa,eten#ach 14 sprigs of $attle+ o r national floral e'#le'+ $hich $e had #ro ght $ith s fro' :o*ern'ent Ho se in Can#erra% So'eho$+ $e felt that $as #ringing a little of ) stralia to the'% =t $as also+ in a sy'#olic $ay+ helping to #ring the' ho'e to o r co ntry% &hat is not to s ggest that their spirit and their 'e'ory $ill not linger fore*er+ here in S$itKerland+ at the place $here they died% Cather+ it is to s ggest that a little part of S$itKerland has #eco'e+ and $ill al$ays #e+ to so'e e,tent+ part of ) stralia% )s it $ill also #e part of the other co ntries o tside S$itKerland !e$ Mealand+ So th )frica and the 3nited Bingdo' fro' $hence they ca'e% =t is still $inter at ho'e% B t the golden $attles are co'ing into #loo'% A st as these yo ng 'en and $o'en $ere in the flo$er of their yo th% )nd $hen $e are #ac/ in ) stralia $e $ill re'e'#er ho$ the flo$ers and the perf 'e and the pollen of their and o r ho'eland $ere carried do$n the ri*er $here they died to Ga/e BrienK in this #ea tif l co ntry on the far side of the $orld% (ay they all rest $ith :od%
74
)n$ar Sadat+ President of Egypt State2ent to the .nesset

20 !o*e'#er 1977 &ranslated fro' He#re$
=n the na'e of :od+ the :racio s and (ercif l% (r% Spea/er+ Gadies and :entle'enPeace and the 'ercy of :od )l'ighty #e pon yo and 'ay peace #e for s all+ :od $illing% Peace for s all on the )ra# land+ and in =srael as $ell+ as in e*ery part of this #ig $orld+ $hich is so co'ple,ed #y its sang inary conflicts+ dist r#ed #y its sharp contradictions+ 'enaced no$ and then #y destr cti*e $ars la nched #y 'an to annihilate his fello$ 'an% <inally+ a'idst the r ins of $hat 'an has # ilt and the re'ains of the *icti's of (an/ind+ there e'erges neither *ictor nor *an1 ished% &he only *an1 ished re'ains 'an+ :od2s 'ost s #li'e creation+ 'an $ho' :od has created as :andhi the apostle of peace p ts it- to forge ahead to 'o ld the $ay of life and $orship :od )l'ighty%
= co'e to yo today on solid gro nd+ to shape a ne$ life+ to esta#lish peace% "e all+ on this land+ the land of :odF $e all+ ( sli's+ Christians and Ae$s+ $orship :od and no one # t :od% :od2s teachings and co''and'ents are lo*e+ sincerity+ p rity and peace%
= do not #la'e all those $ho recei*ed 'y decision $hen = anno nced it to the entire $orld #efore the Egyptian People2s )sse'#ly $ith s rprise and a'aKe'ent% So'e+ gripped #y the *iolent s rprise+ #elie*ed that 'y decision $as no 'ore than *er#al . ggling to cater for $orld p #lic opinion% 4thers+ still+ interpreted it as political tactics to ca'o flage 'y intention of la nching a ne$ $ar% = $o ld go as far as to tell yo that one of 'y aides at the Presidential 4ffice contacted 'e at a late ho r follo$ing 'y ret rn ho'e fro' the People2s )sse'#ly and so nded $orried as he as/ed 'e- ?(r% President+ $hat $o ld #e o r reaction if =srael sho ld act ally e,tend an in*itation to yo I2 = replied cal'ly+ = $ill accept it i''ediately% = ha*e declared that = $ill go to the end of the $orldF = $ill go to =srael+ for = $ant to p t #efore the People of =srael all the facts% = can see the point of all those $ho $ere asto nded #y 'y decision or those $ho had any do #ts as to the sincerity of the intentions #ehind the declaration of 'y decision% !o one $o ld ha*e e*er concei*ed that the President of the #iggest )ra# state+ $hich #ears the hea*iest # rden and the top responsi#ility pertaining to the ca se of $ar and peace in the (iddle East+ co ld declare his readiness to go to the land of the ad*ersary $hile $e $ere still in a state of $ar% Cather+ $e all are still #earing the conse1 ences of fo r fierce $ars $aged $ithin 70 years% &he fa'ilies of the 1977 4cto#er "ar are still 'oaning nder the cr el pains of $ido$hood and #erea*e'ent of sons+ fathers and #rothers%
7;
)s = ha*e already declared+ = ha*e not cons lted+ as far as this decision is concerned+ $ith any of 'y colleag es and #rothers+ the )ra# heads of state or the confrontation States% &hose of the' $ho contacted 'e+ follo$ing the declaration of this decision+ e,pressed their o#.ection+ #eca se the feeling of tter s spicion and a#sol te lac/ of confidence #et$een the )ra# states and the Palestinian people on the one hand+ and =srael on the other+ still s rges in s all% =t is s fficient to say that 'any 'onths in $hich peace co ld ha*e #een #ro ght a#o t had #een $asted o*er differences and fr itless disc ssions on the proced re for the con*ocation of the :ene*a Conference+ all sho$ing tter s spicion and a#sol te lac/ of confidence% B t+ to #e a#sol tely fran/ $ith yo + = too/ this decision after long thin/ing+ /no$ing that it constit tes a gra*e ris/ for+ if :od )l'ighty has 'ade it 'y fate to ass 'e the responsi#ility on #ehalf of the Egyptian people and to share in the fate0deter'ining responsi#ility of the )ra# !ation and the Palestinian people+ the 'ain d ty dictated #y this responsi#ility is to e,ha st all and e*ery 'eans in a #id to sa*e 'y Egyptian )ra# people and the entire )ra# !ation the horrors of ne$+ shoc/ing and destr cti*e $ars+ the di'ensions of $hich are foreseen #y no other than :od hi'self%
)fter long thin/ing+ = $as con*inced that the o#ligation of responsi#ility #efore :od+ and #efore the people+ 'a/e it inc '#ent on 'e that = sho ld go to the farthest corner of the $orld+ e*en to Aer sale'+ to address (e'#ers of the Bnesset+ the representati*es of the people of =srael+ and ac1 aint the' $ith all the facts s rging in 'e% &hen+ = $o ld lea*e yo to decide for yo rsel*es% <ollo$ing this+ 'ay :od )l'ighty deter'ine o r fate%
Gadies and gentle'en+ there are 'o'ents in the life of nations and peoples $hen it is inc '#ent on those /no$n for their $isdo' and clarity of *ision to o*erloo/ the past+ $ith all its co'ple,ities and $eighing 'e'ories+ in a #old dri*e to$ards ne$ horiKons% &hose $ho+ li/e s+ are sho ldering the sa'e responsi#ility entr sted to s+ are the first $ho sho ld ha*e the co rage to ta/e fate0deter'ining decisions $hich are in consonance $ith the circ 'stances% "e ' st all rise a#o*e all for's of fanaticis'+ self0deception and o#solete theories of s periority% &he 'ost i'portant thing is ne*er to forget that infalli#ility is the prerogati*e of :od alone%
=f = said that = $anted to sa*e all the )ra# people the horrors of shoc/ing and destr cti*e $ars+ = 'ost sincerely declare #efore yo that = ha*e the sa'e feelings and #ear the sa'e responsi#ility to$ards all and e*ery 'an on earth+ and certainly to$ards the =sraeli people%
)ny life lost in $ar is a h 'an life+ irrespecti*e of its #eing that of an =sraeli or an )ra#% ) $ife $ho #eco'es a $ido$ is a h 'an #eing entitled to a happy fa'ily life+ $hether she #e an )ra# or an =sraeli% =nnocent children $ho are depri*ed of the care and co'passion of their parents are o rs+ #e they li*ing on )ra# or =sraeli land% &hey co''and o r top responsi#ility to afford the' a co'forta#le life today and to'orro$%
<or the sa/e of the' all+ for the safeg ard of the li*es of all o r sons and #rothers+ for affording o r co'' nities the opport nity to $or/ for the progress and happiness of 'an and his right to a dignified life+ for o r responsi#ilities #efore the generations to
78
co'e+ for a s'ile on the face of e*ery child #orn on o r land for all that+ = ha*e ta/en 'y decision to co'e to yo + despite all haKards+ to deli*er 'y address%
= ha*e sho ldered the prere1 isites of the historical responsi#ility and+ therefore+ = declared on 4 <e#r ary 1971+ to #e precise that = $as $illing to sign a peace agree'ent $ith =srael% &his $as the first declaration 'ade #y a responsi#le )ra# official since+ the o t#rea/ of the )ra#=sraeli conflict% (oti*ated #y all these factors dictated #y the responsi#ilities of leadership+ = called+ on 18 4cto#er 1977+ #efore the Egyptian People2s )sse'#ly+ for an international conference to esta#lish per'anent peace #ased on . stice% = $as not in the position of he $ho $as pleading for peace or as/ing for a ceasefire%
(oti*ated #y all these factors dictated #y d ties of history and leadership+ $e signed the first disengage'ent agree'ent+ follo$ed #y the second disengage'ent agree'ent in Sinai% &hen $e proceeded trying #oth open and closed doors in a #id to find a certain path leading to a d ra#le and . st peace% "e opened o r hearts to the peoples of the entire $orld to 'a/e the' nderstand o r 'oti*ations and o#.ecti*es+ and to lea*e the' act ally con*inced of the fact that $e are ad*ocates of . stice and peace'a/ers%
(oti*ated #y all these factors+ = decided to co'e to yo $ith an open 'ind and an open heart+ and $ith a conscio s deter'ination+ so that $e 'ight esta#lish per'anent peace #ased on . stice% =t is so fated that 'y trip to yo + the trip of peace+ sho ld coincide $ith the =sla'ic feast+ the holy <east of Co r#an Baira'+ the <east of Sacrifice $hen )#raha' peace #e pon hi' great0grandfather of the )ra#s and Ae$s+ s #'itted to :odF = say $hen :od )l'ighty ordered hi'+ and to Hi' )#raha' $ent+ $ith dedicated senti'ents+ not o t of $ea/ness+ # t thro gh a giant spirit al force and #y a free $ill+ to sacrifice his *ery o$n son+ pro'pted #y a fir' and nsha/a#le #elief in ideals that lend life a profo nd significance% &his coincidence 'ay carry a ne$ 'eaning to s all+ $hich 'ay #eco'e a gen ine aspiration heralding sec rity and peace%
Gadies and :entle'en+ let s #e fran/ $ith each other+ sing straightfor$ard $ords and a clear conception+ $ith no a'#ig ity% Get s #e fran/ $ith each other today $hile the entire $orld+ #oth East and "est+ follo$s these nparalleled 'o'ents $hich co ld pro*e to #e a radical t rning point in the history of this part of the $orld+ if not in the history of the $orld as a $hole% Get s #e fran/ $ith each other as $e ans$er this i'portant 1 estion- ho$ can $e achie*e per'anent peace #ased on . sticeI = ha*e co'e to yo carrying 'y clear and fran/ ans$er to this #ig 1 estion+ so that the people in =srael as $ell as the $hole $orld 'ight hear it+ and so that all those $hose de*oted prayers ring in 'y ears+ pleading to :od )l'ighty that this historic 'eeting 'ay e*ent ally lead to the res lts aspired to #y 'illions+ 'ight also hear it%
77
Before = proclai' 'y ans$er+ = $ish to ass re yo that+ in 'y clear and fran/ ans$er+ = a' #asing 'yself on a n '#er of facts $hich no one can deny%
&he first fact- no one can # ild his happiness at the e,pense of the 'isery of others%
&he second fact- ne*er ha*e = spo/en or $ill e*er spea/ in t$o lang ages% !e*er ha*e = adopted or $ill adopt t$o policies% = ne*er deal $ith anyone e,cept in one lang age+ one policy+ and $ith one face% &he third fact- direct confrontation and a straight line are the nearest and 'ost s ccessf l 'ethods to reach a clear o#.ecti*e% &he fo rth fact- the call for per'anent and . st peace+ #ased on respect for the 3nited !ations resol tions+ has no$ #eco'e the call of the $hole $orld% =t has #eco'e a clear e,pression of the $ill of the international co'' nity+ $hether in official capitals+ $here policies are 'ade and decisions ta/en+ or at the le*el of $orld p #lic opinion $hich infl ences policy0'a/ing and decision0ta/ing%
&he fifth fact- and this is pro#a#ly the clearest and 'ost pro'inent+ is that the )ra# !ation+ in its dri*e for per'anent peace #ased on . stice+ does not proceed fro' a position of $ea/ness or hesitation+ # t it has the potential of po$er and sta#ility $hich tells of a sincere $ill for peace% &he )ra#0declared intention ste's fro' an a$areness pro'pted #y a heritage of ci*ilisation that+ to a*oid an ine*ita#le disaster that $ill #efall s+ yo and the entire $orld+ there is no alternati*e to the esta#lish'ent of per'anent peace #ased on . stice peace that is not sha/en #y stor's+ s$ayed #y s spicion+ or .eopardised #y ill intentions%
=n the light of these facts $hich = 'eant to place #efore yo the $ay = see the'+ = $o ld also $ish to $arn yo in all sincerityF = $arn yo against so'e tho ghts that co ld cross yo r 'indsF fran/ness 'a/es it inc '#ent pon 'e to tell yo the follo$ing-
<irst- = ha*e not co'e here for a separate agree'ent #et$een Egypt and =srael% &his is not part of the policy of Egypt% &he pro#le' is not that of Egypt and =srael% )ny separate peace #et$een Egypt and =srael+ or #et$een any )ra# confrontation state and =srael+ $ill not #ring per'anent peace #ased on . stice in the entire region% Cather+ e*en if peace #et$een all the confrontation states and =srael $ere achie*ed+ in the a#sence of a . st sol tion to the Palestinian pro#le'+ ne*er $ill there #e that d ra#le and . st peace pon $hich the entire $orld insists today% Second- = ha*e not co'e to yo to see/ a partial peace+ na'ely to ter'inate the state of #elligerency at this stage+ and p t off the entire pro#le' to a s #se1 ent stage% &his is not the radical sol tion that $o ld steer s to per'anent peace%
E1 ally+ = ha*e not co'e to yo for a third disengage'ent agree'ent in Sinai+ or in the :olan and the "est Ban/% <or this $o ld 'ean that $e are 'erely delaying the ignition of the f seF it $o ld 'ean that $e are lac/ing the co rage to confront peace+ that $e are too $ea/ to sho lder the # rdens and responsi#ilities of a d ra#le peace #ased on . stice%
79
= ha*e co'e to yo so that together $e 'ight # ild a d ra#le peace #ased on . stice+ to a*oid the shedding of one single drop of #lood fro' an )ra# or an =sraeli% =t is for this reason that = ha*e proclai'ed 'y readiness to go to the farthest corner of the $orld%
Here+ = $o ld go #ac/ to the ans$er to the #ig 1 estion- ho$ can $e achie*e a d ra#le peace #ased on . sticeI =n 'y opinion+ and = declare it to the $hole $orld fro' this for '+ the ans$er is neither diffic lt nor i'possi#le+ despite long years of fe d+ #lood *engeance+ spite and hatred+ and #reeding generations on concepts of total rift and deep0 rooted ani'osity% &he ans$er is not diffic lt+ nor is it i'possi#le+ if $e sincerely and faithf lly follo$ a straight line%
Jo $ant to li*e $ith s in this part of the $orld% =n all sincerity+ = tell yo + $e $elco'e yo a'ong s+ $ith f ll sec rity and safety% &his+ in itself+ is a tre'endo s t rning pointF one of the land'ar/s of a decisi*e historical change%
"e sed to re.ect yo % "e had o r reasons and o r clai's+ yes% "e sed to #rand yo as ?so0called2 =srael+ yes% "e $ere together in international conferences and organisations and o r representati*es did not+ and still do not+ e,change greetings+ yes% &his has happened and is still happening%
=t is also tr e that $e sed to set+ as a precondition for any negotiations $ith yo + a 'ediator $ho $o ld 'eet separately $ith each party% &hro gh this proced re+ the tal/s of the first and second disengage'ent agree'ents too/ place%
4 r delegates 'et in the first :ene*a Conference $itho t e,changing a direct $ord% Jes+ this has happened%
Jet+ today = tell yo + and declare it to the $hole $orld+ that $e accept to li*e $ith yo in per'anent peace #ased on . stice% "e do not $ant to encircle yo or #e encircled o rsel*es #y destr cti*e 'issiles ready for la nching+ nor #y the shells of gr dges and hatred% = ha*e anno nced on 'ore than one occasion that =srael has #eco'e a fait acco'pli+ recognised #y the $orld+ and that the t$o s per po$ers ha*e nderta/en the responsi#ility of its sec rity and the defence of its e,istence%
)s $e really and tr ly see/ peace+ $e really and tr ly $elco'e yo to li*e a'ong s in peace and sec rity%
&here $as a h ge $all #et$een s $hich yo tried to # ild p o*er a 1 arter of a cent ry+ # t it $as destroyed in 1977% =t $as a $all of a contin o sly infla''a#le and escalating psychological $arfare% =t $as a $all of fear of the force that co ld s$eep the entire )ra# !ation% =t $as a $all of propaganda+ that $e $ere a nation red ced to a 'otionless corpse% Cather+ so'e of yo had gone as far as to say that+ e*en after ;0 years+ the )ra#s $o ld not regain any strength% =t $as a $all that threatened al$ays $ith the long ar' that co ld reach and stri/e any$here% =t $as a $all that $arned s against e,ter'ination and annihilation if $e tried to se o r legiti'ate right to li#erate
79
the occ pied territories% &ogether $e ha*e to ad'it that that $all fell and collapsed in 1977% Jet+ there re'ained another $all% &his $all constit tes a psychological #arrier #et$een s% ) #arrier of s spicion% ) #arrier of re.ection% ) #arrier of fear of deception% ) #arrier of hall cinations aro nd any action+ deed or decision% ) #arrier of ca tio s and erroneo s interpretations of all and e*ery e*ent or state'ent% =t is this psychological #arrier $hich = descri#ed in official state'ents as representing 70 percent of the $hole pro#le'%
&oday+ thro gh 'y *isit to yo + = as/ yo - $hy don2t $e stretch o r hands $ith faith and sincerity so that+ together+ $e 'ight destroy this #arrierI "hy sho ldn2t o rs and yo r $ill 'eet $ith faith and sincerity+ so that together $e 'ight re'o*e all s spicion of fear+ #etrayal and ill intentionsI "hy don2t $e stand together $ith the #ra*ery of 'en and the #oldness of heroes $ho dedicate the'sel*es to a s #li'e o#.ecti*eI "hy don2t $e stand together $ith the sa'e co rage and #oldness to erect a h ge edifice of peace that # ilds and does not destroyI )n edifice that is a #eacon for generations to co'e the h 'an 'essage for constr ction+ de*elop'ent and the dignity of 'anI "hy sho ld $e #e1 eath to the co'ing generations the plight of #loodshed+ death+ orphans+ $ido$hood+ fa'ily disintegration and the $ailing of *icti'sI
"hy don2t $e #elie*e in the $isdo' of :od con*eyed to s #y the Pro*er#s of Solo'on?Deceit is in the heart of the' that i'agine e*ilF # t to the co nsellors of peace is .oy% Better is a dry 'orsel+ and 1 ietness there$ith+ than a ho se f ll of sacrifices $ith strife%2 "hy don2t $e repeat together fro' the Psal's of Da*id?Hear the *oice of 'y s pplications+ $hen = cry nto thee+ $hen = lift p 'y hands to$ard they holy oracle% Dra$ 'e not a$ay $ith the $ic/ed+ and $ith the $or/ers of ini1 ity+ $hich spea/ peace to their neigh#o rs+ # t 'ischief is in their hearts% :i*e the' according to their deeds+ and according to the $ic/edness of their endea*o rs%2
&o tell yo the tr th+ peace cannot #e $orth its na'e nless it is #ased on . stice+ and not on the occ pation of the land of others% =t $o ld not #e appropriate for yo to de'and for yo rsel*es $hat yo deny others% "ith all fran/ness+ and $ith the spirit that has pro'pted 'e to co'e to yo today+ = tell yo - yo ha*e to gi*e p+ once and for all+ the drea's of con1 est+ and gi*e p the #elief that force is the #est 'ethod for dealing $ith the )ra#s% Jo sho ld clearly nderstand and assi'ilate the lesson of confrontation #et$een yo and s%
E,pansion does not pay% &o spea/ fran/ly+ o r land does not yield itself to #argaining% =t is not e*en open to arg 'ent% &o s+ the national soil is e1 al to the holy *alley $here :od )l'ighty spo/e to (oses peace #e pon hi'% !one of s can+ or accept to+ cede one inch of it+ or accept the principle of de#ating or #argaining o*er it%
40
= sincerely tell yo that #efore s today lies the appropriate chance for peace+ if $e are really serio s in o r endea*o rs for peace% =t is a chance that ti'e cannot afford once again% =t is a chance that+ if lost or $asted+ the plotter against it $ill #ear the c rse of h 'anity and the c rse of history%
"hat is peace for =sraelI =t 'eans that =srael li*es in the region $ith her )ra# neigh#o rs+ in sec rity and safety% &o s ch logic+ = say yes% =t 'eans that =srael li*es $ithin her #orders+ sec re against any aggression% &o s ch logic+ = say yes% =t 'eans that =srael o#tains all /inds of g arantees that ens re those t$o factors% &o this de'and+ = say yes% (ore than that- $e declare that $e accept all the international g arantees yo en*isage and accept% "e declare that $e accept all the g arantees yo $ant fro' the t$o s per po$ers or fro' either of the'+ or fro' the Big <i*e+ or so'e of the'%
4nce again+ = declare clearly and ne1 i*ocally that $e agree to any g arantees yo accept #eca se+ in ret rn+ $e shall o#tain the sa'e g arantees%
=n short+ then+ $hen $e as/- $hat is peace for =srael+ the ans$er $o ld #e- it is that =srael li*es $ithin her #orders $ith her )ra# neigh#o rs+ in safety and sec rity $ithin the fra'e$or/ of all the g arantees she accepts and $hich are offered to the other party% B t ho$ can this #e achie*edI Ho$ can $e reach this concl sion $hich $o ld lead s to per'anent peace #ased on . sticeI &here are facts that sho ld #e faced $ith all co rage and clarity% &here are )ra# territories $hich =srael has occ pied #y ar'ed force% "e insist on co'plete $ithdra$al fro' these territories+ incl ding )ra# Aer sale'% = ha*e co'e to Aer sale'+ as the City of Peace+ $hich $ill al$ays re'ain as a li*ing e'#odi'ent of coe,istence a'ong #elie*ers of the three religions% =t is inad'issi#le that anyone sho ld concei*e the special stat s of the City of Aer sale' $ithin the fra'e$or/ of anne,ation or e,pansionis'+ # t it sho ld #e a free and open city for all #elie*ers%
)#o*e all+ the city sho ld not #e se*ered fro' those $ho ha*e 'ade it their a#ode for cent ries% =nstead of a$a/ening the pre. dices of the Cr saders+ $e sho ld re*i*e the spirit of 4'ar i#n elBhatta# and Saladdin+ na'ely the spirit of tolerance and respect for rights% &he holy shrines of =sla' and Christianity are not only places of $orship+ # t a li*ing testi'ony of o r ninterr pted presence here politically+ spirit ally and intellect ally% Get s 'a/e no 'ista/e a#o t the i'portance and re*erence $e Christians and ( sli's attach to Aer sale'%
Get 'e tell yo + $itho t the slightest hesitation+ that = did not co'e to yo nder this do'e to 'a/e a re1 est that yo r troops e*ac ate the occ pied territories% Co'plete $ithdra$al fro' the )ra# territories occ pied in 1987 is a logical and ndisp ted fact% !o#ody sho ld plead for that% )ny tal/ a#o t per'anent peace #ased on . stice+ and any 'o*e to ens re o r coe,istence in peace and sec rity in this part of the $orld+ $o ld #eco'e 'eaningless+ $hile yo occ py )ra# territories #y force of ar's% <or there is no peace that co ld #e in consonance $ith+ or #e # ilt on+ the occ pation of the land of others% 4ther$ise+ it $o ld not #e a serio s peace%
41
Jes+ this is a foregone concl sion $hich is not open to disc ssion or de#ate if intentions are sincere and if endea*o rs to esta#lish a . st and d ra#le peace for o rs and the generations to co'e are gen ine% )s for the Palestinians ca se+ no#ody co ld deny that it is the cr , of the entire pro#le'% !o#ody in the $orld co ld accept+ today+ slogans propagated here in =srael+ ignoring the e,istence of the Palestinian people+ and 1 estioning their $herea#o ts% &he ca se of the Palestinian people and their legiti'ate rights are no longer ignored or denied today #y any#ody% Cather+ no#ody $ho has the a#ility of . dge'ent can deny or ignore it%
=t is an ac/no$ledged fact recei*ed #y the $orld co'' nity+ #oth in the East and in the "est+ $ith s pport and recognition in international doc 'ents and official state'ents% =t is of no se to any#ody to t rn deaf ears to its reso nding *oice $hich is #eing heard day and night+ or to o*erloo/ its historical reality% E*en the 3nited States+ yo r first ally $hich is a#sol tely co''itted to safeg ard =srael2s sec rity and e,istence+ and $hich offered and still offers =srael e*ery 'oral+ 'aterial and 'ilitary s pport = say e*en the 3nited States has opted to face p to reality and facts+ and ad'it that the Palestinian people are entitled to legiti'ate rights and that the Palestinian pro#le' is the core and essence of the conflict and that+ so long as it contin es to #e nresol*ed+ the conflict $ill contin e to aggra*ate+ reaching ne$ di'ensions% =n all sincerity+ = tell yo that there can #e no peace $itho t the Palestinians% =t is a gra*e error of npredicta#le conse1 ences to o*erloo/ or #r sh aside this ca se%
= shall not ind lge in past e*ents since the Balfo r Declaration 80 years ago% Jo are $ell ac1 ainted $ith the rele*ant facts% =f yo ha*e fo nd the legal and 'oral . stification to set p a national ho'e on a land that did not all #elong to yo + it is inc '#ent pon yo to sho$ nderstanding of the insistence of the People of Palestine on esta#lishing+ once again 5sic6 a state on their land% "hen so'e e,tre'ists as/ the Palestinians to gi*e p this s #li'e o#.ecti*e+ this+ in fact+ 'eans as/ing the' to reno nce their identity and e*ery hope for the f t re%
= hail the =sraeli *oices that called for the recognition of the Palestinian people2s rights to achie*e and safeg ard peace% Here = tell yo + ladies and gentle'en+ that it is no se to refrain fro' recognising the Palestinian people and their rights to statehood and rights of ret rn% "e+ the )ra#s+ ha*e faced this e,perience #efore+ $ith yo and $ith the reality of =sraeli e,istence% &he str ggle too/ s fro' $ar to $ar+ fro' *icti's to 'ore *icti's+ ntil yo and $e ha*e today reached the edge of a horrifying a#yss and a terrifying disaster+ nless+ together+ $e seiKe the opport nity+ today+ of a d ra#le peace #ased on . stice%
Jo ha*e to face reality #ra*ely as = ha*e done% &here can ne*er #e any sol tion to a pro#le' #y e*ading it or t rning a deaf ear to it% Peace cannot last if atte'pts are 'ade to i'pose fantasy concepts on $hich the $orld has t rned its #ac/ and anno nced its nani'o s call for the respect of rights and facts% &here is no need to enter a *icio s
42
circle as to Palestinian rights% =t is seless to create o#stacles% 4ther$ise the 'arch of peace $ill #e i'peded or peace $ill #e #lo$n p%
)s = ha*e told yo + there is no happiness to the detri'ent of others% Direct confrontation and straightfor$ardness are the shortc t and the 'ost s ccessf l $ay to reach a clear o#.ecti*e% Direct confrontation concerning the Palestinian pro#le'+ and tac/ling it in one single lang age $ith a *ie$ to achie*ing a d ra#le and . st peace+ lie in the esta#lish'ent of their state% "ith all the g arantees yo de'and+ there sho ld #e no fear of a ne$ly#orn state that needs the assistance of all co ntries of the $orld% "hen the #ells of peace ring+ there $ill #e no hands to #eat the dr 's of $ar% E*en if they e,isted+ they $o ld #e so ndless%
Concei*e $ith 'e a peace agree'ent in :ene*a that $e $o ld herald to a $orld thirsty for peace+ a peace agree'ent #ased on the follo$ing points<irst- ending the =sraeli occ pation of the )ra# territories occ pied in 1987% Second- achie*e'ent of the f nda'ental rights of the Palestinian People and their right to self0deter'ination+ incl ding their right to esta#lish their o$n state% &hird- the right of all states in the area to li*e in peace $ithin their #o ndaries+ $hich $ill #e sec re and g aranteed thro gh proced res to #e agreed pon+ $hich pro*ide appropriate sec rity to international #o ndaries+ in addition to appropriate international g arantees% <o rth- co''it'ent of all states in the region to ad'inister the relations a'ong the' in accordance $ith the o#.ecti*es and principles of the 3nited !ations Charter+ partic larly the principles concerning the non0resort to force and the sol tion of differences a'ong the' #y peacef l 'eans% <ifth- ending the state of #elligerency in the region%
Gadies and gentle'en+ peace is not the 'ere endorse'ent of $ritten linesF rather+ it is a re$riting of history% Peace is not a ga'e of calling for peace to defend certain $hi's or hide certain a'#itions% Peace is a giant str ggle against all and e*ery a'#ition and $hi'% Perhaps the e,a'ples ta/en fro' ancient and 'odern history teach s all that 'issiles+ $arships and n clear $eapons cannot esta#lish sec rity% Cather+ they destroy $hat peace and sec rity # ild% <or the sa/e of o r peoples+ and for the sa/e of the ci*ilisations 'ade #y 'an+ $e ha*e to defend 'an e*ery$here against the r le of the force of ar's+ so that $e 'ay endo$ the r le of h 'anity $ith all the po$er of the *al es and principles that pro'ote the s #li'e position of 'an/ind%
)llo$ 'e to address 'y call fro' this rostr ' to the people of =srael% = address 'yself $ith tr e and sincere $ords to e*ery 'an+ $o'an and child in =srael%
<ro' the Egyptian people $ho #less this sacred 'ission of peace+ = con*ey to yo the 'essage of peace+ the 'essage of the Egyptian people $ho do not /no$ fanaticis'+ and $hose sons+ ( sli's+ Christians and Ae$s+ li*e together in a spirit of cordiality+ lo*e
47
and tolerance% &his is Egypt $hose people ha*e entr sted 'e $ith that sacred 'essage+ the 'essage of sec rity+ safety and peace% &o e*ery 'an+ $o'an and child in =srael+ = say- enco rage yo r leadership to str ggle for peace% Get all endea*o rs #e channelled to$ards # ilding a h ge edifice for peace+ instead of strongholds and hideo ts defended #y destr cti*e roc/ets% =ntrod ce to the entire $orld the i'age of the ne$ 'an in this area+ so that he 'ight set an e,a'ple to the 'an of o r age+ the 'an of peace e*ery$here% Be the heralds to yo r sons% &ell the' that past $ars $ere the last of $ars and the end of sorro$s% &ell the' that $e are in for a ne$ #eginning to a ne$ life the life of lo*e+ prosperity+ freedo' and peace% Jo + #e$ailing 'otherF yo + $ido$ed $ifeF yo + the son $ho lost a #rother or a fatherF yo + all *icti's of $ars fill the earth and space $ith recitals of peace% <ill #oso's and hearts $ith the aspirations of peace% & rn the song into a reality that #losso's and li*es% (a/e hope a code of cond ct and endea*o r% &he $ill of peoples is part of the $ill of :od% Gadies and gentle'en+ #efore = ca'e to this place+ $ith e*ery #eat of 'y heart and $ith e*ery senti'ent+ = prayed to :od )l'ighty+ $hile perfor'ing the C r#an Bairarn prayers+ and $hile *isiting the Holy Sep lchre+ to gi*e 'e strength and to confir' 'y #elief that this *isit 'ay achie*e the o#.ecti*es = loo/ for$ard to+ for a happy present and a happier f t re%
= ha*e chosen to set aside all precedents and traditions /no$n #y $arring co ntries+ in spite of the fact that occ pation of the )ra# territories is still there% Cather+ the declaration of 'y readiness to proceed to =srael ca'e as a great s rprise that stirred 'any feelings and asto nded 'any 'inds% So'e opinions e*en do #ted its intent% Despite that+ the decision $as inspired #y all the clarity and p rity of #elief+ and $ith all the tr e e,pression of 'y people2s $ill and intentions%
)nd = ha*e chosen this diffic lt road $hich is considered+ in the opinion of 'any+ the 'ost diffic lt road% = ha*e chosen to co'e to yo $ith an open heart and an open 'ind% = ha*e chosen to gi*e this great i'pet s to all international efforts e,erted for peace% = ha*e chosen to present to yo + and in yo r o$n ho'e+ the realities de*oid of any sche'es or $hi's+ not to 'anoe *re or to $in a ro nd+ # t for s to $in together+ the 'ost dangero s of ro nds and #attles in 'odern history the #attle of per'anent peace #ased on . stice%
=t is not 'y #attle alone+ nor is it the #attle of the leadership in =srael alone% =t is the #attle of all and e*ery citiKen in all o r territories $hose right it is to li*e in peace% =t is the co''it'ent of conscience and responsi#ility in the hearts of 'illions%
"hen = p t for$ard this initiati*e+ 'any as/ed $hat is it that = concei*ed as possi#le to achie*e d ring this *isit+ and $hat 'y e,pectations $ere% )nd+ as = ans$ered the 1 estioners+ = anno nce #efore yo that = ha*e not tho ght of carrying o t this initiati*e fro' the concept of $hat co ld #e achie*ed d ring this *isit+ # t = ha*e co'e here to deli*er a 'essage% = ha*e deli*ered the 'essage+ and 'ay :od #e 'y $itness%
44
= repeat $ith Mechariah+ ?Go*e right and . stice%2 = 1 ote the follo$ing *erses fro' the holy Boran?"e #elie*e in :od and in $hat has #een re*ealed to s and $hat $as re*ealed to )#raha'+ =s'ail+ =saac+ Aaco#+ and the tri#es and in the #oo/s gi*en to (oses+ Aes s+ and the prophets fro' their lord% "e 'a/e no distinction #et$een one and another a'ong the' and to :od $e s #'it%2
&he State of =srael% )ll rights reser*ed% &his *ersion of the speech+ translated fro' He#re$+ can #e fo nd at http->>$$$%/nesset%go*%il>process>docs>sadatspeechPeng%ht'
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