Nelson Mandela continues to remain hospitalized as he battles a lung infection, according to recent news reports. Mandela has been in the hospital for almost 20 days. Because of the seriousness of Mandela’s condition, there is a growing fear among many that the end might be near. He was placed on life support Wednesday afternoon, seeming to confirm this suspicion that his death is imminent.
Mandela’s advanced age and health problems are a reminder that the iconic leader is in the winter of his life. It is, therefore, an opportune moment to reflect on the impact that Mandela has had in South Africa and in the world at large. Like Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi, Mandela is one of those very rare individuals who succeeded in greatly expanding the freedom of the people that he set out to free from brutal oppression. In the past century, Gandhi and King earned a place in the pantheon of transformational freedom fighters. Because of his success along with the profound sacrifices that he made in fighting against apartheid, Mandela secures a place alongside those two exemplary figures.
During his fight against apartheid, Mandela was a model of fearlessness. For decades, the regime that governed South Africa implemented a number of laws that denied black South Africans basic citizenship rights. This set of laws institutionalized discrimination in South Africa against the black majority population. Black South Africans were, therefore, unceremoniously relegated to second-class status. In order to maintain this caste system, the government never hesitated to silence its opponents. In fact, it dispensed harsh treatment to intimidate its critics. It was during this era where political persecution was de rigeur that Mandela began to emerge as one of the leading opponents of the apartheid regime. Although he was fully aware of the tremendous danger that he would face by challenging the system, he boldly led the charge against those discriminatory laws.
Mandela took many courageous steps as he sought to undermine the apartheid system. Despite constant threats of arrests, he helped organize many demonstrations and strikes. There are often harsh treatments meted out to those who dare to speak truth to power. It was no different for Mandela. Sensing the threat that his public agitation posed to the system, the authorities decided to incarcerate him. In spite of international pressure to release him, Mandela went on to spend 27 years in prison.
Mandela’s advanced age and health problems are a reminder that the iconic leader is in the winter of his life. It is, therefore, an opportune moment to reflect on the impact that Mandela has had in South Africa and in the world at large. Like Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi, Mandela is one of those very rare individuals who succeeded in greatly expanding the freedom of the people that he set out to free from brutal oppression. In the past century, Gandhi and King earned a place in the pantheon of transformational freedom fighters. Because of his success along with the profound sacrifices that he made in fighting against apartheid, Mandela secures a place alongside those two exemplary figures.
During his fight against apartheid, Mandela was a model of fearlessness. For decades, the regime that governed South Africa implemented a number of laws that denied black South Africans basic citizenship rights. This set of laws institutionalized discrimination in South Africa against the black majority population. Black South Africans were, therefore, unceremoniously relegated to second-class status. In order to maintain this caste system, the government never hesitated to silence its opponents. In fact, it dispensed harsh treatment to intimidate its critics. It was during this era where political persecution was de rigeur that Mandela began to emerge as one of the leading opponents of the apartheid regime. Although he was fully aware of the tremendous danger that he would face by challenging the system, he boldly led the charge against those discriminatory laws.
Mandela took many courageous steps as he sought to undermine the apartheid system. Despite constant threats of arrests, he helped organize many demonstrations and strikes. There are often harsh treatments meted out to those who dare to speak truth to power. It was no different for Mandela. Sensing the threat that his public agitation posed to the system, the authorities decided to incarcerate him. In spite of international pressure to release him, Mandela went on to spend 27 years in prison.
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