December, 2013
Nelson Mandela inspired the world with his words and actions.
FORMER President of South Africa,
Nelson Mandela, was known
to his people by his clan name, Madiba. He passed away on Dec 5.
to his people by his clan name, Madiba. He passed away on Dec 5.
Nelson Mandela
led one of the
most inspiring
lives of the 20th
century. He was
a man who stood up bravely
for the sake of his community
and was punished severely for
it. But, nobody could crush his
spirit - or make him hate his
enemies, whom he forgave.
Mr Mandela passed away on December 5, 2013. He was 95 years old. His country, South Africa, is preparing to say goodbye to him. They feel they have lost the father of their nation. The rest of the world is also sad, for Mr Mandela was an inspiration for all peoples.
Moral courage
Mr Mandela was a lawyer and political leader during an awful time in his country's history. South Africa was controlled by a small population of white people, descended from Europeans. The white government created a system called apartheid. Under apartheid, black Africans were treated horribly. They were not allowed to vote. They made up the majority, so if they could vote, they would definitely have kicked out the white government.
The police used violence to discourage people from protesting. But, that did not stop individuals like Mr Mandela from struggling against apartheid. The government locked him up in jail. Many black leaders were even killed. Mr Mandela refused to back down. After all, he and his comrades were asking for something reasonable: equality for all South Africans.
The government kept him in prison for an incredible 27 years. Finally, the pressure from inside South Africa and from other countries was too great. The white leaders realised they had to change. Mr Mandela was released in 1990. When South Africa held its first democratic elections in 1994, he was voted President.
What he did with power
From the age of 44 until he was 71 years old, Nelson Mandela was powerless. He was ordered around by prison guards. But, he kept reading, writing and thinking about the day his country would be free. "Any man or institution that tries to rob me of my dignity will lose," he said.
When he was finally freed and then elected President of South Africa in 1994, this was a heroic feat - not just for him, but also for his country, which had never given up hope.
However, winning power was not Mr Mandela's greatest achievement. It was how he used his position that made the world respect him. Under apartheid, the whites abused their power: they pushed down and humiliated the blacks. Now that a black government was in charge, would it be payback time? Would blacks give the whites a taste of their own medicine? Surely, many blacks would want revenge.
Instead, Mr Mandela preached forgiveness. As long as the whites were willing to admit they were wrong and change their ways, the blacks should treat them as equals, he insisted.
Today, South Africa still has many problems, like crime and unemployment. However, Mr Mandela's wisdom prevented the country from erupting into violence. The world was inspired by how much Mr Mandela believed in ideas like democracy, fairness and equality. He didn't just believe in the words; he acted according to these ideas.
Indeed, Nelson Mandela set an example for all citizens everywhere.
Before and after Mandela:
Nelson Mandela was not the only great leader who was ill-treated and imprisoned by his enemies, but struggled for a peaceful and free society. Before him, there was India's Mahathma Gandhi, whom he learnt a lot from. Both of them influenced Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi, who is today trying to make her country more democratic.
QUOTES
Wise words of Nelson Mandela:
"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."
"If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner."
"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."
"Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace."
"It always seems impossible until it's done."
This article appeared in the July 2013 issue of What's Up. Updated and re-published here on Dec 6, 2013.
Mr Mandela passed away on December 5, 2013. He was 95 years old. His country, South Africa, is preparing to say goodbye to him. They feel they have lost the father of their nation. The rest of the world is also sad, for Mr Mandela was an inspiration for all peoples.
Moral courage
Mr Mandela was a lawyer and political leader during an awful time in his country's history. South Africa was controlled by a small population of white people, descended from Europeans. The white government created a system called apartheid. Under apartheid, black Africans were treated horribly. They were not allowed to vote. They made up the majority, so if they could vote, they would definitely have kicked out the white government.
The police used violence to discourage people from protesting. But, that did not stop individuals like Mr Mandela from struggling against apartheid. The government locked him up in jail. Many black leaders were even killed. Mr Mandela refused to back down. After all, he and his comrades were asking for something reasonable: equality for all South Africans.
The government kept him in prison for an incredible 27 years. Finally, the pressure from inside South Africa and from other countries was too great. The white leaders realised they had to change. Mr Mandela was released in 1990. When South Africa held its first democratic elections in 1994, he was voted President.
What he did with power
From the age of 44 until he was 71 years old, Nelson Mandela was powerless. He was ordered around by prison guards. But, he kept reading, writing and thinking about the day his country would be free. "Any man or institution that tries to rob me of my dignity will lose," he said.
When he was finally freed and then elected President of South Africa in 1994, this was a heroic feat - not just for him, but also for his country, which had never given up hope.
However, winning power was not Mr Mandela's greatest achievement. It was how he used his position that made the world respect him. Under apartheid, the whites abused their power: they pushed down and humiliated the blacks. Now that a black government was in charge, would it be payback time? Would blacks give the whites a taste of their own medicine? Surely, many blacks would want revenge.
Instead, Mr Mandela preached forgiveness. As long as the whites were willing to admit they were wrong and change their ways, the blacks should treat them as equals, he insisted.
Today, South Africa still has many problems, like crime and unemployment. However, Mr Mandela's wisdom prevented the country from erupting into violence. The world was inspired by how much Mr Mandela believed in ideas like democracy, fairness and equality. He didn't just believe in the words; he acted according to these ideas.
Indeed, Nelson Mandela set an example for all citizens everywhere.
Before and after Mandela:
Nelson Mandela was not the only great leader who was ill-treated and imprisoned by his enemies, but struggled for a peaceful and free society. Before him, there was India's Mahathma Gandhi, whom he learnt a lot from. Both of them influenced Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi, who is today trying to make her country more democratic.
QUOTES
Wise words of Nelson Mandela:
"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."
"If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner."
"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."
"Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake of peace."
"It always seems impossible until it's done."
This article appeared in the July 2013 issue of What's Up. Updated and re-published here on Dec 6, 2013.