We were greeted with the sad news last week
Oliver Rawlings readers that Nelson Mandela has passed away. The man had lived
a long life; he was in his 90’s. But it’s still shocking news none the less.
There aren’t too many people in the world that we would label ‘icons’. However
Mandela is certainly one of the ones we would. There are people who seem big,
who seem larger than life. These people seem untouchable. They seem like
they’ll never die. The legend grows to surpass the person. However there’s a
reason the person become a legend in the first place.
So this
all leads us to one question? I think I’m preaching to the choir here when I
say that Mandela was an icon. Not many people would deny it and those who would,
certainly wouldn’t have the courage to do so. However the question we still have
to ask was why? Why was Mandela an icon? He certainly lived a life that we
would traditionally label iconic. It certainly fits the bill. He was born as a
disadvantaged black man in apartheid South Africa. He rose to receive an
education and became a professional. He fought the system. He certainly suffered for his principles. He
was a man who had leadership thrust upon him but wore it well. He cared until
the end.
Whilst these are certainly the ingredients one
would use to label a man iconic, I don’t believe they’re what made Mandela one.
They are certainly impressive. They certainly speak of a man of great character
and humility. However he’s not unique in these traits. There are others who
have similar stories. Whilst his certainly would have gained him admiration, it
certainly wouldn’t have vaulted him to the status he holds in people’s hearts
and minds.
I believe it’s his altruism that makes him an
icon. Not many people have that. Mandela was a man who learned to forgive.
Mandela could have held a grudge against his oppressors. Amazingly he didn’t.
When he was released and everyone else was calling for battle, he held his
head. He remembered that despite their actions, his oppressors were people too
.They had children. They had hopes and dreams and fears. In my opinion that’s
the true measure of a man, not how he treats his friends, but how he treats his
enemies. Any man can forgive their friends; can be good to their friends. It
takes a special kind of man to forgive his enemies. Not many of us honestly
have that pure goodness in us.
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