Nelson Mandela | Summary | English | Bachelor level Note

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was a South African political hero. He was called Madiba as an affectionate nickname. In Africa he is seen as the warm and wise father. He is also considered as a global statesman. He was born in the royal house of the Thembu tribe. He attended British modeled school but later he was taught to be a Black English man. As a black South African, his freedoms were very limited. By his study, he became a lawyer and joined African National Congress (ANC). He was charged with organizing armed wing of ANC, then he worked underground but he was arrested in 1962 and put in prison for life. In 1990 he walked out of prison after 27 years due to a massive mass rally for peace for his release and freedom in Africa. Then the democratic election held. This election led him to be South African president in 1994. Then, he led the country to peaceful transition from white minority rule to multiracial democracy. He worked as a president for five years.

The reporter of magazine Reader's Digest took his interview in Cape Town. Some main points of the interview are as follows:

·       If you say we want peace, we want stability, we can do a lot of things towards the progress of the society

·       If you have a terminal disease, you do not have to sit down and mope. Enjoy the life and challenge the illness (he learnt this lesson from the story of reader's digest)

·       Religion is important not to be hostile to a greater part of the society. Many people believe and it is not good to go against it. It is the belief of people in superior being. The belief that there is superior being who supervises our affairs is good for humanity.

·       AIDS is the greatest public health crisis of all time. One of the things we have to deal with is that of stigma. Help get rid of the ignorance which leads to this stigma.(Diana went to hospital with AID sufferers, sat down on their beds, shook hands with them. She did very well.)

·       Do not isolate people who are suffering from terminal disease because that alone kills people far more than the disease itself. When somebody discovers that they are no longer regarded as human being, he or she loses the will to fight.

·       Beyond AIDS, Poverty and lack of education (Combined) is another single problem facing the world right now. Without education children can never, really meet the challenges they will face.

·       Children can bring you down to mother earth instead of floating high. They can be very frank; they correct some mistakes that you have made in the past. They can remind you of the mistakes you made.

·       He suggests UN not to take unilateral action (Such as the action of US and UK governments). UN like institutions should make sure of what they are formed.

·       Armed wings are required when the government is not prepared to have any discussion to the opposition.

·       Mandela believes on multilateralism-(multiple countries working together in certain issues) participation of many, not of a single participation in action (not only US.