Yesterday
afternoon, one of humanity's bright lights was extinguished. Former anti-apartheid activist, former
political prisoner, former President of South Africa and lifetime human rights
icon, Nelson Mandela, passed away at the age of 95.
For
many of you, the name Nelson Mandela is something from the history books; he
had retired from the South African presidency before most students in this
school were even born. For teachers and
other adults in this building, it is a name we grew up with; from his time in
Robben Island prison in the 60s, 70s and 80s and the international calls for
his release, to that historic release in 1990 and right up until his remarkable
ascendency to the presidency of the country that had endured decades of
apartheid, the unjust political system that rendered non-whites second class
citizens.
From
a very young age, when he founded the African National Congress' Youth League
to fight against apartheid and racial injustice, Mandela committed himself to
making South Africa a place racial equality and, in so doing, made the world a
better place. But that isn't why I
believe he is a hero.
For
his efforts to bring about profound social change in the name of racial justice
in South Africa, he was charged with, tried for and convicted of treason in
1962 at the age of 44. He then spent 27
years in a small prison cell, where harsh conditions took a toll on his
health. He never once wavered in his
commitment to bring about change in South Africa. But that isn't why I believe he is a hero.
After
decades of universal calls for release, Nelson Mandela was finally freed at the
age of 69. A growing crescendo of
international condemnation of apartheid eventually led to its legal dismantling
in 1994. Shortly thereafter, Mandela
became South Africa's first true democratically elected president, an office he
held until 1997. But that isn't why
Nelson Mandela is a hero.
Why
then is Nelson Mandela a hero? Why does
he matter to us as Canadians and, indeed as citizens of the world? In my view, Mandela is a hero because of two
words he introduced to our vocabulary:
"truth" and "reconciliation". No, he didn't invent the words himself, but
he brought them to the forefront of a political discussion that is too often
fraught with vengeance, payback, violence and division. Mandela had every reason to seek reprisal
against the regime that had oppressed millions of blacks and other non-whites
in South Africa for decades. He had
every reason and right to seek compensation and to settle scores with those who
imprisoned him for 27 years. Mandela
chose another route. Through the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission of the immediate post-apartheid era, Mandela
brought people together. Forgiveness,
and not punishment, was the order of the day, for there were many unspeakable
acts to atone for on both sides of the historical South African divide - acts
caused ultimately by the evil of apartheid.
Nelson Mandela is a hero because, in shaping the bright future of his
nation, he set an example for the world.
I
remember a very powerful symbol of this national reconciliation, which came out
of a seemingly small act. At the 1995
Rugby World Cup - the first major international sporting event hosted by South
Africa in the post-apartheid era, Mandela brought his country together by
simply appearing in the pre-game ceremonies of the final match in the South
Africa springboks national rugby jersey.
Rugby and the springbok logo had been seen as an icon of white South
Africa - indeed rugby was to white South Africa what hockey is to this
country. Many believed the springbok
identity was something that ought to have been abolished in the post-apartheid
era. Not so, said Mandela, who
enthusiastically embraced the game and symbol of white South Africa in that
very simple act. The nation became one,
that day. And, by the way, South Africa
won the game and the World Cup that year.
Today,
the world is mourning the loss of a great man.
Although none of us can hope to match his contributions to all of
humanity, let the life of Nelson Mandela serve as an example of how to live our
lives and make our own communities kinder places that embrace diversity and
equality, regardless of race, religion, colour, creed, age or sexual
orientation. Let Nelson Mandela's spirit
of truth and reconciliation be paramount with all of our challenges and
conflicts.
The
national anthem of South Africa is a song called Nkosi Sikele Africa, which
translates as God bless us, Africa. It wasn't just for Africa that Nelson
Mandela was a blessing, but for all of humanity. Rest in peace, Madiba.
