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What an intensely emotional week this has been. Our hero, our unifier,
our democracy’s father has died and left our young nation in mourning.
And how we mourn.
Frankly, I was surprised by my own strong emotional reaction to Tata Madiba’s passing. I thought that I had said goodbye in my heart and mind ages ago.
We all knew he wasn’t well and that he didn’t have much time left on this earth. He had held on to life for so long, I thought I had prepared myself for his passing.
And yet the last few days have been filled with heartache and emotion. Not so much because of his passing – after all, no one can live forever and if anyone deserves to rest it is Nelson Mandela.
I think the strong feelings stem from looking back at the great man’s life and remembering what South Africa was like. And imagining what it would have been like if things had gone differently.
Nelson Mandela achieved what looked like the impossible. He brought a nation divided by fear, anger, hatred, resentment, stupidity and evil together and started the healing process.
Of course South Africa is not perfect. We have extreme social issues and many scars left over from the past. But what happened here was a miracle.
I have somehow forgotten that.
Recently, I’ve been so caught up in the crime rates, the gender violence, the corruption, the educational gemors, and the huge division of wealth, that I have felt a lot of negativity about my country.
Mourning Nelson Mandela and celebrating his life has given us new hope.
Since Madiba’s death we have seen a priest, an Imaam, and a rabbi share a stage.
We’ve seen people of various races, ages and religions holding hands, hugging and consoling each other. We’ve seen the President of the United States shake hands with the President of Cuba.
We’ve heard a crowd cheer for De Klerk and boo Zuma. We’ve seen people dancing and cheering and singing songs of emancipation and remembrance. We’ve listened to Barack Obama explain Ubuntu to the world.
Even in his death Nelson Mandela is unifying people across the world. Let us not waste this opportunity. Let’s do his memory proud.
And how we mourn.
Frankly, I was surprised by my own strong emotional reaction to Tata Madiba’s passing. I thought that I had said goodbye in my heart and mind ages ago.
We all knew he wasn’t well and that he didn’t have much time left on this earth. He had held on to life for so long, I thought I had prepared myself for his passing.
And yet the last few days have been filled with heartache and emotion. Not so much because of his passing – after all, no one can live forever and if anyone deserves to rest it is Nelson Mandela.
I think the strong feelings stem from looking back at the great man’s life and remembering what South Africa was like. And imagining what it would have been like if things had gone differently.
Nelson Mandela achieved what looked like the impossible. He brought a nation divided by fear, anger, hatred, resentment, stupidity and evil together and started the healing process.
Of course South Africa is not perfect. We have extreme social issues and many scars left over from the past. But what happened here was a miracle.
I have somehow forgotten that.
Recently, I’ve been so caught up in the crime rates, the gender violence, the corruption, the educational gemors, and the huge division of wealth, that I have felt a lot of negativity about my country.
Mourning Nelson Mandela and celebrating his life has given us new hope.
Since Madiba’s death we have seen a priest, an Imaam, and a rabbi share a stage.
We’ve seen people of various races, ages and religions holding hands, hugging and consoling each other. We’ve seen the President of the United States shake hands with the President of Cuba.
We’ve heard a crowd cheer for De Klerk and boo Zuma. We’ve seen people dancing and cheering and singing songs of emancipation and remembrance. We’ve listened to Barack Obama explain Ubuntu to the world.
Even in his death Nelson Mandela is unifying people across the world. Let us not waste this opportunity. Let’s do his memory proud.
