“Humanity has lost one of its greatest leaders with the passing of Nelson Mandela. My prayers go out to his family and all the people of South Africa. He was a personal hero of mine, and of those who work to uphold human rights around the world. Ten thousand days in prison were not enough to break Mandela’s spirit and his devotion to the freedom of all people. He led his nation not only in overcoming the divisions of racism, but in reconciling and healing.
“Mandela’s influence does not end with his passing. His story and moral courage has changed countless lives forever. As he once said, ‘the true test of our devotion to freedom is just beginning.’ State and federal lawmakers across the U.S. looked to Mandela as an inspiration when crafting laws that mandated divestment from South Africa’s cruel Apartheid regime. I had the privilege of serving as Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates when we passed such legislation. Years later, our Nation is still striving to follow in Mandela’s footsteps and fully realize his dream of peace and equality for all of mankind. ”
Mary Wood says
Editor,
It is my hope that the courage, integrity, dignity, intelligence of this man, will inspire us all to work harder for fairness and justice.
Doris S. Mason says
Editor,
If I may take the liberty to concur with our fine Senator, the Hon. Benjamin Cardin, as he states that, “humanity has lost one of its greatest leaders” with the transition of Pres. Nelson Mandela.
I remember so well the anti-apartheid conversations, presentations, elaborations and disputations happening regularly all over, on and throughout our liberal arts undergraduate campus (Swarthmore College) in the mid-80’s. I had courses with and listened intently to the likes of the late Father Robert F. Drinan, human rights activist, and the late Fatima Meer, South-African activist, as they passionately told of their encounters with the man himself.
On February 11, 1990, the day Nelson Mandela was released, I was a 27-year-old optimistic young African-American woman in rural America just 5 years into my career. The eloquent and powerful mastery of the presentation to the world of a man, who had been imprisoned for 27 years, was ever-imprinted upon my heart.
Indeed, as Senator Cardin shared, Nelson Mandela was a “hero,” to so many across the globe. He once said to a group of young people in Edinburgh, Scotland, “Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.” It is up to our generation to do just that, and move forward until all experience that “inalienable right to human dignity” which the visionary Nelson Mandela foretold!
Respectfully submitted;
Doris S. Mason, MSW