I am fundamentally an optimist.

Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot

say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet
moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely
tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat
and death.
A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add
to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.
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.
The three quotations above are attributed to a man who was born in 1918 and died at
the end of last year as one of the most influential people in human history.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela died on 5 December 2013 and for a week the world stood
still. World leaders, icons in the arts, science and humanities moved their schedules
around to be able to pay tribute to this remarkable man. His funeral and memorial
service was the best attended in terms of influential people in history. Why, you may
ask?
We are an insignificant nation relative to the rest of the world sitting on the end of a
continent often belittled as a backward one by the rest of the developed world. Yet they
came. They came to celebrate a life but more so to acknowledge and celebrate an
attitude one that has been immortalized in books, films and in our memories forever.
Nelson Mandela has been described as an idealist, troublemaker, savior, saint, villain,
terrorist, freedom fighter and so many other things. These qualities vary and are on
opposite sides, depending on peoples personal viewpoints. Yet, from all sides, from
those who loved him and those who didnt came one common quality that all admired.
Nelson Mandela was a man who forgave.
If ever there was the ultimate example for us to emulate of forgiveness it was this man.
The memory of the man will fade fast but we, the generation who knew him as a leader
and an icon, will remember this one quality. We are quick to judge others, to harbor
resentment and anger towards them. We are quick to judge ourselves too. Forgiveness
is a quality that is slower to show itself.
The three quotations I chose are special to me. The first speaks about optimism
something I am passionate about and always try to have a positive attitude. The second
talks about the value of education which also speaks to my beliefs. But the third talks
about forgiveness and talks about love love for ones fellow man. If we could all follow
the example set us by this remarkable man we have been blessed to know in our
lifetimes, the world would be a wonderful place to live in.
As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my
bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison.
One of the things I learned when I was negotiating was that until I changed myself, I could not
change others.
Psalm 103 verses 8 - 12