CULTURE/SOCIETY: Mandela Celebrates 90th Birthday

This is a pretty good piece from NPR on Mandela's 90th birthday last week. I edited down a little bit, but you can read the full piece at this link. - OlderMusicGeek

Mandela Celebrates 90th Birthday
by Ofeibea Quist-Arcton

Morning Edition, July 18, 2008 · Nelson Mandela, one of the world's most revered elder statesmen, turned 90 on Friday.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, South Africa's first democratically elected leader, spent decades in prison, as did many others who dedicated their lives to the anti-apartheid struggle. They fought for liberation and equality in a free, democratic and non-racial South Africa.

The first time many heard Mandela's voice was in the 1960s, when he was on trial, charged with treason. In a three-hour closing argument, Mandela — a lawyer by profession — defended his actions to end white minority rule. He told the judge:

"It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realized but, my Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die," he said.

Mandela was found guilty in 1964 and began serving what was arguably the most celebrated life sentence in history.

On Feb. 11, 1990, 27 years later, Mandela was a free man. He was elected South Africa's first black president in 1994, heading a multiracial government for five years.

Praise singers, presidents and paupers celebrated his inauguration.

But Mandela warned that tough times remained ahead for South Africans on a Long Walk to Freedom, the title of his autobiography.

"I have travelled this long road to freedom. I trust I did not falter. I made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that, after crossing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to cross," he said.

After just one term as president, Mandela handed over the reins of power. But he kept working. His compatriots thanked him for promoting racial harmony and national unity — and choosing forgiveness and reconciliation over revenge. At the grand old age of 86, after dedicating himself to children, education, eradicating poverty, and a new struggle — the fight against HIV/AIDS — Mandela had this message for South Africans and the world:

"What I've come to do here this morning is to make an appeal more than an announcement. I'm turning 86 in a few weeks' time — and that is a longer life than most people are granted. I am confident that nobody present here today will accuse me of selfishness if I ask to spend time, while I'm still in good health, with my family, my friends and also with myself."

Mandela, fondly known by his clan name, Madiba, has always said that what he missed most during his many years in jail was the sound of children's voices.

On his 90th birthday, he received tributes from all over the world and messages from many children across Africa, including this one from a young South African girl: "Dear Madiba, on your happy day, we thank you for uniting the people of our country, so that all children can grow up together, never mind what language they speak or color they may be. Happy 90th birthday."

A link to the original article

CULTURE/SOCIETY: Memories Of Mandela On His 90th Birthday

This is from me, not some reprinted piece. - OlderMusicGeek

Well, Mr Madiba, Nelson Mandela, turned 90 last Friday.

It was kind of interesting for me when I was in Africa. I lived next door to South Africa in a country that was over 99% black.

When I went there, Nelson Mandela had been in prison for over 20 years. Everybody assumed he would die in prison. It looked like South Africa would head to civil war sooner or later.

When I left, Nelson Mandela was president of South Africa. - When I mentioned to a friend that Mandela was in prison when I arrived and was now president as I was leaving, he quipped, "Well, I guess our work is done!"

I remember hearing stories about how they were talking about releasing him, but I paid no heed. Even when they said it was in a matters of days, not years.

Then I remember catching a glance of a magazine. It looked like Mandela. And De Klerk, the then white president of South Africa! My radio had died and I hadn't a chance to buy a new one at the time.

And plastered across the bottom of the magazine was "RELEASED"!

I talked to the girl selling magazines, but she didn't speak English. So using my rudimentary knowledge of her language, I managed somehow to ask if Mandela was free. I think I asked something along the lines of "Mandela went away from the prison?"

She assured me that he had gone away from the prison.

Fortunately, at the time of the elections, I did have a radio and lived next door to someone with a tv. I have 10 cassette tapes of news broadcasts from various networks - British Broadcasting Corporation/BBC, Voice of America/VOA, South Africa Broadcasting Corporation plus other local networks.

And my neighbor invited me to come over and watch as much of the election coverage as I wanted. I was pretty much over there most of those 2 days.

Unfortunately, I wasn't near a tv when Mandela was sworn in office. I kicked myself in the head for that. That would have been a great moment to have seen.

So anyway, those of my memories of Mr Madiba, spokesman for understanding and tolerance and our "secular saint". My friend's and my work is done, and now unfortunately, Mandela seems ready to rest. But considering how much he's done, he deserves it.

Mandela's birthday message to the world...

“There are many people in South Africa who are rich and who can share those riches with those not so fortunate who have not been able to conquer poverty. Poverty has gripped our people. If you are poor, you are not likely to live long.”

A link to The Nelson Mandela Foundation