Wisdom & Courage

In preparation for the trip to South Africa, I am reading Nelson Mandela's The Long Walk to Freedom. In the book, he details his struggles against the unjust policies of Apartheid. He shows a strong and generous spirit that refused to be broken even after the government sentenced him to life in prison. His ability to visualize a better world and his courage to fight for justice are truly remarkable characteristics that could be emulated by more of today's world leaders. Here is what he had to say at his trial in 1964:

"I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." — Nelson Mandela, April 20, 1964, Rivonia Trial

After more than 27 years of imprisonment for his political beliefs, Nelson Mandela emerged from prison and was elected president in South Africa's 1st fully-representative, democratic elections. Wow, what a story! The Boston Globe says that every person alive should read this book.

One thought I had while reading about the years and years of apartheid is that one wish I have for the world is that somehow we could all collectively be just a little bit nicer and a little bit smarter.