He was 95 and in ill-health, but it is still hard to come to grips with the reality that he is gone. He was a leading figure of our times, a historical figure, a living legend who played a leading role in the fight against the injustice of Apartheid in South Africa.
It has been written a lot on already, but it is worth noting that his emphasis on forgiveness, forgiving those who jailed him for 27 years, is remarkable. He may not have been a saint - by his own admission - but Mandela was a remarkable person, a remarkable leader in the fight against Apartheid whose suffering made him a stronger and better person. Rather than being consumed by rage and a desire for revenge, he emphasized forgiveness and reconciliation. In a continent marked by political turbulence, South Africa - while far from perfect as inequalities persist - stands as an example of a multi-racial democracy.
I read his autobiography - Long Walk to Freedom - it was remarkable.
Mandela will live on in the consciousness of South Africa, and of the world. He is a towering figure. Recommend this post
No comments:
Post a Comment