“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.â€
Good day, all you beautiful heathens! Today, Tuesday July 18 marks the birthday of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Born in 1918, Nelson Mandela spent the majority of his life seeking to quash oppression – most notably, the apartheid in South Africa. In 1964, he was imprisoned for treason, and his closing remarks for the trial included the rousing, “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.“
It wasn’t until nearly 3 decades later, in 1993, that he finally saw his vision of a democratic South Africa begin to take it’s first steps. That same year, he and F. W. de Klerk received the Nobel Peace Prize for their dedication to ending oppression, and in the following year, Nelson Mandela was voted in as South Africa’s first black president.
For 67 years, he dedicated his life to the ideals of peace and freedom through conflict resolution, race relations, promotion and protection of human rights, reconciliation, gender equality and the rights of children and other vulnerable groups, the fight against poverty, and the promotion of social justice.
We at Awaken the North hold every single one of these ideals as fundamental, and ask you; what will you do today to inspire a positive change in your world?
(For more information on Nelson Mandela, and how his legacy is celebrated, visit https://www.mandeladay.com/ )
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