Friday, December 6, 2013
Nelson Mandela, a true legend of our times.
Vivid memories...
I'm a "product" of my parents liberal, social, anti-fascist mind. Being 60, I'm old enough to have vivid memories of Ds Martin Luther King, Robert Kennedy and the almost unknown and forgotten founders of the European Community of Coal and Steel, now the European Union, during my childhood. Perhaps I should now add Desmond Tutu to this list of vivid memories of extra ordinary men.
Those men were al inspiration for my thoughts and political, humanist views. Of course, JFK, Mahatma Gandhi, and many philosophers and writers did it too as well as my never ending search for the truth behind evilness - like the third Reich I know so much of - racism, egoism, selfishness or xenophobia and still cannot understand.
Nelson Mandela had it all and more. Actually, something specifically more: to forgive whatever your enemies did even to your personal life. I have to admit it. I have been flabbergasted many times by Nelson Mandela. Revenge isn't written in my mind or thoughts of justice. Capital punishment i.e. is one of the things I will always oppose, whatever a person did. But can I truly forgive people who did something against humanity, committed genocide or just something that made me suffer severely some way? Even as a supporter of the "NO H8!" campaign, and other human rights campaigns, I have to admit that in a few exceptional occasions, true forgiveness isn't in my vocabulary too. Sometimes I had to look the other way or at least keep my mouth or hold my breath. Again, in some very, very exceptional cases only. But still.... Mandella - as far as I know - didn't. Never, ever. That makes Nelson Mandela unique.
Of course, today's political leaders, show stars, sports hero's and any v.i.p. from east to west and from north to south are commenting and quoting Mandelas words and deeds with words every song and speech writer and historian is looking for. And just the fact that all news channels from around the world including China Central TV were broadcasting the full hour from 8 am till 9 am on Nelson Mandela ONLY makes it clear: his dead wasn't a hot news item as it is usually after an assassination or other event raising a fountain or water fall of questions. It is just a world wide tribute to someone who IMO already was "a true legend of our times".
(All selected pics from commons Wikipedia)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)