A Tribute to
Nelson Mandela
(July 18,
1918 – December 5, 2013)
When I heard on Thursday
December 5th that
Nelson Mandela passed away, my heart hurt. It hurt for the struggle
he endured throughout his life and for the passing of one of our
great leaders in this crazy mixed up world of ours. All that day, I
was remembering February 11, 1990--the day he walked out of prison,
after serving 27 years for encouraging black South Africans to go on
strike and battling South African apartheid with non-violent
protests. I remember standing in a crowd of 58,000 people in the
middle of the field, at the Oakland Coliseum July 1, 1990. When he
approached the stage, the crowd went wild. I started to cry; and so
did everyone around me. When the crowd finally calmed down, Nelson
Mandela began to speak. A quiet calm came over the 58, 000 people--
everyone was hanging on his every word. I remember how in awe I was
at this man who had endured so, but forgave his captors. He said
''Despite my 71 years, at the end of this visit, I feel like a young
man of 35. I feel like an old battery that has been recharged. And if
I feel so young, it is the people of the United States of America
that are responsible for this." He also said, he had to come to
the Bay Area because cities such as Oakland, Berkeley and San
Francisco were among the early adopters of ordinances calling for
divestment of stocks in American companies doing business in South
Africa. Nelson Mandela was a man that we should all inspire to
emulate. He will live forever in my heart. Nelson Mandela changed the
world with his actions. His life journey will always be beacon of
equality & hope for all. My favorite quote from Nelson Mandela
is:
“Education is the most
powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” R.I.P.
President Mandela.
LM
