Class 11 English Unit 9: Critical Thinking

 

Critical Thinking

a.      What does Mandela mean when he says – a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world?

Mandela says – a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world. He means that South Africans should build a society where both black and white will be able to walk, talk with each other without any fear. We know that a rainbow is the combination of seven different colors. So by saying a rainbow nation, he is trying to convey to us a message that whenever all the people unite like the colors in the rainbow, then only there will be peace.

In South African cultures, the rainbow symbolizes hope and a bright future. South Africa is referred to as a Rainbow Nation to describe the unity of various cultural, racial, or ethnic groups in the country. During the segregation period, people were divided based on skin color. Mandela wants them to live and work together in unity like the colors in a rainbow. He wished they could forget the brutal past and put their hand in hand with each other and maintain a peaceful nation.

b.     Mandela should have avenged those who imprisoned him for such a long period. Instead, he followed the path of reconciliation. Why do you think he did so?

If Mandela had avenged those who had imprisoned him, then he wouldn’t have been able to reach his destination. Mandela led his country wisely and promoted national reconciliation. He was a man of true words. He fought for his people for a long period and was also imprisoned when he raised his voice against the authorities. However, after coming out of jail, he did not avenge those who had put him in trouble. Because he believed that avenging and enmity cause disorder among people, and by doing so, he would lose the support of the majority.

c.      Why and how have societies struggled with segregation in the world? Do you find any evidence of segregation in your society? Discuss.

Segregation is the separation or isolation of a race, class, or ethnic group by enforced or voluntary residence in a restricted area, by barriers to social intercourse or separate educational facilities, or by other discriminatory means. Many people in the world are struggling with the social separation problem in the world. Racial segregation is one of many types of segregation, which can range from deliberate and systematic persecution through more subtle types of discrimination to self-imposed separation. Cast segregation is one of the most common forms of segregation in the Hindu culture. Any type of segregation can lead to chaos and violence.

Yes, I have found the evidence of segregation in my society. Although the Nepalese Constitution Law doesn’t allow any segregation in terms of religion, caste, and ethnicity but it is still prevalent in our society. However, since the unification of Nepal in the 18th century, Nepal’s various non-Hindu ethnic nationalities and tribes, previously called “Matwalis” (alcohol-drinkers) and now termed as “Adivasi/Janajati” (indigenous/nationalities), have been incorporated within the caste hierarchy to varying degrees of success. Despite the forceful integration by the state into the pan-Hindu social structure, the traditionally non-Hindu groups and tribes do not necessarily adhere to the customs and practices of caste segregation.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH9dookaLtY

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