Although this appeared in a museum, it's not so archaic. |
12 people lived in this room |
One of the things that amazed me most was that despite the disturbingly impoverished nature of this community, and the endless stories about racism and incomprehensible inhumane treatment for generations, so many people continued to choose joy amidst that chaos.
These children operate from "causeless joy" |
Abuvuki - an amazing musical group of 10 talented, entrepreneurial spirited young men - from the ghetto! |
The will to experience joy despite conditions was inspiring to say the least.
But what amazed me THE most was what I learned about Nelson Mandela. As you likely know, he was imprisoned for 26 years of his life for speaking out against Apartheid. For speaking up against racism. And the imprisonment was brutal.
For 18 of those 26 years he was in a puny cell on Robben Island - the Alcatraz of South Africa.
Here we are in that same space |
Our Tour Guide - an inmate of Mandela's - holding the Warden's Master key. That key was the Holy Grail of the prison, and he almost teared up just talking about the fact that it was now in his hands. |
What this man, our tour guide of the prison, a man who was an inmate of Mandela's, taught us about Mr. Mandela was mindblowing.
In the picture below, notice the grass patch off to the left, in the corner of this courtyard...
The prisoners' courtyard at the prison on Robben Island |
Our guide informed us that Mandela had begged the guards for years for permission to use that patch of soil - the only soil in the prison - to grow vegetables. These are the same guards that would regularly beat the inmates, without provocation, to a pulp, often breaking facial bones by kicking them.
Finally, after years, they gave in and granted him his wish. Once the vegetables grew and ripened, much to the shock of everyone, Mandela presented the vegetables as gifts to the guards to take home and to enjoy with their families.
So many of the inmates were outraged by this. And it was then that Mandela began teaching them that the most likely way for them to achieve the freedom and equality that they so desperately longed for was through FORGIVENESS.
Our guide, when a prisoner, was as committed to revenge as anyone. He was imprisoned for the same "offense" as Mandela. For speaking out against Apartheid. And he was beaten and broken many times by these guards. He thought Mandela was an idiot, as did many of the other inmates. A fool.
Mandela, however, through the awareness and consciousness he somehow discovered throughout his unjust and inhumane 3 decade long imprisonment, chose to prioritize forgiveness over revenge. Forgiveness over retaliation. Forgiveness over revolt.
On February 11, 1990, Mandela was courageously released by then President FW de Klerk (who won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1993). In 1994, Mandela assumed the Presidency of South Africa.
He remains today, at age 91, one of the icons of peace on our planet.
He chose forgiveness under the most challenging of imaginable conditions. He did so because he understood the power inherent within it.
As you hear the sounds of the World Cup matches being played, let yourself be reminded of the power of forgiveness. And issue it to those for whom you harbor resentment. It's a smart move - as Nelson Mandela's story continues to teach us.
Nelson Mandela Square, Johannesburg |
K'naan, a Somalia born hip-hop artist wrote the 2010 World Cup Theme song. (Ironically, and disturbingly, 14 Somali teens were arrested last Sunday in Mogadishu for watching a World Cup match!)
