Abdul Rasool Syed
FOLLOWING Premier Imran Khan’s impassioned speech at the 44th UNGA session, a new debate has triggered among the masses that whether speech matters or not. His speech though won laurels nationally and internationally, some people struck by the unfounded bias and personal grudge are striving hard to belittle the image and stature that he has erected about himself as well as of his country out of his spellbinding skills of oration. His detractors are humbugging the populace by advancing the ill-conceived narrative that speeches make no difference and therefore are of no value. They back their viewpoint by quoting internal socio-economic factors which more or less depict dismal picture. It is altogether a mistaken approach to analyze the speech delivered by PM Khan at international forum. The speech was, in fact, made in global context, not directly aimed at improving domestic socio-economic indicators. However, it was choreographed to pyramid the image of country in the comity of nations.
Those who believe that speeches make no difference should not forget that our country Pakistan is the denouement of speeches made by our founding father MA Jinnah during freedom struggle of Pakistan. Jinnah preferred tongue over sword, negotiation over confrontation and dialogue over war. Inter alia, the history is replete with myriad speeches that brought about revolutionary changes in the world and hence changed the course of history. One such speech was of our great Prophet (PBUH) last sermon popularly known as “khutabat-ul hajjat-ul wida”. This very speech provided the blueprint for the future charter of human rights, drafted under the umbrella of UN. The gist of such historic speech is reproduced hereunder: “O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under a trust from God and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers.” “All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; a white has no superiority over a black, nor does a black have any superiority over a white; [none have superiority over another] except by piety and good action. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity.”
Another great speech that made history was of Martin Luther King (an American civil rights activist), famous in history as “I have a dream”. In his speech, King challenged the American people to live up to their democratic ideals. He called for civil and economic rights and to put an end to racism in the United States. He, further, insisted on non-violent conflict resolution. His popular words in speech were as follows: “I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; and the glory of Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.’”
Susan B. Anthony’s speech” women’s right to vote” is also worth-mentioning here. She was fined for voting in the 1872 election, and so she began to vigorously campaign for women’s suffrage. This speech was given in her defence of women’s suffrage. Her work paved the way for the nineteenth amendment, giving women the right to vote in 1920. “Fourteen-Point Speech” delivered by President Woodrow Wilson in 1918 also finds prominence in the chronological accounts. Wilson’s speech set forth American goals in the Great War. Perhaps, most significant is Wilson’s proposal for an international governing body, which became the basis for the League of Nations. After World War-II the League was replaced by the United Nations. Let me quote another equally important speech in the history, known as “Tear down This Wall”. President Ronald Reagan delivered this speech at the Berlin Wall in 1987. In this speech, Reagan challenged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the wall separating East and West Berlin. This speech is considered to have been a major turning point in the Cold War.
Nelson Mandela, a great African leader and ideal statesman, is also widely lauded by orators for his incredible and historic speech “I am prepared to die”. This is the speech that defined Nelson Mandela. It was given in the course of a trial of the leaders of the African National Congress, who had been accused of subversion. The trial ended with the imprisonment of eight ANC leaders including Mandela. In the speech Mandela tells his story and expresses his views on apartheid. He said: “During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” In the light of preceding arguments, it can safely be concluded that speeches do matter in international politics and have an enduring influence on the enlightened people.
— The writer is a Legal practitioner-cum-columnist based in Quetta Balochistan.
