I woke up that fateful morning like a giant; the mist filled the early hours of the morning, said my prayer, and prepared myself for morning lectures.
One cannot help but wonder why reflections on Mandela in particular are so special; the reason is that mankind owes Mandela a duty of memory. Indeed Mandela himself has once said that "memory is a vital force in the life of a people and nation, and can help all divided society and bring people together". Barack Obama for one urged the world to carry on Mandela's legacy by fighting inequality, poverty and discrimination as well as preserve and maintain peace.
Mahatma Gandhi said "An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind". Peace is an occurrence of harmony characterized by lack of violence, conflict behaviors and the freedom from the fear of violence. Peace is commonly understood as the absence of hostility and retribution, Peace also suggests a sincere attempt at reconciliation. In spite of Nelson Mandela's 27 year prison incarceration, his tenacity never faltered. Mandela never stopped his fight for justice; even when he was not politically active, he created three charitable organizations that will continue his extraordinary legacy.
Ban Ki Moon said "Nelson Mandela never ceased working for a better and more just world". He believed and preached peace, and affirmatively believes that when justice prevails peace would reign. If changes never come without a fight, then Mandela epitomizes the principle of persistence and resilience necessary for victory. Mandela once said "none of us acting alone can achieve success". In a bid to allow peace reign, Mandela forgave and united the racial communities of South Africa. His forgiving nature is one trait we should emulate, to put an end to the chaotic nature of our society.
The Holy Book reiterates "if thy brother hit thee on thy right cheek, turn him the other". The Bible enjoins us to follow peace with all men. By following peace, consciously you are putting an end to war. Unconsciously you are heaping a coal of fire in the bosom of your enemies. Nelson Mandela believes everyone has a degree of kindness within them, and if he could touch this part of people, then they would change. Let brotherly love continue, let's not see ourselves as enemies, we should help one another, empathize with one another, this confidence is the engine of change which would alleviate future suffering. Optimism is one key characteristic which would help us achieve this. Even Nelson Mandela saw a ray of hope amidst political and social impossibilities. Reminding us that "it seems impossible until it is done".
Peace does not rest in charters and covenants alone. It lies in the hearts and minds of people, and if it is cast out there, then no act, no pact, no treaty, no organization can hope to preserve it without the support and whole hearted commitment of all people. So let us not rest our hope on parchment and on paper, let us strive to build peace, be willing to work for peace in the hearts and minds of all our people. We should learn to change our mindset regardless of our variances in sexes, races, tribes or religion. We are first and foremost human beings, and this shared humanity ought to be the most important thing above any other factor.
"Hate must be eliminated, we have to change hate to love". Hauwa Abdi said "I think the best thing that should happen to this world in this century is to have a world where our only enemies are things like natural disaster and never one another".
While the act of segregation filled the atmosphere in South Africa years back; Nelson Mandela clarified the misconceptions of the whites who saw themselves as racially superior and the blacks as racially inferior or burdensome existences, he made them understand that our shared humanity makes us equal and that we should be aware of our differences and be more conscious of our foremost similarity.
Likewise I am enjoining all Africans to strive for a change like Mandela did, let's be informed that change is man's nature and that without change an egalitarian world would not emerge. Let's fight not violently but peacefully to defeat the monstrous beast against our peace and unity, and as well as defeat the corrupt bureaucrats to ensure a stabilization of fluctuating rise in price of commodities, enhance the existing low-living standards of Africans, end hunger and suffering, increase low per-capita earnings of hardworking folks in Africa, and most importantly end corruption. Political positions are meant for rendering services to humanity rather than a perceived business venture as people see it, or a wealth accumulating means, even to the detriment of the citizenry, and otherwise to the benefit of generations yet unborn. Remember the words of Abraham Lincoln "rather be a man of value than a man of success".
My foster parents would often a bunch broom to illustrate unity to me, even if you try breaking the full bunch you can't, but if you try breaking a single stick, you'll break it easily. That is how powerful the chords of unity are. Let us remember that "together we stand and divided we fall". Rather than fighting, let us resolve to dialogue. It's a painful thing that Mandela has gone to meet his maker, so we'll all go some day, but what will you be remembered for? Mandela has passed on, but he still lives in our hearts and minds, let us maintain, preserve and share a culture of peace collectively, this would usher in unity, making Africa a role-model to other continents, and as well a better place for us all.
Over this century, it is my earnest hope that this share culture continues, giving us a world where people everywhere are able to interact with people whose social influences would have prevented them from interacting with before, culminating in a global realization that "he is just like me" and "we're not different," making it impossible for people to be whipped into a frenzy of violence by leaders with ill motives, on the pretense of some perceived difference.
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