Alkarim Lalani's speeches for Voice your Thoughts 2006 (18th November 2006)

Indirah Gandhi - "You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist" Indirah Gandhi says that “you cannot shake hands with a clenched fist”. Where the clenched fist is a metaphor for anger or prejudice. It makes quite a lot of sense how can a clenched fist shake a hand (demonstrate example). She also means that, when there is conflict or segregation between two people, can they possibly unite? In order to unite we need to adopt an accepting and non biased approach to life. It is this attitude that will bring the world forward! In today’s world there is so much prejudice, anger and conflict that mass segregation is inevitable. The main issues that we deal with are racism, sexism and status issues. I mean to actually believe some one is better than another person because of the color of their skin, their religion, their gender, their sexual preference or their economic status is just plain stupid! How can you truly say I am better than you because you are different? To make matters worse and to act on these differences with anger or conflict is immoral. It is our perspective that makes us like this. For example: One day there was a school of fish traveling from one area of the ocean to another. All these fish were orange in color except one which was pink. One of the orange fish thought this pink fish didn’t belong and started to turn the rest of the school against it and forced the pink fish to leave the journey with the rest of the orange fish. One day the same instigating orange fish went into an area of the ocean where only pink fish were present. These pink fish saw the orange fish as an outcast and then forced him to leave their territory. In today’s world this attitude causes differences which cause conflict and actually moves our world backward. So much can be achieved by being united, by sharing views, ideas, beliefs, traditions. In fact, it makes us more appreciating, accepting and knowledgeable holistically. If we can adopt Gandhi’s attitude then we will have nothing to lose but everything to gain. Mahatma Gandhi - "I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stifled." Mahatma Gandhi is famous for his fight for independence in India. During the time when this quote was spoken, Gandhi was helping India overcome the British rule and fight against the oppression of Indians and their culture He says “I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stifled”. This image is a metaphor for him and his culture. He conveys that he doesn’t want to be oppressed along with his culture without any hope of liberty. He also says that he wants “the cultures of all lands to be blows about [his] house” which is a metaphor for his encouragement of diversity. He wants there to be differentiation between people because he acknowledges that different cultures bring with them different perspectives, traditions, values and other aspects which in turn affects the outlook of others. When he says that he refuses “to be blown of [his] feet” he says that even though he appreciates diversity he doesn’t appreciate forceful assimilation into a culture. He quite simply makes it known that he doesn’t want to become like any one else. Gandhi’s views are actually very open and accepting. Not only that but he appreciates others and their culture. It is this attitude that will bring the world forward! In today’s world there is so much prejudice that mass segregation is inevitable. The main issues that we deal with are racism, sexism and status issues. I’m sure Mahatma Gandhi was appalled when hearing about world issues today, I mean to actually believe some one is better than another person because of the color of their skin, their religion, their gender, their sexual preference or their economic status is just plain stupid! How can you truly say I am better than you because you are different? In today’s world this attitude causes differences which cause conflict and actually moves our world backward. So much can be achieved by being united, by sharing views, ideas, beliefs, traditions. In fact, it makes us more appreciating, accepting and knowledgeable holistically. If we can adopt Gandhi’s attitude then we will have nothing to lose but everything to gain.