Rhetorical Analysis If Paul Keating’S ‘Redfern Speech’ (1992)
Keating’s speech challenges his Australian audience, as he espouses that national identity is dynamic and is shaped by our perception of history, culture and our relationships between others in society. Keating appeals to Australian patriotism in order to challenge injustice toward Indigenous Australians in modern society, rather than stressing unity in grief. The kairos of his speech holds particular relevance, as his decision to deliver the speech in Redfern - considered the epicentre of the urban Indigenous community - displays his commitment to ending injustice and the Australian value of acceptance and equality.
Keating directly addresses non-Indigenous Australians in the grouping pronoun ‘we’ - “we cannot give Indigenous Australians up without giving up many of our own most deeply held values, much of our own identity. ” Pathos confronts his audience and highlights that continued inequality to Indigenous people is contradictory to our national identity, morals and values. Keating continues confront the audience with their own history in the rhetorical question “Didn’t Australia provide opportunity and care for the dispossessed Irish?” expressing that Australia has always been an egalitarian society, while the logos suggests it is ahistorical and inconsistent with our national heritage and sense of self to deny Indigenous Australians equality.
The pathos in “They are there in the Australian legend. We should never forget - they have helped build this nation, ” both appeals to patriotism and highlights the inextricable connection between Australian identity and Indigenous people’s experience- Indigenous culture should be a celebrated element of our society and identity. Therefore, speeches are instrumental in challenging an audience’s perception of Australian history and the nature of national identity. Heralded one of the most unforgettable speeches of all time by the ABC, Keating’s speech is confrontational, yet optimistic and hopeful. He provides constructive ways to reduce inequality and promotes a healthy relationship between the two groups based on mutual respect, collective identity and hope. His extensive use of pathos engages both Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences and petitions them to reflect on our previous history, perceptions, values and injustices, in order to change this in the future.
His logos is well established as the Australian Prime Minister, and provides credibility and genuine care for the speech’s important topic. Keating forces the audience to question the relevance of our national identity and history if it is steeped in discrimination and prejudice. Despite his bright, promising view for the future of Australia, unfortunately, not much has changed in regards to equality for Aboriginal people, who face higher rates of suicide, incarceration, abuse, addiction and deaths in custody than the general population. As such, Keating’s speech has enduring value as long as these injustices towards Indigenous Australians continue.
