Ashley Mwanza
In the
standard of human conscience Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is surely the most
famously revered in the contemporary world. Mandela
is human and so whatever he achieved can be achieved by each and every one of
us, we just have to try. Mandela is one of our great reminders of perseverance,
courage, grace, forgiveness, and a love of freedom and humanity so great it
will burn long after he is gone. His ability to rise above his conditions, to
stay positive and remain focussed. His dignity, humility and character is a
model for everyone. His total lack of bitterness, Mandela embraced his enemies
with love. He is known for his powerful words, such as, “There is no time to be
bitter - there is work to be done.”
Mandela is a leader no prison cell, no
intimidation, no threat could silence. A man whose belief in the future was so
powerful that not even 27 years behind bars and barbed wire could destroy his
dream that millions could be free. His charisma, self-depreciating sense of
humour and lack of bitterness over his harsh treatment explains why for millions
of people around the world, Nelson Mandela stands, as no other living figure
does, for the triumph of dignity and hope over despair and hatred, of
self-discipline and love over persecution and evil.
This Mandela is a unsophisticated construction: a
good man that fought unspeakable injustice in the form of racial oppression. He
reconciled with and forgave what was essentially undeserving oppressors, and
won a democratic and multi-racial future for South Africa. “Struggling is the
way I live”, are Mandela’s words that are related to South African struggle
against tyranny. However for Mandela, the real meaning of life struggle was to
overcome obstacles, to hope for something more, and to challenge yourself. In
his struggle, Mandela discovered his greatest strength and his country.
Let us
contemplate his example as we face so many seemingly insuperable problems and
the power and wealth that always seem to stand in the way of liberty and
transformation. These simple words of Mandela have a weight and a legitimacy
few others could grant them: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” It’s
my argument that Mandela really is remarkable, and that much of the fuss about
him is warranted. Not because he is a saint, but because his personal narrative
is such a powerful human story of redemption. And stories are powerful. Stories
help us make sense of the world. They carry emotional weight. We remember them.
The movie
Invictus
came at the right time, as our ‘worlds’ (our lives, conflicts, etc) battle on
various fronts we needed a reminder that all can be conquered if we put our
hearts to it, and that unity can achieve great things. Mandela is a great
character, somebody with flaws and human desires, someone with whom we can
identify, we too have our flaws so he has shown us that we can overcome them.
He changed from young firebrand to agent of peace and reconciliation. And
through it he changed South Africa.
Mandela
is a remarkably positive individual. He believes that people are actually good,
and he is right we are. He also has a keen understanding of human nature, and
unlike most leaders in our world, he has immense self-belief freeing him to
interact in ways other politico have not been able to.
Mandela
dedicated a good part of his life to groom himself into the mould of
leadership, and was always mindful of his strengths and weaknesses in his
public role. It was a huge but worthy investment he made. His prison years
played a key role in his transformation, he apparently went in emotional and
headstrong, and walked out balanced and disciplined. In his own words: “I came
out mature.” He took to knowing his adversaries very well, a master tactician,
who always played to his strengths, understood grey areas like no other,
compromised without giving much away, adapted well at every turn life took. And
that is a very interesting insight, because a good leader is really, really
smart at the core with a genuine shell of humanness. While the humane qualities
endear him to the masses, the smartness ensures that he does well in the
leadership position. Mandela’s life is an excellent example to a lot of people
who aspire to lead people, especially when they have no chance of leadership
being thrust upon them. Being a leader is certainly hard work, but there are
many lessons one can learn from the greats.
Related links:
This Mandela is a unsophisticated construction: a
good man that fought unspeakable injustice in the form of racial oppression. He
reconciled with and forgave what was essentially undeserving oppressors, and
won a democratic and multi-racial future for South Africa. “Struggling is the
way I live”, are Mandela’s words that are related to South African struggle
against tyranny. However for Mandela, the real meaning of life struggle was to
overcome obstacles, to hope for something more, and to challenge yourself. In
his struggle, Mandela discovered his greatest strength and his country.
Yes, Africa's hope! Leader par excellence indeed!
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