Message from the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation for Nelson Mandela International Day 2015:
For 67 years‚ Nelson Mandela placed the welfare of others above his own.
He worked as a servant of his people‚ all South Africans‚ a servant leader.
He endured terrible hardship and pain‚ sacrificing family life‚ professional career and freedom.
Yet‚ he did not allow his personal circumstances to better him‚ to embitter him‚ to entitle him…
He reached out to former political enemies and oppressors as newfound friends‚ believing all were entitled to a point of view.
He did not regard his political victory as a ticket absolving him of responsibility to be held to account. He listened‚ accepted criticism‚ and was willing to apologise for his mistakes.
He eschewed personal aggrandisement‚ believing it was more important to acknowledge others‚ to build others‚ to build for others. For 67 years.
A lifetime of selflessness… An example of humanity for the ages.
We are members of one family‚ the human family‚ God’s family – all of us‚ black‚ white‚ red‚ yellow‚ gay‚ straight‚ Christian‚ Muslim‚ Hindu‚ Jew‚ Buddhist‚ Atheist‚ wealthy‚ poor‚ Mozambican‚ Pakistani‚ Tibetan‚ Egyptian‚ American‚ Congolese‚ Fijian‚ Chinese‚ South African… All.
Nelson Mandela International Day focuses our attention on each other‚ and our responsibilities to live Madiba’s legacy forever through the work we all do.
Imagine how much better the world would be were we all to recognise our common humanity‚ as Madiba did‚ and do something kind for someone else every day?
RDM News Wire.
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