Golden Boots Speeches 2022 – Inter-boarding Speaking Contest
“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” – Gandhi
A. W. Mackie, Barry House
Now, it’s a bit of a paradox to talk about shaking something gently. It makes little to no sense if taken literally. But should this be taken literally? Seems a tad disconnected. Well, so too is the world in which we live, in so many ways.
The people with whom we are surrounded, are we doing enough for them? The environment, it’s all changing so quickly. While this isn’t totally our individual fault, it can certainly be rectified or improved if we all step in, gently that is.
When I was about 6 or 7 years old, in classical young child fashion, I had a meltdown. I was, against my will, taken to the grocery store to help my mother, and I made it known to everyone that I didn’t want to be there. So, I sat down in the middle of isle 4, arms crossed and demanded to go home. I thought I had better things to do. But this is where I learned a great lesson.
God bless my mum for doing this, all eyes of onlookers were upon her, but what she did was so admirable. She sat next to me, arms crossed, and asked, “So, what’s your plan now?” If I’m being honest with you, I expected to be shouted at, but no, simply, calmly and with the utmost understanding, my mother showed great empathy, gently allowing me to reflect. I saw that my little tantrum got me nowhere, and this grocery trip wasn’t any sort of an injustice to me. In fact, it meant that I’d be fed that afternoon. So why on earth was I complaining? I had discovered that there is no need for aggression as a means of reason. Both sides can benefit with a little empathy.
This is also what I believe to be the number one cause of damage in many forms of relationships, be they familial, collegial, global; any form of relationship where division appears. It is the attempted application of force from one side without acknowledging the consequence, or that the problem may apply to both individuals that causes such great division. Much of this division is driven by arrogance, that the perpetrator must always be right, but with hindsight I can see that this is so wrong. The approach should be more along the lines of: I can build the road – tell me where you want it. The highway can be built to suit everyone, a mutual agreement where all parties benefit, and the journey may be travelled together.
Casting my mind back to that episode when I was young, if I had have not stopped and realised the true nature of the event, and my mother had not have shown such empathy, things would have reached a point of crisis, one where neither one of us would benefit.
This may be applied to a range of scenarios, whether they be interpersonal or familial – anything where two sides oppose. By looking at the true nature of the issue, at the potential consequences of unjust action, and the potential for reconciliation, the best path to restore the relationship may be found. And as my mother proved, the actions of reconciliation do not need to be aggressive or overly dramatic; a gentle action, that brings about reflection is the sharpest tool in one’s reconciliation toolbox.
I am sure we are all aware of the issues of distrust and injustice between Russia and the Ukraine. A situation in which tyrannous control is disregarding the livelihood of a peaceful nation, tearing down years of history and causing large scale civil unrest and damaging the global reputation of the perpetrator. There is no admiration of the actions of Russia, and this fact will permanently stain how that country is viewed. While much of the Russian population are against the actions of their leader, and momentum for the war is waning, the battle still continues. It is all too easy to identify the perpetrator and the victim here. Weaponised dictatorship, against a close-knit community with a common goal. As of today, the war has been going on for 197 days; 197 days of resistance from the Ukrainian people, despite the incredible injustice upon them, peaceful restoration is paramount.
While the result of this conflict is still uncertain, an example of a successful peaceful resistance may be found in the actions of Mahatma Gandhi. Motivated by the human capacity to show empathy, Gandhi worked with the people of India to separate from the British colonial power that had oppressed them for so long. The independent state was created, no rebellion, no conflict, but a unity of people with no intent for war. Gandhi led the people of India, let them see the true nature of the history of hierarchical power in their country, and provided them with a solution to restore their sovereign state. The world saw the power of gentle action, and that empathy is the greatest step towards restoration. Gandhi could have chosen to attack and fight aggressively to resolve the issue, but in this case, the issue would never truly be solved – only one side benefits. But Gandhi’s ways of peace meant that both sides parted fairly, no hard feelings. The world was shaken in a gentle way.
I have such great admiration for the boarding community here at Shore. For 5 years as a full-time boarder, I have observed the great service and respect that the boys have for each other, the caring staff, and the feeling of community here. I’m sure all boys here tonight can confirm the strong comradery felt among the boarders. This all spans from empathy, an understanding of each other, being able to connect emotionally and appreciate our different identities. Many situations where two parties oppose have been sorted with the application of empathy. Whether it be as minor as being late for a House activity, or something much greater, support and resolution may be found anywhere within this community.
An example of the great empathy shown at this school is the connection between the seniors and the juniors within each of the Boarding Houses. Regardless of the status the older boys have, we understand the complexities that the juniors face, a little gentle empathy, and that the junior’s world is shaken in a positive way.
So, I call out to everyone: you will see the injustice within this world, and yes, no individual is necessarily to blame. But have a little empathy, have an understanding for what really is going on. Start small, don’t try to be a hero; be a restorer, a pacifier. Work together, be motivated (as Gandhi was) by human empathy. For your world, everyone’s world as we all share it, will change for the better if you do. To me, that is what makes a great person, that is what I strive to do – to shake the world in a gentle way.
O. T. Kanaley – Hodges House
“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” – Gandhi
In this famous quote, Mahatma Gandhi wasn’t just describing the profound impacts and
potential of peaceful protest, but also the fact that change is so accessible to us in this age.
That something we would toss aside as a “gentle” action, a meaningless act, actually has the
capacity to change the lives of many others, for the better.
Gandhi showed us that every one of us holds this incredible power to affect the lives of
other people, especially with today’s growth in personal wealth and net income.
With today’s unprecedented levels of interconnection and globalisation.
And yet we’re seeing more and more people taking on an attitude of complacency,
accepting that the world is “good enough” and turning a blind eye to the problems that still,
to this day, plague society.
Change, for better or for worse, is happening at a faster rate than ever before, and we all
have the opportunity to be at the forefront of this change, to play our part in leading the
world towards a better future.
If we look towards the world’s poor, its easy to see what profound effect we can have
through simple actions.
A few years ago, I travelled with my family to Kathmandu, in Nepal. Of course, we visited the
major tourist attractions – temples, museums, markets… But the thing I remember most
about that trip was our visit to the Kalimati Slums – A massive section of the city populated
by ramshackle huts made out of plastic bags and thin strips of wood.
Its hard to describe the conditions these people lived in, the conditions that young children
played in, the conditions that many people can’t escape from.
In that trip, I remember we brought bags of second-hand clothes, basic provisions and
medical supplies to the local school to distribute amongst the children. The school being a
small building with bare brick walls a concrete floor. It was really amazing to see how much
of an impact these items could have on their daily lives. In fact, I remember that some of the
items we take for granted all the time – writing books, pencils, erasers, were so special that
they were locked away in a cupboard to be given out to the children as prizes.
When things that seem so insignificant to us make such a phenomenal difference to others,
its difficult to justify living a life of complacency and apathy.
In his inaugural address as President of the United States, John F Kennedy described the
power that every one of us has to enact change on an unprecedented scale. He said, “The
world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms
of human poverty and all forms of human life.”
I urge every one of you to not sit by waiting for fate to happen, like a gentle stream flowing
idly around the rocks and boulders that stand in its way, but instead to stand up for what
you believe in, to strike down every obstacle in your path.
All of us sitting in this room tonight has equal potential to shake this world, equal ability to
making the changes that will drive humanity forward. And yet in 50 or 100 years’ time, the
differences we’ve each made will be by no means equal.
There is no better time than now to fulfill your duty as a member of this planet. To begin
forging a path towards enacting change, towards helping others, and towards a better
future for humanity as a whole.
There’s a website I came across recently – called The Life You Can Save – which shows how
much of a difference every one of us can make with little money. Some of the charities
featured on the site include:
- The Fred Hollows Foundation, which helps to restore sight for as little $25.
- The “Against Malaria Foundation”, which distributes insecticide-treated bed nets for
$2 each.
From the moment you leave this room, you’ll be faced with the opportunity to make
something greater of your life, to be the person to change society for the better.
Yet the decision is up to you.
I’m encouraging all of you to set a goal tonight. To take something you believe in, and to
make a positive step towards changing the lives of others.
Perhaps you’ll commit to raising money for Mr Scozzi.
Perhaps you’ll go online and donate some money – it doesn’t have to be a lot – to a cause
you support.
Perhaps you’ll decide to create an article for the Shore Weekly Record inspiring others to
take action on a cause you believe in, to convince others to “shake the world” in the same
way that Gandhi once led his nation in a fight against colonial oppression.
Gandhi: There are two days in a year where we can not do anything: yesterday and
tomorrow.
A. F. Mingay – Robson House
“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” – Gandhi
Mahatma Ghandi once said: In a gentle way, you can shake the world”. But you can also
shake the world through not being gentle. Violence. It has burned within humanity since the
dawn of time – defining the strength of a peoples. It is inextricable from the evolution of our
species. Tribal disputes, colonial massacres, region against region, race against race,
rebellion, defiance, death. In victory, we pride ourselves upon it. We celebrate the brave and
selfless soldiers that fight for our freedom. Even in loss, we pride ourselves on the ultimate
sacrifices that serve our Nations. Nations which violence is foundational to. Nations that
have been constructed by militaristic dominance.
Let’s look at colonialism for example. Throughout history we see a profound pattern that
exposes the innate failure of violence to form a unified future. The American revolutionary
war was born out of a deep discontentment with colonial powers and in order to liberate
civilisation into an independent future, violence was at its core. We see this in countless
events throughout history. The Irish, Mexican, Turkish, Greek, and Spanish American wars
of independence to name a few. Colonialism creates the need for anti-colonialism.
Oppression creates the need for violent insurgence and rebellion.
However, violence is necessary for the evolutionary persistence and preservation of life
itself. It’s Darwin’s survival of the fittest. Only the strongest survive. And while humans are
indeed a result of this evolutionary formula, I believe that we ARE different. There’s one
thing that has allowed us humans to distinguish ourselves against all else. Our minds. See I
believe that humans have been given this gift allowing us to think and act in more complex
ways. We are able to make change through our use of logic, science, rhetoric, and empathy.
The most influential and inspirational people in history tend to be peaceful activists, who
have sparked entire overhauls of oppressive power structures, truly allowing for the world
to mend. Ghandi absolutely refused violence as a means of freeing an oppressed people.
Rosa Parks remained peacefully steadfast to challenge racial discrimination. Even religious
figures preach the upmost importance of peace. Jesus teaches to love your enemy, while
Buddha emphasises peace above all else.
But of course, I am not arguing that we should all strive to become dignified vanguards for
the betterment of the human race. These examples are extreme extrapolations of core ethical
values of gentleness on a large scale. Rather, like the previously mentioned activists, it is the
legacy you leave that truly alters the world and lasts in the hearts and minds of humans for
generations to come.
Around 10 years ago, my great grandmother died at the age of 96 with dementia. As the
youngest of my family, I was the only one who never knew her before the onset of her
dementia. I remember visits to her. Despite having no idea that the boy that stood in front of
her shared the some blood as her she was always so jovial and grateful to see me. It felt
strange, for a young boy to be faced against his great grandmother, whom he had heard so
many stories about and for there to be no recognition. Despite this, I felt a strong innate filial
connection to my great grandmother, that I could not explain the origin of. If I had never
had the chance to have a meaningful conversation or any memory of her pre-dementia self,
then why did I feel like I knew her so well? I struggled with this question for much of my
childhood, especially each time I would visit her. When she passed it was a complex and
strange feeling. I did not understand what I was feeling. I was mourning a person that I
didn’t know.
All I knew at that time was that I was in fact grieving in my own way. But as I have aged, I
have been able to better conceptualise these complex emotions that I experienced as a child. I
have come to realise that I was not grieving because of a profound personal connection and
devotion I had to my great-grandmother. But I was mourning her memory. I have come to
realise that I did not know her through personal conversations and being in her company for
extended periods of time. I knew her from her impact upon the people around me. I will
never forget watching my grandmother – her daughter, grieve her mother. I could see all the
memories and love that existed between these people through a veil of anguish. I remember
witnessing painful greetings to a woman who could not remember the face of her own
children.
For me, this was my first introduction to the idea of the mortality of the human experience. I
could see, through the tears and through the anguish, what an inspiring mother, teacher,
grandmother, and beautiful human she was. A person who has created a long line of strong
and gentle people that will continue to flourish long into the future. My grandmother, one of
the most warm and generous people I know. My father, one of the most hardworking and
gentle. Her legacy has shaped the strong yet gentle values and beliefs of her family line. Her
legacy defines her impact. It transcends the boundaries of mortal human life and provides
guidance for years to come.
So, I urge you, through your life, to construct a gentle legacy that can have an impact that is
greater than yourself. In a gentle way, you can shake the world. So yes, violence can
certainly shake the world. But only through gentle peace can we mend it. Perhaps then, the
violence may just end.
R. J. Taylor – School House
“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” – Gandhi
“In a gentle way you can shake the world”, Mahatma Gandhi. Quiet and humble – Gandhi was a servant leader who to this day is known in India as the father of the nation. From his prison cell Gandhi used his extraordinary moral courage to fight against an oppressive regime. Gandhi stood for the idea that you can disagree without being disagreeable, that being gentle doesn’t mean being quiet. By promoting peace through hunger strikes in jail through the face of violent oppression, he changed the attitude of millions, and in doing so changed his country for the better. By using words, not the sword, by using faith not fists – Gandhi won a war without going to war, and brought his country to independence.
The world has changed from Gandhi’s times, but gentleness – along with its fellow travellers, humility and kindness – can still be a great principle by which to impact the lives of others – and therefore in smaller but significant ways still make an influence.
A less famous but still well known modern hero by the name of Tony Robbins invokes Gandhi’s example. Tony Robbins is a healer for our times. In 2022, wealthy countries like ours deal with new issues profoundly different from Gandhi’s India almost a century ago. Whether it is dealing with the stress of school, work-life balance, relationships with family and friends, or dealing with lockdowns during a global pandemic, mental health issues have become endemic and rates of suicide are only getting worse.
Enter Tony Robbins – a profoundly impactful motivational speaker and healer. Over his 30 year career he has used gentleness in his speaking and living by example to change the lives of thousands. Indeed he has literally saved the lives of thousands by his heart warming and uplifting speeches aswell as his significant sponsoring of over 1,500 mental health institutions. Tony Robbins has not only helped his famous clients – Green Day, Leonardo DiCaprio, and three US presidents – but also used gentle words and good deeds to change lives and shake individual worlds. Instead of hoarding his profits from his books, television shows and speaking appearances he lives by example and puts his money back into institutions he has established. In the last three years alone his personal efforts have resulted in 325 million meals being provided to those in need and battling with depression or suicide. His gentle strategy – using kind words and engaging in great acts of personal generosity – helps people in their darkest moments understand the beauty and sanctity of life no matter how difficult it is. He’s not quite Gandhi in that he hasn’t changed the course of history, but he is changing and saving lives.
But you don’t need to be Mahatma Gandi or Tony Robbins to practice gentleness and shake the world. There are everyday heroes you’ve never heard of who do this.
I personally know some of these heroes. My grandparents are the two most gentle people I know. Their home is a hub of love and hospitality for family and friends and for other people who are doing it tough. They volunteer in their church, and in community groups. They turn up to help when people need a hand. They cook and deliver meals to their neighbours who are more elderly than them. They make every one of their 17 grandchildren feel like they are the most important person in the world, helping us to understand the meaning of unconditional love. They never stop doing things for ohter people and only think of others in everything they do. Every day in the most gentle of ways, they make my world– and the worlds of anyone they know -. They’re not quite altering the course of history but their impact on my world and the worlds of the many people around them is incalculable.
The world only has room for a handful of Mahatma Gandhis – and perhaps a few more Tony Robbinses. But there is no limit to the number of people who can practice gentleness, and by doing so, make a difference to the everyday lives of people around them.
You and I – each and every one of us – can take the ‘gentle and humble’ leaf out of the book of Gandhi, Tony Robbins and even my grandparents, and every day in so many small ways genuinely shake the world.