The Ephramite: June 2013

MANDELA LIVES ON….ALWAYS WILL

Now am writing this when the whole world is worried about whether or not Nelson Mandela will make it out of hospital this time round since he has been ill for a while. Actually, several news agencies have pronounced him dead, while others have news that his condition is critical but stable. So I have chosen to stay off Facebook, twitter, television, internet and all media that could put me on edge about this Great Man.

Nelson has been a Mentor to me and I don’t appreciate the portrayal of him being dead one minute, and alive the next minute, more like that of the frog king in the animation Shreck.

I have known him to withstand harsh conditions like the many years in jail as you all know, and on several occassions has he been ill and in hospital and yet survived. But am not writing about that which all or most know, though.

It’s rare that a living hero treads the earth in our midst, and I really hope he remains so for a little longer. So I ask the Media to back off and let the man be, unless the doctors communicate otherwise!!!!!! Even upon his death, I am sure that his place in the abode of the likes of Mahatma Ghandi, Mao Zedong, Julius Nyerere, and others in that trade is clearly set. He will still be a hero, a much bigger hero actually.

Many of the Leaders who fight to liberate a nation from an abyss of oppression of sorts tend to want to 'own' their nations. They cling unto power; grow greater and meaner ;until that which they fought for is lost somehow in the cloud of the new ways they adopt. They stay till revolution takes them out, death, and what they fought for is watered down and their own supporters start to view them in a despicable, un-trusting, condescending perspective. They forget the merits their presidents formerly fought for, for reasons already stated….I could mention many I think are in these brackets, but I will not taint my article with their names, even for the local ones.

Mandela however, after gaining the freedom from apartheid, he let the people enjoy it, retired, and took the role of reference, reverence, authority and respect that many in the previous brackets will never enjoy. It is said that every country in the world has something named after this man. Now isn't that great?? Such authority, power, influence, worldwide!!!!!!! I wouldn't question that.

Now his life has always justified my coinage of ‘Breaking out of the cage of commons’. He broke out of that cage of greed, blind ambition, extortion, selfishness that surrounds many currently. And the purpose in his battles was not lost.

I am sure everyone has their own story to tell about the Great Mandela, so I will not say any more. I trust that most accounts of this man are very true.(and yes, he calls the queen of England by her maiden name, and can get an American president out of a serious meeting for over 30 minutes just to listen to him) not to dilute my aim or lose purpose in my cause, I will end here. In short, I will always seek to break out of the cage of commons like the one man I look up to Mandela.

If by the time you read this he is gone, I say RIP, and I will always live to cherish His memory. If not, I say KUDOS MADIBA, YOU ARE ALWAYS A FIGHTER…GOD BLESS NELSON MANDELA.