Nelson Mandela

A portrait of the former South African president, (http://www.mrdowling.com/610-mandela.html)

"If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner" (Mandela). Staying true to his words, Nelson Mandela made peace with the white dominated government through nonviolence. He fought against decades of injustice towards the people of South Africa. Before his presidency, Nelson Mandela was the main person to stand up against apartheid, legal segregation, in South Africa. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, born 1918, was a South African resistance leader who, after years of imprisonment for opposing apartheid, emerged to become the first president of a black-majority-ruled South Africa and a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela). Nelson Mandela is one of the greatest political leaders of our time. He devoted most of his life fighting for equality for the people of his nation. Before his presidency, Mandela was the symbol of the fight against apartheid in South Africa. His constant perseverance gained him the trust and love of his people as well as admiration and support all over the world.

Nelson Mandela looking serious for a photoshoot. (http://jollypeople.com/blog/2009/07/07/nelson-mandela-african-folktales/)

Nelson Mandela’s non-violent struggle did not go in vain. “During the 27 years that Mandela spent in prison, hidden from the eyes of the world while he quarried limestone and harvested seaweed, his example of quiet suffering was just one of numerous pressures on the apartheid government” (Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela). Nelson Mandela's steadfast resistance was putting pressure on the South African government while maintaining the support of his people. He wasn't going to give up without a relentless fight. He had an abundance of patience and determination which helped him on his journey. “Unlike the young leaders with whom he grew up, Mandela was ready to try every possible technique to destroy apartheid peacefully, though he, too, realized the futility of nonviolence in view of the conditions which prevailed in his country” (Mandela, Nelson). Mandela's constant determination gave the people of South Africa more hope that at last there would be peace in their nation. His amount of diligence towards his goal was too hard to be ignored by anyone, even international figures. Even though he went through harsh conditions, he abided by his promise to his people. Nelson Mandela showed that through hard work and perseverance you can achieve anything.

Nelson Mandela holding the 2010 FIFA World Cup tr (http://www.tech-exclusive.com/fifa-world-cup-2010-matches-live-online/)

Mandela was the beacon of light during dark times for his nation. He was the hope for the teeming masses of his country. "I want at once to make it clear that I am not a racialist and do not support any racialism of any kind, because to me racialism is a barbaric thing whether it comes from a black man or a white man” (Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela). To Nelson Mandela, anyone could be racist, no matter where they are from. Anyone is capable of forming a misconception or prejudice about a certain race without any prior knowledge. But it was Mandela's duty to stop all the hate from encompassing the world. Mandela's strong morals started to get him noticed more by people around the world, causing his word to get spread. “Mandela's release from prison in February, 1990, was followed by a triumphant world tour that included eight major cities in the United States. Strong admiration for the former political prisoner provided a common bond for many Americans who were at odds over how to defeat racial injustice” (Mandela, Nelson Prejudice in the Modern World Reference). Since he became so well known, his release from prison was a victory for everyone who supported him. His world tour gave insight onto his causes and gave people outside of his nation a chance to help him reach his goal. Because of the many hardships he had to endure, the sacrifices he had to make as well as his selfless pursuit of his struggle, his popularity transcended national boundaries. He is one of the most inspirational political leaders from the 20th century and is a living legend.

A portrait of Nelson Mandela (http://olivosp.wikispaces.com/Nelson+Mandela)

Nelson Mandela inspires me to do something for the world. He was the lone person to stand up for such a powerful group and he still did it even though he was so outnumbered. His morals helped him succeed in life and that motivates me to do to make a difference for our world. "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear" (Mandela). Mandela's abundance of bravery and compassion towards his people is why he is where he is today. His countless efforts for South Africa paid off which benefited him in numerous ways. But the most important achievement Mandela had acquired was winning the fight for equality. Not only Nelson Mandela achieved freedom for his nation, but he proved to be a miracle for the people if South Africa, which in turn led Mandela to receiving endless amounts of trust and love from the world.

Hirsch, Jonathan. "Mandela and South Africa." DISCovering Authors. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 14 Dec. 2010. "Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 9 Dec. 2010.

"Mandela, Nelson." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Ed. William A. Darity, Jr. 2nd ed. Vol. 4. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2008. 580-581. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 13 Dec. 2010.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 9 Dec. 2010.

"Mandela, Nelson." Prejudice in the Modern World Reference Library. Ed. Kelly Rudd, Richard Hanes, and Sarah Hermsen. Vol. 3. Detroit: UXL, 2007. 123-130. Global Issues In Context. Web. 13 Dec. 2010.

Collins, Curtis and David. "Mandela, Nelson (c. 1918-)."[Online] Available http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/infomark.do?&contentSet=GBRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=SRC-1&do. 1990