I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended."  --Nelson Mandela




Nelson Mandela

I must admit I never really paid attention to international news stories in the local newspaper.  I would skim over the headlines, and if it didn't catch my interest I would just move on to the next.  Last week while I was skimming the Courier, looking for an interesting read I stumbled upon an article talking about Nelson Mandela being hospitalized for pnuemonia.  I paused, and thought about this cultural class, and South Africa, and how I really should start to pay attention more to the world around me.  The former South African president whose name I have heard from time to time, but never really learned what it is that he is so famous for....I googled, and I briefed myself on Nelson Mandela(feel free to click on the link above to familiarize yourself as well).  After 2 weeks in a Johannesburg hospital last Saturday he was released.  He is 94 years old.   I discovered that this elderly gentleman born ,Rolihlahla Mandela, on July 18, 1918,  is very popular with his people although his given name means troublemaker, he is in deed a peacemaker as he was the first black president afrer apartheid ended in 1994.  He had a very interesting childhood and was the first in his family to attend school.  His teacher actually gave him the name Nelson.  It was while in school that he became interested in civil rights.  His father passed away, and later he would be groomed for a high ranking office, he took his education endevors very seriously.  It was while he was in college that he became very involved in the anti-apartheid movement.  He preached peace and nonviolence.  He can honestly say he has lived his life to the fullest and should be proud of his accomplishments.