Matt+Y.+-+POSITION+PAPER

Did the Springboks bring together a nation? Using sports to unite two opposing races is very effective ** “Out of the night that covers me, ** In 1995, South Africa was going through a very rough time. Before 1994 they were going through an apartheid that was changed to a democratic society after the general election of 1994. Scheduled in 1995 was the World Rugby Cup to be held in South Africa. After the Apartheid the Rainbow Nation was created and represented the two races as one. Also the "Rugby World Cup 1995 was the first to feature South Africa following the end of their international sports boycott because of the apartheid regime" (Official RWC 2015 site). They went on to win the largest worldwide rugby competition, beating New Zealand. "South Africa had beaten New Zealand 15-12 after extra-time courtesy of Joel Stransky’s late drop goal" (Official RWC 2015 site). Vincent and Stevenson wrote in their paper //Rethinking rugby and the rainbow nation// “…far from being indomitable, South Africa’s democracy, much like the fortunes of its national rugby side, is fragile and precarious.” They value their sports and their democracy especially since 1995. The Rainbow Nation rugby team changed South Africa in the way that it showed hope for the new democratic and undivided nation.
 * Black as the Pit from pole to pole, **
 * I thank whatever gods may be  **
 * For my unconquerable soul.” **
 * -Ernest Henley **

** “In the fell clutch of circumstance  ** In the 1940’s English white settlers had taken control of South Africa and independence from Britain. In 1994 the Native blacks created the African National Congress, which was led by Nelson Mandela. Through a series of democratic elections Mandela and his party had taken control. This ended the Apartheid and “Mandela told the nation ‘We enter into a covenant that we shall build a society in which all South Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts, assured of their inalienable right to human dignity – a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world’” (Vincent and Stevenson 292). Within a year South Africa held the Rugby World Cup. “President Nelson Mandela uses rugby as a vehicle to meet the challenge of balancing black aspirations with white fears in the immediate aftermath of the apartheid” (Vincent and Stevenson 288). When they defeated New Zealand in the finals Mandela met one of the white players/captain Francois Piennar after the game to congratulate him and when people saw this they viewed it as a triumph for the new rainbow nation. It is a controversy and a problem because it is a racial issue and reform and many people didn’t want a united team. The Apartheid separated to indigenous Africans from the people who “own the land” the conquering whites. Who is it, sir? It’s that terrorist, Mandela. Theylet him out. (beat)Remember this day, boys. It’s the day our country went to the dogs." (Peckham 3). A controversy arose because the following year South Africa was scheduled to play in the World Rugby Cup that was to be held in South Africa. Fans from the previous team did not want the teams to be joined while some were supporters of the idea as it would support the new government for the races to work together. Most South Africans were affected by this revolution. Weather you were white or black or were a supporter or the rugby team during the apartheid you were affected. "Mandela holds out his hand. Pienaar takes it. Big hands, one black, one white, one with bruises visible, one with a lifetime of bruises implied. Both wearing the NUMBER 6 SPRINGBOK JERSEY. ‘Francois, I want to thank you most sincerely for what you have done to our country.’ Pienaar shakes his head. ‘Mr. President, I want to thank youfor what you have done’" (Peckham 142). The whites were afraid of the new form of government, as they feared being punished by law for what they had done during the apartheid. The Blacks were anxious and happy because they were just freed and could now do what they wanted without punishment. Some of the previous rugby teams fans were upset because their all white team had been joined with a black race. Some were happy as they felt it now truly represented the nation it was supposed to. Most South Africans were affected by this revolution. Weather you were white or black or were a supporter or the rugby team during the apartheid you were affected. The whites were afraid of the new form of government, as they feared being punished by law for what they had done during the apartheid. “…whites will fear that they will be swamped and left no share of power…” (Hill 181). The Blacks were anxious and happy because they were just freed and could now do what they wanted without punishment. “During this same time period— roughly around 1998—the new police force was having trouble solving criminal cases and bringing criminals to justice” (Pruitt 125). Some of the previous rugby teams fans were upset because their all white team had been joined with a black race. Some were happy as they felt it now truly represented the nation it was supposed to. Racial slurs and discrimination have always been a problem even since the B.C. but most have been overcome. Some examples are Egyptians to the Jews, White people to black people, Hitler to the Jews, the people versus Homosexuals, and now even people versus the Latino/Spanish/Mexican people. Many people have tried to change and knock this part of people off course such as the United States. “ No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws” (United States. Cong.). This included everyone even the blacks with the way the country now translates the Constitution. “ a recent New York Times/CBS News poll found that 59 percent of African-Americans believe the country has made real progress in race relations, a 30 percent jump from last year” (Wilson 1). This proves that we are able to defeat race problems.
 * I have not winced nor cried aloud. **
 * Under the bludgeonings of chance  **
 * My head is bloody, but unbowed.” **
 * -Ernest Henley **

** “Beyond this place of wrath and tears  ** Using what people love such as sports to bring them together is a safe and effective way to bring together two opposing races and help save a nation. People are more likely to support the opposing race as a part of society if they achieve something great and help the majority race’s morale which would make it easy to pass anti discriminatory race laws by voting. “ Come the morning of the final, on June 24, 1995, black South Africans were as excited as their white compatriots, and as desperate to see the Amabokoboko (as the Sowetan newspaper dubbed the national team) win ”(Carlin 1). South Africa used a sport that was close to the dominant white race to bring together white peoples and black peoples by forcing them to work together towards a common goal. “ The dynamics of getting a team to work together boils done to one simple truth – the team needs a common goal ”(Manansingh 1). This revolution changed society immensely and helped it so it was equal for all and safe for people of both races to live in. If all racial discrimination is to be removed from the world and the mind a common interest needs to be found that can unite the races. Rugby was a common interest for both races but only rich white men were allowed to play. “despite efforts to boost black participation, rugby remains dominated by whites. ”(Brulliard 1). One year after democracy was put into place the national team, the Springboks, went on to win the Rugby World Cup, which was held in their land. “ Du Plessis had sensed from the atmosphere that day was that the All Blacks were not going up against 15 men, but against history, against the destiny of a whole country ”(Carlin). The slogan ‘one team, one nation’ was used by South Africa to help their movement in their first national sporting event since the sports boycott. Past attempts to end racial issues within a nation have ended in many deaths of both races and not a full change in a quick amount of time. This use of tactics changed a nation very quickly and effectively as showed in South Africa during the 1995 Rugby World Cup. “ Nelson Mandela, donned the No 6 shirt of the team's captain - Francois Pienaar, a white Afrikaner - and the two embraced in a spontaneous gesture of racial reconciliation that melted hearts around the country ”(Ramesh 1). Although the Civil War The United States of America went through during the 1800’s, did start the ending of racial discrimination it still took till the 1960’s for blacks to have the same status as whites. “ the struggle to put an end to separate instruction of white and Negro children is still being waged—and with increasing heat ”(CQ researcher). Many people were also killed during this period of time and many battles fought were Americans fighting other Americans, whereas in South Africa some blacks were killed and some whites were killed but mostly only blacks were thrown into jail. “2,5006 of lynch victims were African-American”(Braziel). It is more ethical and humane to use a common interest and goal such as sports to bring together a nation. Racial problems are very important in society and once they get to a certain point of taking control of how a nation is run people want the discrimination to end. People like having control of their society, life, government, and even surroundings, but once you lose control of a nation you have lost control of everything. Some may argue that it takes more to stop racial issues than bringing together a nation in a legal way. “Tragedy overtakes apparent success if economic rights are not pursued after political rights are won” (Asmal and Roberts). This would basically say that you can't win by just a social event or happening such as a sport. In the case of South Africa they did not follow with a political debate on the issue that put the rights to the natives in place. The political debate came before the Rugby World Cup occurrence in 1995. "In April 1994 the Mandela-led ANC won South Africa’s first elections by universal suffrage, and on May 10 Mandela was sworn in as president of the country’s first multiethnic government" and the social rugby event occurred in 1995 (Encyclopedia Britannica). You don't have to follow with political debates but you do need them to make a law occur. Sports are away to bring the people into unity weather you use them to start a revolution, to keep the revolution alive, or to end the revolution with strong support from the people who did to originally support the group. You don't always need to start with a social occurrence, and you don't need to end with a social occurrence either. Using sports as the social form for the revolution is a very good idea. This way you are not in a deficit for support if it fails but you can certainly increase in large amounts if you are successful. Other countries went in the other direction and went further into racial problems to get control back. The south used this tactic during and before the civil war “Instead, the belief in racial inferiority unified whites, and the Democratic Party used the ideology of racial exclusion to regain control of the south” (Marx 2). The civil war was alms wholly based on racial issues between the north and the south. This would just be putting yourself into a deeper hole than what you're already in which would not be helping you. Given people are able to work out of this deficit but it does create extra work for one to do. "I find that when I am in a rut, old things I used to dwell on resurface and things I wish I’d never done seem to haunt me over and over"(Vivers). This can also cause a lot of death and tragedy and can hurt a nation even more than what has already happened. Hurting is usually not helping and in this case it truly is going in the opposite direction. Using a sport involves both races and does not exclude one, which is supported by law. Bringing together a nation involves support from all that are within. Using a sport that involves camaraderie from everyone will truly bring together a nation. An article from the Star-News in 1996 argued that rugby did not bring to ether and unify South African and people who said it would be the way to save a nation and Nelson Mandela's presidency. Evidence says that it could not do that because it was still an all white team one year later. "...last month, the nation's sports minister publicly questioned the team's commitment to develop rugby in black and "colored" areas. After yet another contest in which a Springbok team took the field with all white players..." (Chicago Tribune). With an all white team you cannot unify a nation with whites and blacks. Rugby was a sport exclusive to white men, meaning that no black or "colored" men were allowed paling the sport according to law. The law was changed after the apartheid and no longer could a man be excluded from a sport because of race. "The constitutional state that South Africa has become since 1994, is based on the values of ‘human dignity’, ‘the achievement of equality’ and ‘nonracialism’, among others"(Kruger). This change in law changed the nation and made it a place for all without exclusions. Change is what was needed for this nation to become racially acceptable and not racially discriminant against the black and in favor of the whites. Any law that made racial exclusions illegal and unjust for any one to do no matter what the sport would be able to unify a nation. Seeing this law passed and following through to a national victory at the Rugby World Cup was the support the people needed. Sports are one of the safest and quickest ways to change a nation and unite two races who oppose each other. ** “It matters not how strait the gate, ** Racial issues are a very important problem that needs to be protected for everyone no matter what you look like. People have tried different ways and some have challenged using sports as a way to unite a nation. We’ve seen using racial separation as an idea, the idea that because the national team in 1995 didn’t have a black man on the team it did not unite the nation, and it was said that the social event has to come before the political event in order to change a nation. These people forgot about the fans in the stands, or Nelson Mandela and when he became president, and even the U.S. failure with racial exclusion. Mandela started a revolution when he was in jail and recited the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley to make a statement that racial discrimination is not good. Fight for anti-discrimination all over the world and let others be the captain of their soul and be the master of your own fate.
 * Looms but the Horror of the shade, **
 * And yet the menace of the years  **
 * Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.” **
 * -Ernest Henley **
 * How charged with punishments the scroll. **
 * I am the master of my fate: **
 * I am the captain of my soul” **
 * -Ernest Henley **

Works Consulted Braziel, Jana Evans. “History of Lynching in the United States.” //ACLAnet//. University of Cincinnati, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2012. < [|http://www.umass.edu] >. Assistant Professor Jana Evans Braziel wrote this portion of the website with her research. This gives an overview of lynching in america and what happened. I used some of the figures to put in perspective what I was saying and to give support

Brulliard, Nicolas. “Where rugby remains a white man’s game.” //globalpost//. N.p., 30 May 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2012. < [|http://www.globalpost.com] >. This is and article written by Nicolas Brulliard on the global post. It uses first person sources to write about the current state of rugby and its black players and supporters. This is used to help explain my call to action.

Carlin, John. “How Nelson Mandela won the rugby World Cup.” //The Telegraph// 19 Oct. 2007: 1. //The Telegraph//. Web. 21 Apr. 2012. < [|http://www.telegraph.co.uk] >. Author and Journalist John Carlin wrote this article along with many others about the 1995 rugby World Cup. It describes the union of the two races after the game. I used it as support for my plan and that it would work.

- - -. “One team, one country.” //The Guardian//. N.p., 4 Oct. 2003. Web. 21 Apr. 2012. < [|http://www.guardian.co.uk] >. Journalist and author John Carlin wrote this article for the guardian. It gives a recap of the 1995 Rugby World Cup and how they could win. this helped me understand why the Springboks were able to win over the All Blacks.

Hill, Christopher R. //Change in South Africa: Blind Alleys Or New Directions?// N.p.: Rowman & Littlefield, 1983. Print. This book is Change in South Africa: Blind Alleys Or New Directions? by Christopher R. Hill. It reviews the future for South Africa as it was made in 1983 and what is expected to happen. It is a goo synopsis of what did happen and also includes the authors view point.

International Rugby Board. “Rugby World Cup – 1995 Tournament.” //Official RWC 2015 site//. IRB.com, 7 July 2011. Web. 5 Apr. 2012. < [|http://www.rugbyworldcup.com] >. From the website that is the official Rugby World Cup board a primary source wrote an article. The official website for previous World Rugby Cups and future ones as well a primary source wrote about the 1995 WRC final with South Africa and New Zealand. The information given supports my thesis in the introduction and includes a score and information about South Africa being in the 1995 RWC.

// Invictus Movie Trailer 2009 HD [OFFICIAL] //. Clint Eastwood. Spyglass Entertainment, 2009. //Youtube//. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. < [|https://www.youtube.com] >. The official movie trailer for the movie Invictus that was released in 2009 and directed by Clint Eastwood. It is the Official trailer for a movie about the South African Revolution and the Rugby team and also the new founded Rainbow Nation. It gives a view of what people said and what went through people’s minds and what they did.

Peckham, Anthony. //Untitled Mandela Script//. Clint Eastwood. Revelations Entertainment, Mace Neufeld Productions, 2009. //amazonaws.com//. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. < [] >. Writer and producer Anthony Peckham wrote the script for the movie “Invictus”. This movie is based on the Rainbow Nation Rugby team and how it brought together the two races to form a new nation. Some of the parts in the movie refer to the nation being split and at the end coming together.

Pruitt, William R. “AFRICAN JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY & JUSTICE STUDIES.” June 2010. AJCJS; Volume 4, No. 1. Northeastern University. //University of Maryland Eastern Shore//. Web. 13 Apr. 2012. < [|http://www.umes.edu] >. This is a paper written by J.D. William R. Pruitt. It talks about what happened after the apartheid was ended. I will use this as a support in one of my paragraphs.

Ramesh, Sharanya. “The blood of South African Sport - Rugby.” //Sophia College Journalism Project//. N.p., 3 Mar. 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2012. < [] >. Sharanya Ramesh wrote a college journalism project and posted it on blogger. It is about how rugby brought together South Africa. I used her post as support evidence for my plan.

Tucker, James Thomas. “The Politics of Persuasion.” N.d. Vol. 33:2. //Election Law Blog//. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. < [] ‌archives/‌tucker.pdf>. This journal of Legislation by James Tucker is more of an essay about some acts. This is a Journal of Legislation and reviews and explains two acts in 2006. This gave me a better understanding of how voting occurs in newer society and types of government.

United States. Cong. U.S. Constitution. //Equal Rights Amendment//. Washington D.C., 1868. Print. The Constitution written by the U.S. founding fathers who were mostly governors. The Constitution is the law we still follow and will follow forever. I am using this as an example of how the U.S. has tried to stop racial discrimination.

Vincent, Louise, and Sasha Stevenson. “Abstract.” //Rethinking rugby and the rainbow nation//. 287. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Apr. 2012. This is an online secondary source by Louise Vincent and Sasha Stevenson who are students at Rhodes University. The article is an article about South Africa in 1994 and the rugby team in 1995. The source explains the importance of the new democracy from the revolution. Also it brings up rugby and how the country now values the sport as it was a symbol of victory for democracy and joining of two main races.

Wilson, Wendy L. “Have we overcome our race problems?” //CNN Living// 11 May 2009: 1. Web. 13 Apr. 2012. < [|http://articles.cnn.com] >. This article was written by Wendy Wilson and sponsored by National Urban League. It is an article with statistics on our current state of race. The statistics are much help to prove that we have made progress. I am using this to support my thesis.

Works Cited