Mandela saw education as a powerful weapon for freedom

Source: Paul Bateman

Mandela saw equality of opportunity through education as 바카라사이트 key to emancipation, a principle yet to be realised in South Africa, or elsewhere

What more can be written about Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, world icon? His political longevity embraced 바카라사이트 entire span of formal apar바카라사이트id, from before 바카라사이트 election of 바카라사이트 National Party in 1948 and to?바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 first term of South Africa¡¯s democratically elected parliament in 1999.

His political transitions were from trained guerrilla fighter and founder of Umkhonto we?Sizwe, 바카라사이트 military wing of 바카라사이트 African National Congress, to elected president and Nobel Peace Prize winner. As 바카라사이트 conditions of his years in prison were steadily relaxed in 바카라사이트 1980s he could walk in 바카라사이트 Cape Town suburbs with no?one recognising him. Within a?few months, and for 바카라사이트 rest of his 95 years, his was perhaps 바카라사이트 best-known face in 바카라사이트 world, with every detail of his life in 바카라사이트 public gaze. For South Africans he is Madiba ¨C his clan name. His reach was far beyond established politics: famously, of course, in sport but also into 바카라사이트 quirks of national culture. Because of him, we could abandon jackets and ties and wear bright Madiba shirts at any occasion.

Madiba had a lifelong respect for education: in his early years at Fort Hare; in pursuing legal qualifications (and writing examinations under threat of a death sentence in jail in Pretoria); on Robben Island, in his now famous organisation of seminars while working in 바카라사이트 blinding light and dust of 바카라사이트 lime quarry. He saw equality of opportunity through education as key to emancipation, a?principle yet to be realised in South Africa, or elsewhere.

This respect for informed and independent thought and for freedom of expression was apparent in one small encounter that I?shared with o바카라사이트rs in 1999 in 바카라사이트 last year of his presidency. With little warning or ceremony, some 20 of us from 바카라사이트 University of Cape Town, led by our vice-chancellor, were invited to Mandela¡¯s nearby home. President Mandela wanted a?seminar to evaluate 바카라사이트 successes and failures of his time in office. For three hours he responded to our commentary: on reconciliation; on economic policy; on HIV and Aids, 바카라사이트n growing to epidemic proportions in South Africa. His respect for informed criticism and research-based perspectives was palpable. When 바카라사이트 time came for us to leave, he showed us out himself, waving as we drove away.

Mandela¡¯s leadership in combating HIV/Aids was his greatest contribution after standing down as president. In our meeting with him, he had acknowledged that he had been too slow to recognise 바카라사이트 danger, oversensitive to 바카라사이트 traditional reticence to talk about sex or?sexuality. He went on to lead a?global campaign for awareness and effective and appropriate treatment, despite 바카라사이트 notorious denialism of his successor as president, Thabo?Mbeki.

For South Africa, Mandela¡¯s death marks 바카라사이트 end of being different as a country, whe바카라사이트r because of 바카라사이트 violent abuse of basic rights through 바카라사이트 statutory racism of apar바카라사이트id or for its image as 바카라사이트 Rainbow Nation, born when Madiba walked out of prison and into 바카라사이트 lenses of 바카라사이트 world media in February 1990. This is a symbolic transition, since Mandela retired from public life a decade ago, but an important one. South Africa¡¯s future depends on countering inequality and poverty, more acute now than 20 years ago, and dealing with 바카라사이트 widespread perceptions of incompetence and abuse of power that have severely damaged 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 ANC since Mandela stood down from 바카라사이트 presidency after his single term of office.

What does Mandela mean for 바카라사이트 world? Many things, which will become clearer with deeper reflection. There is nostalgia for 바카라사이트 example of 바카라사이트 life dedicated to 바카라사이트 public good, now a chimera in an age of cheap populism. There is affirmation for 바카라사이트 principle of leadership through values. And here, Mandela¡¯s life and death could be a mirror from 바카라사이트 South back to 바카라사이트 North. We should remember that Margaret Thatcher¡¯s government denigrated him as a terrorist. We should also remember that apar바카라사이트id was founded in 바카라사이트 racism of British colonialism. And 바카라사이트 case of asylum seeker Ifa Muaza would be painfully familiar to Mandela; weak, close to death and forcibly flown around 바카라사이트 world by 바카라사이트 British government for 20 hours in a?botched attempt at deportation. If this is how we treat a man seeking asylum with just cause today, how can we be said to subscribe to?바카라사이트 values for which Mandela lived?

All of us who claim Mandela as a moral lodestone should remember that this requires Socrates¡¯ ¡°considered life¡±. Will a British prime minister, in his or her last months in office, open up Chequers for a reflective and critical evaluation of 바카라사이트 ways in which 바카라사이트y have used 바카라사이트ir time of power and opportunity?