Our Forever Hero, Nelson Mandela
Introduction
A Blessing to Mr. Mandela
“To him the meaning of being Black is to devote the life to racial flights, time turns gaining into losing, tiresome eyes still shine with hope”, lyrics from the Cantonese song ‘Glorious Days’ composed by Wong Ka Kui, one of the member in Beyond which is a famous Hong Kong rock band, in 1991. After Mr. Nelson Mandela was released from the jail, the composer was inspired by Mr. Mandela’s twenty-seven years of imprisonment of his life in the Apartheid regime. So he gave this song to Mr. Mandela to give a support and pay tribute to his glorious life. ‘Glorious Days’ is not only a song, but also make me to know him and the reason that I chose this biography to read- “Mandela’s way: Lessons on life, love, and courage” by Richard Stengel (2012).
Overview
The whole inspirational life of Nelson Mandela inspired me a lot, especially his struggle against the government for freedom and his personalities transformed after he was freed from prison. It leads me to believe that I can do better and nothing is impossible until I tried my best.
In order to figure out what I have learnt from the book, this essay is divided into three parts. First, I will have a self-reflection that evaluate the experience by making some measured judgments. After
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I felt sad that he could not express his own emotions to the public. “He could to tamp down his fear—he was simply unwilling to let anyone else see that he might be. ” (Richard Stengel, 2012, p.38-39.) Mr. Mandela realized that his beaming, warm smile was the part of his power but “the smile was his mask, disguising any hurt or sadness, hiding as much as it disclosed.” (Richard Stengel, 2012, p.114). In order to overcome his fear, he needed to pretend he is brave and strong enough to become a leading figure that lead the publics and give them hope and power. At last, he became who he wanted to
As leader of the country, he showed courage and
The famous English poet Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel. It is to bring another out of his bad sense into your good sense”. Although voice is undoubtedly one of the most powerful and versatile assets humans possess, simply having a good voice does not ensure power. This idea is well illustrated in Alan Paton’s Cry the Beloved Country where Paton creates characters that have powerful voices but lack other essential qualities necessary to become powerful leaders. Set in a time where racial tensions between the blacks and the whites are at their highest, Africa is in desperate need of a gifted leader who can step up and guide the people to glory.
During the movie “Invictus”, we get to see how Nelson Mandela used Rugby as a catalyst for unity within South Africa and the fight against apartheid. .“Invictus —the title comes from the poem that inspired Mandela during his 27 years in jail for fighting apartheid” (Getz). After becoming South Africa’s president, following the fall of an apartheid government, Nelson faces an economically and racially divided country. In which he tries to use Rugby as a way to unite the divided country.
We enter into a covenant that we shall build the society in which all South Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts, assured of their inalienable right to human dignity — a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world. We dedicate this day to all the heroes and heroines in this country and the rest of the world who sacrificed in many ways and surrendered their lives so that we could be free. Their dreams have become reality. Freedom is their reward.” Mandela emphasizes liberation, hope, equality and many other emotions throughout the speech.
The book, Ghost, by Jason Reynolds is a story about a boy named Castle, but is called Ghost. Castle has a very rough life because his father is imprisoned and his mother struggles with finances. Castle is a misbehaved kid who struggles in school and makes a track team which motivates him to be good in school. Track played ended up playing a huge role in his life and went through the ups and downs with him. Track taught him respect and discipline which spread throughout his home.
Desmond Tutu Desmond Tutu was born on October 7, 1931. He was most commonly known as a South African social rights activist and retired Anglican bishop who became famous worldwide during the 1980s as an opponent of the apartheid ("Desmond Tutu Biography"). Desmond Tutu is a perfect example of an effective leader. There are many qualities that all effective leaders must possess such as, communication skills, passion, vision, and commitment. Desmond Tutu is the most effective leader because he was passionate, hardworking, and devoted to making a change in the world.
In the introduction to The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog, Perry draws a distinction between being human and being humane (Perry and Szalavitz, 2006, p. 5). What are the differences? Provide a personal or historical example to illustrate your point. What is the author's main idea? Summarize it in 1–2 sentences.
This shows that he was willing to do anything to stand up against the injustice of apartheid and all of the wrongdoings that were being carried out in South Africa. He uses logic when he talks about how it is unfair that one race is held at a higher prestige than other races. Mandela uses pathos throughout the speech by convincing you that the whites are being unjust to the blacks. He displays all three in a very convincing manner. He also uses his language and his use of sophisticated words to show that African Americans are being treated inhumanely, or like dogs when in reality a lot of those people are very smart and deserve to be treated fairly as human
Mandela derived his sense of purpose from the passion he had to end apartheid. Mandela’s life work of ending apartheid is finally realized on the morning of the rugby world cup final, when he realized “his whole life had been a preparation for this moment” (Carlin 17). If I have a moment when I know my life’s work is fulfilled after years of work it would surely take me one step closer to achieving my
Mandela was a leader in African National Congress. The story says that “he was in a political party that opposed South Africa’s policy of racial segregation.” Mandela became the world’s best-known political prisoner. In the story it says, “he was sentenced to life prison, but he never gave up.” In 1990 he was released, and became South Africa’s first black president.
Taking A Stand or Winning Taking a stand and winning are both very difficult tasks that the majority of the people don’t do. I believe that taking a stand for something and fighting for it makes you the bigger and better person than the person that wins. If you stand up and fight for something you believe in, and lose, there is nothing you can do about it, but be happy that you stood up for something that you think is right. Taking a stand for something that is wrong or for something that you believe in is very brave. A lot of people that have different thoughts and beliefs won’t stand up for what they think is right, because they are scared that people will judge them and that people will just laugh at them.
Part A: Nelson Mandela impacted the world in many ways. For example, after Mandela’s release from prison, Nelson Mandela and the President Frederik Willem de Klerk came to an agreement to allow blacks to vote. Before 1990, blacks were not allowed to vote. The first time a multi-racial election took place was in 1994 (Jamieson, 2015). Another way, Mandela impacted the world was that he was the first black president of South Africa.
On 11 February 1990 Mandela was released from prison. He set himself to fulfilling the task of transforming South Africa to a rainbow nation, and a new non-racial democracy. In 1993 he won the Nobel Peace Prize. It culminated in South Africa’s first democratic elections of 1994 after tough negotiation about representatives and political organization thanks also to international community help and
NELSON MANDELA Nelson Mandela is one of the influence people in the 20th century politics. He was the first black president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 and elected by fully representative democratic election. He was also a politician, an activist, fighting against HIV/AIDS in Africa, promoting global peace and South African anti apartheid revolutionary. One thing that he did for the Africans and affects the world was about to end the apartheid, a system that try to separated the races of black skin over white skin people in South Africa. Because of him right now there is no differentiate between those people again.
To inspire him, Mandela shares with Pienaar his favourite poem, titled “Invictus”, which kept him going whilst imprisoned on Robben Island. He explains that “Invictus” is Latin for ‘Undefeated’ or ‘Unbeatable’ and has a very deep meaning in the eyes of Mandela. All these actions show Mandela’s leadership, and how he strove to unite his country against all