11 Feb 10 The Walk to Freedom and Beyond
20 years ago today Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years behind bars. It was Thoreau who said “under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison” and, as much as we all believed it, Nelson Mandela was one of the few who was willing to live it. His sacrifice started a legacy of hope that lives on today and his unwavering commitment to justice has changed the face of Africa forever. Of course we cannot laud the significance Mandela’s release without acknowledging the courage of the man who made it possible, F.W. de Klerk, but it’s Mandela’s presence that has shaped the South Africa we know today.
The constitution of the new South Africa has a preamble that goes something like this;
We, the people of South Africa,
Recognise the injustices of our past;
Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land;
Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and
Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.
These words are the embodiment of everything Madiba means to me. He remains a living symbol of what’s possible if you truly believe in something. He will always be a reminder of how democracy should never be taken for granted and when threatened (I’m talking about you, Mr. Harper) is worth fighting for.
I haven’t seen very much in the news about this very special day. I hope we haven’t forgotten. I know I haven’t.
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
-Nelson Mandela
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