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Nelson Mandela's 93rd birthday inspires South Africa

TheDemSocialist

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First and for most happy birthday Mandela! (a day late)


South Africans celebrate Mandela Day, the birthday of their beloved antiapartheid hero, by doing good works in his honor. The acts of kindness help bring the haves and have-nots a little closer.


Nelson Mandela celebrated his 93rd birthday Monday with family at his home village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape, while adoring compatriots rolled up their sleeves and did some good.


It's a day when people in South Africa try a little kindness — 67 minutes' worth — in honor of the 67 years that Mandela worked for equality in the African nation, from 1942 until his retirement from public life in 2009.


Government departments, major companies and media outlets ran events across the country, including pothole-fixing operations and donations of books to schools. South African Airways, the poorly performing state-owned airline, branded its fleet with the Mandela Day logo and flew a group of underprivileged children from around the country to Johannesburg to give them their first plane ride.


Read more at: Mandela birthday: South Africans united by Nelson Mandela's 93rd birthday - latimes.com

Thoughts?
Comments?
Response?
Happy b-day wishes!
 
Wow I've been so busy working, I didn't even realise, seems like yesterday (or more accurately last year) I posted my happy birthday thread to Madiba...

Well what can I say that hasn't been said about him already.

I am a South African, born and raised in Mandelas South Africa, I feel a great sense of pride at the recognition of his achievements, and the worldwide celebration of his continuing life.

It is my firm belief that had this extra-ordinary human being not been placed on this planet, I very well may not be here today. It was his, and De-Klerks courage, strength, integrity and lets face it, clever political Maneuvering that brought an end to an extra-ordinary human disaster, that lasted too long. And averted a devestating civil war.

All this we owe to him, not just as individuals but as a nation.

Does South Africa still face many challenges? Of course. Crime, AIDS, poverty and many more. But it is far better to face these challenges in freedom then oppression.

"I have dedicated my life, to this struggle of the African people, I have cherished the ideals of a democratic and free society, in which all peoples, black and white, can live together in harmony and with equal oppertunity. It is an ideal, for which I hope to live for and to achieve, but if needs be my lord, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die" - Nelson Mandela at his trial in 1964

"Never! Never! And Never Again! Shall it be! That this beautiful land will again experience the oppression, of one by another. And suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement. Let freedom reign." - Inaugurual speech, Pretoria 1994.

N'kosi Sekeli Afrika
God bless Africa

So say we all.
 
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Wow I've been so busy working, I didn't even realise, seems like yesterday (or more accurately last year) I posted my happy birthday thread to Madiba...

Well what can I say that hasn't been said about him already.

I am a South African, born and raised in Mandelas South Africa, I feel a great sense of pride at the recognition of his achievements, and the worldwide celebration of his continuing life.

It is my firm belief that had this extra-ordinary human being not been placed on this planet, I very well may not be here today. It was his, and De-Klerks courage, strength, integrity and lets face it, clever political Maneuvering that brought an end to an extra-ordinary human disaster, that lasted too long. And averted a devestating civil war.

All this we owe to him, not just as individuals but as a nation.

Does South Africa still face many challenges? Of course. Crime, AIDS, poverty and many more. But it is far better to face these challenges in freedom then oppression.

"I have dedicated my life, to this struggle of the African people, I have cherished the ideals of a democratic and free society, in which all peoples, black and white, can live together in harmony and with equal oppertunity. It is an ideal, for which I hope to live for and to achieve, but if needs be my lord, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die" - Nelson Mandela at his trial in 1964

"Never! Never! And Never Again! Shall it be! That this beautiful land will again experience the oppression, of one by another. And suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement. Let freedom reign." - Inaugurual speech, Pretoria 1994.

N'kosi Sekeli Afrika
God bless Africa

So say we all.

beautiful post. thank you.

Viva Madiba
 
I can't believe he was ever on the terrorist watch list.
 
I wish South Africa all the best. I loved celebrating the world cup with you all. Happy Birthday Mandela.
 
Happy (belated) birthday Nelson Mandela. Truly inspirational.
@Shewolf: he was? Wow. Ridiculous.
 
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