Exercise 25, p. 67
NEXT STEP : consider the following annotations from our student workshop.
- Ms Holly Winter contends in an indignant and candid tone that Aboriginals are victims of racial abuse. Aboriginals have been harassed for a long time, they are referred as a “stupid bong” which is unlawful under 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.
- Ms Winter appeals to legal rights and justice and is a real life example that members of the public especially aboriginals are being offended by other members in the public.” Racism hurts its victims in many ways. “Racism can make the aboriginals sick,” this is also a real life example and a personal experience, which shows the continuous racism can have an impact on their morals and feelings.
- As a counsellor herself, Ms Holly Winter works at the social unity office and she says that she treats many people with psychological depression. By referring to her professional background she depicts the effects and consequences of offensive language, telling us that it can lead to a loss of confidence. Throughout the piece she appeals to justice and law to help her.
- Winter adopts a forthright tone when she begins her opinion piece by addressing the issue concerning race hate laws and how they should remain the same. She uses an anecdote, when she states “Just imagine you are a member of a minority group…” to highlight the fact that members of the public often offend others. The reference to the anecdote channels the reader’s indignation towards Senator Brandis as the race hate laws are possibly changing which would make it “almost impossible” for people to “seek legal address”.
- Throughout the opinion piece Winter appeals to justice as she believes that if the proposed changes were passed then it would become unfair and unjust for those part of minority groups. This arouses a sense of guilt in readers if they do not agree with her view.
- Winter continues on using a historical reference when she states “…the past 18 years providing legal protection…” to reinforce her view that the current race hate laws has helped “the most vulnerable members of our community who suffer from the worst effect of hate speech”. This elicits the reader’s sympathy because if the laws were changed then people part of minority groups is not able to be protected by these laws.
- She uses a real-life example to show the significance of racism to once again gain the sympathy of readers. This example enlists the reader’s support for her view that race hate laws should not change.
- The writer then uses expert opinion by referring to her profession as a “Social Unity Officer” to build her credibility towards readers. She is then able to use personal experience and anecdotal evidence when she states “In the past, I have advised many of my clients to seek legal address”. This enables Winter to personalise the issue and it also emphasises the fact that she knows what she is talking about through appealing to authority.
- As a consequence she continues to build trust for the author’s view which causes readers to support her point of view that race hate laws should stay.
As one victim said “racism hurts its victim in many ways. Racism can make the aborigines sick.” (real life example; depiction of people and how they feel) - Sarcastically, Ms Winter discredits Senator Brandis’, reforms on the grounds that it will be difficult for victims to legally charge offenders; She is critical of the fact that the victims would no longer be able to seek “legal redress”, which means their rights to live free from harm would not be supported by the law reforms. She criticises the minister’s knowledge, “in his wisdom”.
- The author discredits Andrew Bolt as “self serving” and “unhelpful”. He claimed that “light-skinned aborigines were using their skin for professional advantage”. He is using the information for his own professional gain.
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