The first thing I heard on ABC Classic radio this morning was that Nelson Mandela was born on this day, 18th July 1918 in South Africa. It made me think how it often it has taken tragic events to cause outrage in the whole world. In recent times, the senseless killing of George Floyd fuelled the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement which started in the USA. Before long, there were protests globally despite being in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. In earlier times, the incarceration of Nelson Mandela sparked outrage internationally demanding his release. Despite that, he remained in prison for 27 years until the end of apartheid.
What is Mandela Day?
Mandela Day happens every year on the 18th July in South Africa to commemorate the birthday of the country’s first black President. Mandela fought against the brutal regime of apartheid in South Africa. He was arrested by the pro-apartheid government in 1962 for his cause. Mandela spent 67 years fighting for human rights in South Africa. If he had been alive today he would have been devastated to see that white supremacist attitudes still rule and the fight for human rights for black people continues. The message of Mandela Day is simple, ‘Take Action to Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day’. We don’t have to live in South Africa to make every day a Mandela Day. We just have to take action and fight for change.
No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.
Nelson Mandela
The focus of Mandela Day for 2020
The focus of Mandela Day this year is the pandemic. It’s about citizens getting together to make masks and protective gear, delivering food parcels, checking on community members but remembering to stay safe at the same time. Sadly the Mandela family has been touched by Coronavirus just this week. The youngest daughter of Nelson Mandela and his wife Winnie passed away in a Johannesburg hospital at the age of 59. Zindzi followed in her parent’s political footsteps and was also a strong human rights campaigner. The latest reports say that she was tested positive for Coronavirus just days before she died.
Some thought material
I learned that courage was not the abscence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Nelson Mandela
It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.
Nelson Mandela
There can be no keener revelation of a society ‘s soul than the way in which it treats its children.
Nelson Mandela
Just dreaming ….
Wouldn’t it be great if Australia had a special day in honour of an outstanding Aboriginal person? A day where goals are set each year to inspire change for a better Australia, a better world. A never-ending day …..
