Wanda's Oratory UB 2009

[Good (morning / afternoon) ladies and gentlemen in the audience, I will now deliver my speech on: Equality for All]

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
These were the words of a very wise man:
- Abraham Lincoln,
who successfully led his nation through its greatest internal crisis, preserving unity and ending slavery.
This outspoken man fought the first steps for equality and justice for all,
beyond the conception of ones worth due to our skin color.

-History takes us back to Ancient Egypt, where took place the renowned acts of cruelty toward the Jewish people.
-The acts of xenophobia had the structure of
hard work,
punishment,
and the forbiddance of one place to live with dignity.
Sadly, these souls were considered a menace to society;
Without doubt; this exemplifies the acts of racism in our early historical trails.

-Further on, the chronicles of our fellow humans take us to acknowledge the facts of the Holocaust of Hitler’s time.

-Horrible deeds of torture and murder marked a generation of individuals with sorrow and disdain because of their simple differences.

-Hatred, is not a thing of the past; it’s still present today
In the rejection of:
-Culture
-Religions
-Life styles
-And ways of thinking

Even, Pulitzer Award and Nobel Peace Prize winner Toni Morrison imagines a world where race no longer matters.
Stating in her book, A Mercy, That individuals are not born racist; in other words, racism is learned not inherit.

Many other remarkable citizens forge the first steps towards a new beginning FREE of discrimination.
For Example:

-Rosa Parks- Known as the mother of the Modern Day Civil Rights Movements.

-Maya Angelou- First one to publicly discuss about the struggles of black female writers who were marginalized.

-John F. Kennedy – The turbulent end of state-sanctioned racial discrimination was one of the most pressing domestic issues of his era.

Internationally there is a lot of work to be done.
We should work together to fight against:
Bullying,
Sweatshops,
Censorship,
Female mutilation,
Homophobia,
And child labor

This generation should stand tall and follow the steps of the peace makers in our modern world.

Furthermore, contemporary icons such as Angelina Jolie and Ricky Martin, far beyond their popularity, have worked as goodwill ambassadors, advocators against child cruelty and supporting parity.

And Yes! Even YOU and I with our simple examples combined with daily deeds of kindness towards others can make a difference in the direction of equality.







This is the reason why our young voices gather here today;
-because we have chosen hope over fear,
-unity of purpose over conflict
-and harmony over discord.

-The challenges we face are real.
-They are serious as well as many.
-These will not be met easily, nor in a short span of time.

But know this, my friends!

We have to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises,
to the recriminations and worn out dogmas,
that for far too long have strangled our society.













Taking the spoken words of President Barack Obama, which stated publicly
that “we have to see our society as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions;
greater than all the differences
of birth,
of wealth,
or faction.
-We are a [society] of Christians and Muslims,
-Jews and Hindus –
-As well as non-believers.
-We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth;

Because of this
It’s vital that we must play the role of ushering a new era of peace and acceptance for all”.









-Xenophobia is not just the conception of hate towards unequals.
-But it’s the ugliest reality that many have to face.
-Many, struggled till the end and others paid with their own life to make a difference.
-Let’s do as Martin Luther King Jr. once proclaimed:
And “…live in a nation where we will not be judged by the mere color of our skin; but by the content of our character”.

-Lets learn to accept each other!
-Stop Hate Now!

Thank you!