Former State Senator Ernie Newton posted this image on his Facebook page of meeting the Great Mandela at the 1992 Democratic National Convention. Newton was then a member of the Connecticut State House. Writes Newton: “I was so inspired to meet him. RIP my Brother.”
0
RIP. Nelson Mandela was a man unlike any in recent history. Not only a source of great inspiration for many all over the world, but a forgiving kind man. Imprisoned for 27 years, he moved beyond bitterness and transformed South Africa. Mandela’s life was a life well lived. G-d granted him 95 years and his presence changed the lives of millions. May his memory be forever a blessing. May Ernie be inspired to contribute again to society and look outside the box and his local community. Mandela’s greatness was his ability to be colorblind, determined, focused and embracing of all communities. He did not walk on water but will be remembered as though he did.
My great grandson is named Mandela, he has always been told about Mandela so as we have been watching the news together he has gotten a better understanding of who he was named after.
When you talk about Nelson Mandela one must think about Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. All three were great civil rights leaders for their country and King and Mandela learn non-violent activism from Mahatma Gandhi. When you look at these three men and their background none of them had to fight for civil rights because of training like Gandhi and Mandela were both lawyers and King had gotten doctoral studies in systematic theology at Boston University and received his PhD degree on June 5, 1955.
All three men were nominated for the Nobel Prize with King and Mandela both winning the award, Gandhi did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize, although he was nominated five times. Think about it, they all were the nominated for not letting and telling their people to hurt whites in their country.
Steven, I agree with your comments and when you look back at Mandela how could a man forgive those oppressors who did the things they did to his black brothers and sisters? There were seven times more blacks than whites in South Africa but blacks had no rights, no power and none of the wealth in their own country. Hopefully we all can learn from Mandela’s death.
Nelson Mandela was the kind of leader this world is dearly in need of having. He fought for the rights of the oppressed, paid for his stand with 27 years of his life, as their President led South Africa out of the apartheid the Afrikaners imposed upon the native black tribes, and became a symbol of leadership and righteousness.
I just hope he washed his hands and checked his fingers after shaking hands with Ernie Newton.
Mandela is the one of the last (or maybe THE last) icons of Peace that graced this world in modern times. Truly the last of a dying breed. Sleep well Mr. Mandela, you earned your place in paradise.
*** They don’t make them like this very often in life anymore, so let’s hope the youth of tomorrow are given the opportunity to learn about this great humanitarian world leader! *** “TUTU OF A NATION” ***
I agree with Mojo, “They don’t make [a person] like this very often in life …” His vision guided a long life and he had enough health to overcome challenges that would have taken others. His personal legacy of example is profound.
I re-read Alan Paton’s novel from 1948, CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY recently to renew the sense of some of the times that caused this leader, a giant in his time and the world in general, to provide such a wonderful example. Time did tell.