Four Double Six Six Four

 

Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela!

Here is what I remember: I was working at a news gathering agency on 42nd street in Manhattan. Our job was to cull through hours of tapes for different clients, piecing together tapes of  anything that mentioned their firm, client, product, etc. Usually we were so busy we barely had time to wolf down our dinner or lunch. But this day, February 11th, 1990 we were all of us glued to the television as prisoner number four double six six four, Nelson Mandela, was released from Victor Verster Prison.  I remember standing in awe of this moment, of this man, walking out after 27 years in prison. Unbent, unbroken, standing tall and as proud as the day he went in. And this is also what I remember: that during a time when there were so many terrible, violent events happening - Tiananmen Square, the killings in Romania, the violence as Yugoslavia fell chaotically apart - this man walked his nation through what could have been one of the bloodiest moments in history and showed them how to reconcile and move forward without revenge, without the blood. He lead South Africa and by doing so he showed the world what leadership is.   

We owe Nelson Mandela more than birthday wishes. He has several foundations that work for social justice, change, children and the fight against AIDS. Promote them, help them, be involved if you can. Honor the man by supporting his work.

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Nelson Mandela Foundation

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."  Nelson Mandela