Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Research
Task
Grade 10
Kyle Marcus
Contents
Africa, this day is culturally and historically significant for South African history as well as
for the present, In this essay I will be making the case that it is important to commemorate Commented [V2]: I will be making the case that the importance
of com..
human rights day as understanding our past helps us better understand our present, since Commented [V3]: Lies in our understanding of the past which
will help us..
important lessons, traditions, and cultural aspects are passed down through different
generations. This essay will be divided into six sub-headings I will use to make this
argument.
Often people speak of “personal heritage”-that from the past which is distinctly one’s own, Commented [V9]: no, start with saying that were are different
forms of heritage and one of those is personal heritage
but here I am referring to ‘collective heritage”-those things from the past that belongs to a Commented [V10]: however,
with others. These two aspects of collective heritage are closely related as both tie as to other
human beings, creating among us the strongest of human bonds. The main difference is that
the first –knowledge of our common past plays a significant role in understanding ourselves,
therefore shaping our future This aspect of heritage helps us to see what we are and why we
are, not only that but it helps us understand our place in the world. The second aspect of
heritage –the ability to choose and cherish what we value in our history and allows us to take Commented [V12]: again word choice
pride and satisfaction in which we are, it also points to our possible futures: what we want we
be, and where we want to go.
In South Africa, Human rights day is historically linked to the 21st March 1960 Sharpeville
massacre and the history of Apartheid. On that day 69 people lost their lives and 180 men,
woman and children were wounded when police opened fire on a peaceful crowd that had
gathered in protest against the Apartheid Pass Laws. Human rights day marked ordinary
people rising in unison to claim their rights. Originally human rights day was known
Sharpeville day and was renamed human rights day by the government to place emphasis on
the human rights that were violated that day. It became an iconic date in our countries history
and today we commemorate it as human rights Day as a reminder of our rights and the cost
that was paid for our most human rights.
Furthermore, the government commemorates human rights day as a reminder of all those who
lost their lives against the struggle for our liberation and the freedom we enjoy today and to
remind future generations of their common history.
5 How commemoration of human rights contributes to nation building
Nation-building refers to the creation or development of a nation. Human rights day
contributes to nation-building in many different ways including social, economic and cultural
aspects.
Socially human rights day contributes by bringing people together under a shared experience
of a common history instead of divided or separate experience .for example groups of people
will come together at famous heritage sites to commemorate those who fought for our
freedom like the Sharpeville memorial site.
Economically it brings wealth into a community as people will pay a certain amount of
money to take part in an event that takes people to heritage sights where once again they will
experience history in unity rather than separately.
In conclusion we commemorate human rights day as it links us as a nation to the events of the
past that defines who we are today and the lessons and traditions we carry with us and pass
on to future generations. The importance of human rights day is also to remind us of whom
we are and where we come from and of the cost of the independence we all share.
Reference List
https://heritageperth.com.au/your-heritage/why-is-heritage-important-to-communties/
https://www.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/about-us/importance-of-heritage
https://www.sahistory,org.za/article/defining-culture-heritage-and-identity
https://heritagesa.org/wp/experts/our-shared-south-african-history/
https://www.sahistory.org.za/topic/sharpeville-massacre-21-march-1960
https://www.parliament.gov.za/project-event-details/2
https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/south-african-constitution-bill-rights
https://www.gov.za/huam-rights-day
https://www.gov.za/heritage-day