Global icon Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who is called the founder of democracy in South Africa, has died. Remember the man who made activism for freedom & equality his life's work inside....
At age 95, Nobel Peace Prize recipient Nelson Mandela died today after reportedly being on life support for several months. He reportedly died in his own home.
Interestingly, Mandela is a former boxer, but he became legendary for fighting against oppression with non-violence.
His name is synonymous with the struggle and eventual triumph to abolish South Africa's legacy of Apartheid. He fought to end forced racial segregation of the country, fought to change the government and promote peace. He constantly promoted freedom and equality throughout South Africa.
He became a more physical activist by founding a military to fight against the government who constantly killed scores of citizens. As an anti-Apartheid activist, Mandela was then imprisoned for 27 years after being convicted of sabotage and conspiring to overthrow the government.
When he was freed at age 75, he was overwhelmingly democratically elected as South Africa's first black President. And it proved to the world that fighting for peace and equality is a necessity, no matter the consequences.
Jacob Zumba, the current President of South Africa, gave a press conference moments ago confirming that Nelson Mandela has passed. He said:
"Nothing can diminish our sense of the profound loss. his entire struggle for freedom gained him the respect of the world. His humility, his compassion and his humanity...
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mandela family. To them we owe a debt of gratitude. They have sacrificed much and enjoyed much so that our people could be free."
Losing a global icon who has been called one of the kindest men on the planet is sad news. Many reporters in South Africa have said that citizens simply wanted their beloved "Madiba" to finally be in peace. And now, he is.
Nelson Mandela was wrongly viewed a 'terrorist' though he would never think of bombing a girls' school, or a church, or a passenger train etc. He gladly forgave and forgot what people did to make part of his life so miserable. Today in South Africa, people of all religions, of different complexions live in peace, because of the example of Nelson Mandela. Like one still in torment said: "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."
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