AMONGNelsonMandela’smanyachievements, twostandout. First, hewastheworld’smostinspiringexampleoffortitude, magnanimityanddignityinthefaceofoppression, servingmorethan 27 yearsinprisonforhisbeliefthatallmenandwomenarecreatedequal. DuringthebrutalyearsofhisimprisonmentonRobbenIsland, thankstohisownpatience, humourandcapacityforforgiveness, heseemedfreerbehindbarsthanthemenwhokepthimthere, lockedupastheywereintheirownself-demeaningprejudices. Indeed, hiswarderswereamongthosewhocametoadmirehimmost.
Second, andlittleshortofmiraculous, wasthewayinwhichheengineeredandoversawSouthAfrica’stransformationfromabywordfornastinessandnarrownessinto, atleastinintent, arainbownationinwhichpeople, nomatterwhattheircolour, wereentitledtobetreatedwithrespect. Thatthecountryhasnotalwaysliveduptohisstandardsgoestoshowhowhightheywere.
Exorcisingthecurseofcolour
Asapolitician, andasaman, MrMandelahadhiscontradictions. Hewasneitherageniusnor, asheoftensaidhimself, asaint. SomeofhisearlywritingswerebanalMarxistramblings, evenifthesenseofangerwithwhichtheywereinfusedwasjustifiable. Buthischarismawasevidentfromhisyouth.Hewasabornleaderwhofearednobody, debasedhimselfbeforenooneandneverlosthissenseofhumour. Hewashandsomeandcomfortableinhisownskin.
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