Farewell Mr. Mandela

Even thought, two blog-posts in a day are rather uncharacteristic of me, I felt as it was my duty and privilege to dedicate a few minutes to praise and honor this man's life, which was a clear example of humility and who regarded all human beings as equals, someone who fought to make this world a better place, starting with his own country, making sure that all citizens were regarded as equals, regardless of ethnicity or religious beliefs.

He was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the first black South African to hold the office, and the first elected in a fully representative, multiracial election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation.

He was imprisoned in 1962 -sentenced to life in prison- after actively becoming an anti-apartheid revolutionary, actions with these revolutionary groups which led him to be imprisoned for 27 years; he was later released in 1990 after the international community lobbied for his release, instead of having his spirit and will broken by his imprisonment, he rose from it, gathering strength and support, on his ideals of a free and equal to all Africa; shortly after being released he declared: "In a way I had never quite comprehended before, I realized the role I could play in court and the possibilities before me as a defendant. I was the symbol of justice in the court of the oppressor, the representative of the great ideals of freedom, fairness and democracy in a society that dishonoured those virtues. I realized then and there that I could carry on the fight even in the fortress of the enemy." 

Not only did he profit from his prison years, but he took advantage of them to become a better man and the leader his country deserved. When being interviewed by Oprah back in 2000, one of the questions he had were "what is the subject of today´s show?" 

The Most Humble Man Oprah Has Ever Met

I join the large number of people around the world who are deeply saddened by his death, but do feel quite privileged to have had the opportunity to be his contemporary, watching change happen by the willpower and determination of one man, who truly believed that a world equal for all, is possible and in his own words, change is always possible, even from the inside, regardless of this inside being a prison.

Godspeed Mr. Mandela

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