Nelson Mandela

Earlier this morning, the people of South Africa – and indeed the whole world – were in the final stages of giving this remarkable man their final respects. His burial took place in his home village of Qunu.

Our impressions of this remarkable man still range from “terrorist” to “father of his country” … and everything in between.
His death ten days ago came as no surprise, as the 96-year-old statesman had been in poor health for many months. Throughout most of the mourning period, the atmosphere was of an upbeat 'celebration-of-life' by the South African citizens, accompanied by singing and dancing. International reporters commented on the love and respect expressed so articulately by many average citizens.
Heads of state and governments from around the world gathered earlier this week in a large stadium to pay tributes. Mandela was called “a man of the ages” by US president Barack Obama, and the greatest personality of the 20th century by a host of other commentators.
It was not always that way!
When I listened to radio news reports in the 1960s, he was leading the African National Congress party against the South African government's policy of apartheid, by which the white population was always in total control of the “coloreds.” There were often acts of violence, particularly in and around the large slums of Soweto.
Mandela was arrested and charged with treason. He was given a life sentence in prison -- with hard labour, which came as a surprise to him and his co-accused was a surprise, because they were expecting a death sentence. He remained in prison for 27 years!
In 1988, he was freed, following a series of world-wide campaigns by international personalities. For example, Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu frequently denounced his captivity, while a who's who of rock musicians staged a series of “Free South Africa” day-long concerts at Wembley Stadium in London.
Effective political pressure, though, was sometimes difficult to organize.
Calls for Mandela's freedom were intensified by our own Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who acted against the wishes of conservative world leaders such as U-S President Reagan and British Prime Minister Thatcher, who still saw him as a terrorist.
As the world watched the TV pictures of his triumphant march to freedom, he showed no feelings of retribution, but instead showed a huge smile, accompanied by his wife Winnie.
Those beautiful images are still embedded in my mind!
He then ran successfully for the presidency of South Africa (where he served for a single term). It was no surprise that his first official visit outside the country was to Ottawa, where he addressed the House of Commons and was granted Canadian citizenship.
This weekend, CBC News ran an interview by Chief Correspondent Peter Mansbridge with Mulroney, who pointed to the assembly building in Pretoria and said that when he had first called for Mandela’s freedom, “This man was not allowed to enter this building, or even vote. He was a prisoner, in jail, and a prisoner in his own country.”
While many changes have swept through South African society, including more power forlacks, and the “Truth and Reconciliation” hearings, political reform is not complete, and a future without Mandela holds many questions.
However, at the personal level the atmosphere can be decidedly different: during an interview in a public square this week, a helicopter arrived and began hovering overhead. The gentleman being interviewed remarked that, in his younger days, that sound was a signal to run for cover.
The interviewer reported later, “He didn’t even look up!”