South Africa's Finest

True world leaders are not those who occupy seats of power in the G8 or the UN General Assembly. Instead they are found in the ditches feeding the hungry, like Mother Teresa; leading Civil Rights marches, like Martin Luther King, Jr.; breaking down barriers through music, like Bob Marley; encouraging nonviolent civil disobedience, like Mohandas Gandhi; or sitting in a prison cell for 27 years, then being released and becoming President of South Africa, like Nelson Mandela. These individuals did not see themselves are world leaders or icons. They simply did what they felt was right and needed, for the betterment of people.

Nelson Mandela was a world leader, because his efforts to change injustice in his country led to justice being done all over the world. The example that he set, by standing up against apartheid and bringing discrimination to the forefront of the world’s agenda, caused others to look at their personal agenda and call racism, injustice and segregation by their true names. After being unjustly imprisoned for nearly 30 years and then becoming president, he could have easily used his new power to seek revenge on those who mistreated him. However, he saw the bigger picture and understood the importance of “doing good to those who hate you and praying for those who mistreat you.”

Yesterday evening, at the age of 95 Nelson Mandela went to sleep. He lived a long fulfilling life that will be remembered, cherished and reflected upon for years to come. May the younger generation be taught of his self-sacrifice and untiring will to see the human race treated as one.