Dear Editor,
I deliberately waited to express my views about the late Nelson Mandela, who passed away on December 5, because I did not want them to be swallowed up by the millions of condolences, comments, commentaries, and analyses that would have naturally erupted once he died.
As a practising businessman and student of politics, I found it useful and necessary to follow the struggles, eventual liberation and political leadership and involvement of Nelson Mandela. Thus, I am eager to share a brief synopsis of what I learnt from and about him.
First of all, I still cannot believe that any human being would have the physical and mental strength and backbone to survive for 27 years in a South African prison (Robben Island), and upon his release, become President of his country. It is also amazing that Mandela, instead of retaliating against the white apartheid leaders who imprisoned and brutalized him and his ANC colleagues, forgave those leaders, and allowed them to live in South Africa in peaceful coexistence. Asked how he adjusted to society after 27 years of incarceration, Mandela explained, “With love in my heart, not hate; with unity on my mind, not separation; you do what you have to do.”
Mandela also stood out to me because he showed gratitude to those Third-World leaders like Fidel Castro who supported his anti-apartheid advocacies and causes through human, material, and military contributions. He did not show preference for those fair-weather pretenders who sought to take advantage of photo-opportunities with him.
International representation at the first memorial service for Nelson Mandela showed the respect and reverence that the universe had for him. It was the largest attendance ever at any such function. The first memorial service that was held at the FNB stadium (aka Soccer City), had leaders from ninety-one countries, and one hundred and one countries sent delegations. In his address, President Obama described Mandela as “The last, great Liberator of the 20th century.”
Unlike what many felt or thought, Mandela had a deep appreciation for the place of sport and recreation within a society’s growth and development. For example, in 1999, while accepting the Jesse Owens’ Global Award from the International Athletic Association, he declared “Sport is very important, because it can reach areas where public figures like politicians cannot reach… In South Africa, we have used sport to affect a peaceful transformation towards nation building.”
Contrary to what many believe, Mandela had several debates and disagreements with colleagues from the ANC and other anti-apartheid groups, but he sought to keep those conflicts within the fold reminding them that they should not wash their dirty linen in public. Dr Walter Sisulu, one of Mandela’s good friends who spent a long time in prison, said of him, “He takes work seriously, he is humble, he never felt comfortable in ceremonies, nor in board-rooms, he is honourable.”
Like Professor Daizal Samad, I pray that Mandela is taken up and warmed in the cool blue flame of the Lord Himself; and like the rest of the world who had contact with him, I shall continue to mourn him.
In closing I urge the administrators of public and private libraries operating in Guyana, as well as reading rooms within our schools to collect shelves of reading materials about Nelson Mandela. I am also asking the PPP/Civic Government to prominently honour Mandela’s name within the three counties of Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Morris Wilson
