Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong”. Reconciling with someone is one of the hardest things a person can do. Throughout Bill Clintons book Giving, he discusses cases where reconciling/forgiving someone is important, along with giving those who wronged a new beginning. However it’s a hard thing to do, to completely let go of something painful and forgive the person who may or may not realize what they did.
Nelson Mandela served 27 years in prison for plotting to overthrow the corrupt state, known as apartheid, in South Africa. Years after his release, he was elected as the 1st president of South Africa. Mandela, “invited the men who guarded him in jail to his inauguration, put leaders who had supported apartheid in his cabinet, and set up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to give people who had committed crimes during the apartheid era the chance to avoid imprisonment by confessing” (Clinton 89). Mandela was a man who really understood reconciling. He knew that even if someone did something wrong, they did deserve a fresh start.
In addition to reconciliation, one of the most amazing efforts are those taking place in Rwanda. “In 1994, killers from the Hutu majority slaughtered 800,000 Tutsis and their Hutu sympathizers in ninety days” (Clinton 96). Today if one were to travel to Rwanda like Clinton, they would witness Hutus and Tutsis living side by side in villages. The president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame,
While in prison he was only allowed one visitor a year and could only write or receive a single letter every six months. Despite Mandela’s harsh imprisonment conditions he remained significant in leading the movement against apartheid. He was able to organize protests from his prison cell, and help rally activists to make gains in ending apartheid. Mandela received the Nobel Peace Prize Mandela was released from prison in 1990. After the ban from the African National Congress was lifted, Mandela joined and became the president. In 1993 Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerk received the Nobel Peace Prize. Mandela was elected as South Africa’s first black president After huge political gains were made in the fight to end intense racial segregation, Mandela was elected as the first black President of South Africa. Mandela stressed peace and unity, encouraging Africans to forgive the white governments that had treated them so brutally. Mandela extended peace to whites, including his prison guards On the 20th anniversary of his prison release Mandela partook in a huge celebration held in his name. Even Mandela’s former prison guard was included in the celebration. At the age of 91 Mandela took this day to celebrate and further emphasize his message of peace to both blacks and whites. Mandela had a very long career, from the 1940s to the 1990s. It is important to remember that. He fought
Feb. 11, 1990 - South African anti-apartheid activist, Nelson Mandela, is freed after 27 years as a political prisoner in Cape Town, South Africa.
Reconciliation has been a somewhat popular issue in Canadian academia and in Canadian society in general. Reconciliation in the Canadian context is defined as a restoration of the relationship between the Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous people due to the historical injustices, that continue to affect Indigenous peoples even to this day, committed by the Government of Canada against the Indigenous peoples. This is a massive undertaking that will require the participation of both Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous peoples alike. A project of this magnitude will not be an easy task to accomplish, as undoing over 100 years of trauma to the Indigenous peoples is not something that can be undone over night, but rather it will take decades to accomplish. There will be many obstacles in the path of reconciliation that will have to be overcome. However, reconciliation is the best opportunity to repair the relationships between the Indigenous peoples and the non-Indigenous peoples because it makes sense for all Canadians to be involved, the Government of Canada is backing the reconciliation process and some work to repair the relationship has already been done and has beneficial results for everyone.
Forgiveness have important medicinal effect on health. Researchers and study have shown that people who forgive have less chances of health issues like heart attack and brain tumor. “People who hold tolerance views of human nature and don’t seem to nurse grieveness unduly tend to have blood pressures in the normal range” (Callwood, J. 2007, p. 153). Writer in the above findings tells her readers the medicinal effect of tolerance. She beautifully explains the positive effect of forgiveness in contrast with unforgiveness where her contrasting finding says “Unforgiving people, some studies show, are three times more likely to have heart diseases as people who don’t carry grudges”(Callwood, J. 2007, p.153). Writer here is addressed to people who cannot or do not forgive and tells them how harmful holding grudges are to their health. She beautifully explains the finding by telling first the negative effect of not forgiving in comparison to
On July 18th, 1918 a natural born leader, Nelson Mandela was born. Nelson Mandela was the only one in his family with education and an aspiring heart to end segregation, specifically within his country South Africa. At the age of 46, Mandela was sentenced to life in prison for conspiracy to overthrow the state. Though he was convicted and obtained fewer privileges than the average person due to his ethnicity, it did not put the light out in his charismatic soul. After serving 27 years in jail and being confined to a small cell with no bed Nelson was released on February 11th, 1990.
However, while in prison, Mandela was charged with treason for trying to overthrow the government and he was sentenced to life in prison (Ryan 1). Mandela was given a choice, and he chose to speak up and stand up for what was right. Although all he ever did was try to establish equality, Mandela ended up spending nearly three decades in
Mandela was a very important leader in the struggle against apartheid. Like many other struggle leaders, he was thrown in jail more than once and spent 27 years of his life in jail. He became an important symbol for human rights and anti-apartheid campaigns all over the world. In 1990 he was finally released from jail, and he became an important leader in the talks with President F.W. de Klerk about a South Africa free from apartheid.
Nelson Mandela did some helpful things in his life but other people thought it was unacceptable and so he went to jail for no reason. Nelson Mandela was a great leader and left a legacy by winning epic political battles, by making everyone have their rights, and he was president not for the rich stuff but to help out with people’s health, housing, and education. In these next paragraphs they will talk about Nelson Mandela’s childhood. Also about his life in jail and why he went to jail. Lastly, about his president life and how he became president.
He became the first black president of South Africa in 1994 until 1999. Mr. Mandela is global peacemaking, he campaigned peacefully, nonviolently against the South African government and its racist policies. He too was fearless and motivated to help the people, he stood by the people when he felt they were mistreated by quitting his job. Mandela had to flee his home for his safety. He later landed himself in jail where he spent 18 of the 27 years assigned to him for treason. When he was released he went back to fighting for equality. He worked to bring about the transition from minority rule and apartheid to black majority rule. He used sports to promote reconciliation between whites and blacks, encouraging black South Africans to support the once-hated national rugby team. In 1995, South Africa came to the world stage by hosting the Rugby World Cup, which brought further recognition and prestige to the young
When mandela was in prison and a black prisoner he didn't get as many privileges as the other prisoners had gotten and was treated worse .But being in prison didn't stop him from getting a bachelors degree in law for the university of London .he also served as a mentor to his other inmates encouraging them to get better treatment through the nonviolent resistance
Nelson Mandela devoted his life advocating for human rights. He served 27 years in prison but thrived following his release. Mandela became the first black president of South Africa and proceeded to inspire thousands with his speeches. During this time South Africa faced the challenges of overcoming the legacy of the Apartheid. Inequality, racism, and poverty would have to end in order for the country to prevail. He made people realize, “Dealing with these challenges also means accepting the facts of our history” (Mandela 3). Mandela faced the problems within his society head-on. In addition to this, he was willing to accept the country's flaws and the country was far from reaching its fullest potential. He was able to help his country gain a safe water
While in prison many other ANC leaders were also found and arrested. They were all put on trial (Rivonia Trial) for sabotage, treason, and violent conspiracy. Mandela was sentenced to life in prison at the maximum security Robben Island Prison. Although in a maximum-security prison, Mandela was still able to keep in contact with the anti-apartheid movement secretly. For 18 years Mandela stayed at Robben Island, where he lived under harsh conditions with other political leaders. This time spent in the prison changed his attitude and made him become the great political leader that he is today. He realized that violence was not the answer to all his problems. Furthermore, many would think that this imprisonment would hurt the anti-apartheid movement, but in reality it helped much more. Many world leaders demanded that Mandela be
Mandela was imprisoned in South Africa from 1964-82. During the period of his imprisonment his public reputation grew. Upon his release from prison, he was considered the most prominent leader in black South Africa and he was a strong symbol of resistance in the anti-apartheid movement. Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s president in 1994. His main leadership qualities characteristics were his determination, persistence, focus and will.
After his release from prison in 1990, he went to be elected the first black President of South Africa. The time in prison helped him to come to peace with himself and the people he was initially mad at; such as the South African Government.
Nelson Mandela was a man who learned from his previously violent ways and thoroughly used peace to his advantage in his fight against apartheid, and in the leading of South Africa. Nelson Mandela grew up as a peaceful person and in 1943 went to law school for his degree. While in law school, he got very interested in politics and joined a radical protest group, the African National Congress (The ANC). The ANC got into a lot of trouble with the government for their ideas about a place without apartheid. Mandela was arrested in 1963 and sentenced to life in prison. The government let him out of