Comparing and Contrasting Nelson Mandela’s Inaugural...

Nelson Mandela’s inaugural address was delivered outdoors in an amphitheatre on 10th May 1994 at the Union Buildings, South Africa. The Union Buildings housed the first democratically elected, first black and first equal president of South Africa. This historic event was attended by politicians and dignitaries from over 140 countries all over the world, such as Bill Clinton, the President of the United States at the time, and John Mayor, British PM at the time. This address was to show that after years of oppression, blacks and coloureds were no longer separated from whites and the country was starting to become united as one. Fourteen years after this celebrated address, new Labor Prime Minister of Australia after ten years of Liberal†¦show more content†¦Yet both politicians lower their inflection or speed up dring talking about the negatives to acknowledge them yet not dwell on the past. Nelson Mandela pauses on the light and dark aspects of the speech to accentua te the importance of each and to let the audience reflect on each. e.g. poverty (p) deprivation (p) suffering (p). Both speakers and speeches impact the audience in much the same ways. In Mandela’s speech it is trying to unite the whole country as equals instead of segregated groups. Mandela makes the audience remember the troubles of the past yet at the same time look forward to the future. In Rudd’s address he does the same by apologizing from the ancestors actions of the non-indigenous population of Australia but at the same time he looks towards the future, to a more peaceful future. Yet both audiences receive the information act differently. In South Africa there were jubilant scenes throughout the nation and when President Mandela was actually delivering his speech he is interrupted by cheering admirers. But in Rudd’s audience he was never interrupted and there were was less reaction around the country than South Africa In conclusion, these speeches inspire me as it reminds me tha while there will always be antagonist and make trouble, there are still people who can even after all the hardships and tragedies of the past, they can look past it in pride and forgive and also look forward to