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Happy birthday Madiba!; THE legend turns 90!
Topic Started: Jul 17 2008, 12:32 PM (83 Views)
Niongor
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Giver of the *Hi-5*
On 18 July 1918, South Africa's greatest political figure and hero was born.

[align=center]Posted Image[/align]

Nelson Mandela will turn 90 years old today. The man's achievements can never be overstated. His legacy is too great for this single thread to give justice to, but it is safe to say, my life would be worse off without him.

Nelson Mandela, known to we South Africans as "Madiba", was imprisoned for 27 years on Robbeneiland. He was imprisoned for attempting to bring down one of the greatest injustices to ever befall a nation of earth, an injustice that drove physical and cultural divides where there needed to be love and understanding.

That love and understanding was released from prison on 11 February 1990. In 1994, Mandela lead the final blow to the evil regime in South Africa. This blow was not by force of arms, not in battle - but by the ballot! His victory was made all the more powerful by this. After 46 years of apartheid, South Africa was finally free.

Mandela won over the hearts and minds of not only black people, but many, many white people. My family, which had never supported apartheid, championed Mandela onwards and upwards and to take South Africa with him. He certainly did that. In Zimbabwe, the white minorities were persecuted. In South Africa, Mandela extended his hand.

Nelson Mandela
 
During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.



I remember watching TV back on the morning of 28 April 1994, the day after SA's first totally free and fair elections. I remember the white news reader shedding professionalism to declare "Mandela and the ANC have won the elections!" Being only seven, I didn't fully understand the significance or the huge party that night. :P It was the following day when Uncle Musa made me understand what such a huge victory had been scored. He likened it to David bringing down Goliath.

Mandela unified South Africa in a way very few people will ever unite a nation as he did. Nelson Mandela not only touched the hearts and minds of South Africans at home and abroad, but the hearts and minds of many millions more around the world! His name, and the words he speaks, carry a weight and authority in a manner that very few people in all of human history have held.

The single greatest words I have heard spoken about Mandela, came from a man speaking at his 90th birthday concert in London:
Quote:
 
If there was ever a man alive today, who was touched by the hand of God, it is Nelson Mandela.


So join with me ladies and gentlemen of NationStates Canada in wishing:
:fireworks: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MADIBA!!! :fireworks:

EDIT: Included a picture!
"There is no next time: it's now or never!"

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West Fryslan
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Team Captain
Happy birthday Madiba! Long may you live and continue to spread the message of peace and understanding around the world!

God bless!
Devotion to motion is the notion!

Role Play
"Revolution" - Carlos Rodriguez
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jDELIGHT
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Fun is the only noise you should hear
right on.

A 21-Skwerl Salute for the Dizzy Twirling Hippy Chick!

"Your only true land based hope are aerodynamically correct goats." JT
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Woolcott
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Canada's Jamie Bell.
Happy Birthday Madiba! :yes:
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Ess
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twirling hippy chick
:clap: :clap: :clap:

:hail: Madiba!!

:rockon: :rockon: :rockon:
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WOW Canada is a Wonderland of enchantments~Bobert
Ess is the Chuck Norris of NS Canada, so anything's possible.~Redundancies
The hippy chick is Canada's coolest! ~Fiddy
HappinEss ~Matilda
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Prometheus Projects
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All-Star
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Madiba!
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ParrrrTay
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...just a girl in the world.
Minister
Happy Happy! :fireworks:
The Pubs of Parkplace
Delegate, Canada

Long you live and high you fly
And smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry
And all you touch and all you see
Is all your life will ever be
~P.FLOYD


Sail on my friend...
Holding Shelter
Twirl Hippy Chick twirl
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Gold Antilles
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*First* Bermudian in NS Canada
Happy birthday Nelson Mandela! :fireworks:
Premier of Gold Antilles

"Give me Liberty, or give me Death!"
Patrick Henry
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