Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela (http://www.chahal.com/what-we-can-all-learn-from-n ())

The definition of a hero is a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Rolihlahla Mandela (later known as Nelson Mandela)  was born in July 18, 1918 in the Thembu royal family in Mvezo, near the south-east of South Africa. During the year of 1925, Mandela attended a primary school near Qunu. While he attended, one of his teachers gave him the name "Nelson." Throughout the years he spent living in Africa his name began to be known based on his actions against segregation, his presidency, and his many organizations he created. Courage, hope, and perseverance were some of the many characteristics that helped Mandela achieve his goals.

Nelson Mandela in prison (http://www.mediabistro.com/prnewser/nelson-mandela ())

After graduating from the Fort Hare with a BA in 1943, he joined the African National Congress. The next year Mandela also co-founded the African National Congress Youth League or ANCYL. By 1951 he became the president of the ANCL (African National Congress League) and soon started his campaign against segregation in South Africa. In 1952 Nelson Mandela and the ANCYL, started the Campaign for the Defiance of Unjust Laws (a campaign against racial classification and racial segregation that restricted nonwhites basic freedoms and kept them from government while keeping white minority rule). "To deny people of their human rights is to challenge their very humanity," said Nelson Mandela during the campaign. During the same year the people involved in the movement, including Mandela, traveled across the country to try and organize protests against the policies. However only after 4 years of the campaign starting, Mandela and 155 others were arrested and went on trial for treason. Mandela was sentenced to life in prison and was not released until February 11, 1990, 27 years later.

Nelson Mandelaas president (http://theafricachannel.com/shows/mandela/ ())

4 years after Nelson Mandela was freed from prison he was elected president of South Africa in 1994. Mandela won 62% of the votes during the election and was the very first president of South Africa. During his first year as president he presided over the transition from apartheid, which won him international respect and recognition. The next year Mandela encouraged the people to support the once hated Springboks (the South African national rugby team), as South Africa hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup. After the Springboks won the world cup, it was widely seen as a major step in the recognition of white and black South Africans. Skipping forward to 1997, Mandela wanted to try and help resolve the Lockerbie trial, a trial in which two Libyans were accused of bombing Pan Am flight 103, by moving the trial to another country. However, British prime Minister, John Major did not agree with Mandela's proposal. Mandela warned that "No one nation should be complainant, prosecutor and judge." 2 years later Nelson Mandela retired from his presidency on the 14th of June in 1999. Mandela left his country with freedom and a hopeful future to come.

Nelson Mandela greeting children at Eerst River (http://borgenproject.org/7-candid-photos-nelson-ma ())

After retiring Nelson Mandela decided to try and do what he hadn't done as president. During the same year he retired, Mandela founded the Nelson Mandela Foundation to help rural development, school construction, and combating HIV/AIDS. He devoted much of his time to the issues he had faced while in retirement. For the next 3 years Mandela created organizations, charities, foundations, etc. to help raise money and support those in need. These included the Nelson Mandela Invitational charity, the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, and the 46664 Campaign. Of these, the most important were the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, which provided postgraduate scholarships to African students, and the 46664 Campaign, which helped to fight against HIV/AIDS. Even after he had retired from his presidency, Mandela continued to try and help major issues in the world. This shows that his perseverance towards trying to make things better, proved to everyone that he was a true hero.

Nelson Mandela (http://www.liderazgoemergente.es/home/recursos/71- ())

Nelson Mandela died on December 5, 2013. He was truly an amazing hero. Not only did he stop racial segregation in South Africa, but he also became the first president of South Africa and was able to help many people in need, even after he retired from his presidency. Nelson Mandela inspires me because instead of just going along with what was happening, he stood up and fought for what he believed in. Because of his courage, hope, and perseverance towards making the world a better place, he serves as one of the most inspirational people who ever lived. To me a hero is someone who is recognized because of something good that he or she has done that impacted people around them. Others such as president Barack Obama have said, "He achieved more than could be expected of any man and today he's gone home. We've lost one of the most influential, courageous and profoundly good human beings that any of us will ever share time with on this earth. He no longer belongs to us. He belongs to the ages." Nelson Mandela perfectly fits this description as he changed how we look at the world. Anyone can do what he did and stand up for what you believe in.