The passing of Nelson Mandela

I was saddened to hear about Nelson Mandela's death.  I thought everybody would be.  It seems I was wrong.  Younger colleagues and friends were asking what all the fuss was about.  They said that people seemed to forget that in his youth he was part of a violent political group.  That the ANC were terrorists and committed terrible acts.

These things may be true, but Nelson Mandela did not support these acts, he did not condone the actions taken in the name of his party.  He understood the anger behind them.  He could see why young men felt that way, but he did not agree on the path they had taken.  He only agreed with acts of sabotage which did not threaten human life, but showed the strength of feeling behind them.

He was imprisoned wrongfully for 27 years.  Just think about that for a moment.  27 years of your life is taken from you by a system that is run for and by a race of people who sincerely believe that your race is inferior.  He did not give into anger even then.  He took a correspondence course in law and passed, he befriended some of his white guards and he contemplated what he would do, should he ever be freed again.

It was during the time of his incaceration that a lot of the violent acts by the ANC were committed.  He was not there to be a moderating influence on the more extreme members.  When released, at last from prison, he immediately returned to political life and nobody was surprised that he won a landslide victory to become South Africa's first black leader.  During his time in office there were riots and people on both sides were seriously hurt.  Again and again Nelson Mandela called for peace, for moderation and for people to come together and make a new country.  Eventually he succeeded.

This was a man who saw a human being for what they were, not the colour of their skin, not their religion, not their sex, not their political beliefs, but as a fellow human.  As flawed and frail as the next one, but with the capacity to show great compassion and understanding and to help the next person along from them, if they were just given the chance.

That is why I would say to the younger generation they should remember Nelson Mandela.  He brought peace to South Africa and he constantly aimed for a truly equal society.  South Africa is still trying, but it was Nelson Mandela who gave it the chance and set its feet on the right path.