After being imprisoned for 27 years under a racist apartheid regime, Mandela was finally freed in 1990. He became president of South Africa and faced a choice when it came to the crimes of apartheid:
Revenge or Understanding?
At a moment when he could have called for trials and punishment he instead called for truth and reconciliation. He founded the Truth and Reconciliation Commission which asked members of the Apartheid Regime to speak about what they did, and critically, not be punished for their crimes. He understood that it was more important to document and grapple with the crimes committed than to take revenge.
Living in South Africa in 2005 I saw a struggling country but a country striving for democratic values and ideals. In 1991 South Africa's future was very unclear. It could easily have gone the way of Zimbabwe, taking random revenge on white farmers and plunging the country into chaos and bankruptcy. Instead Mandela stepped in and tried to form a more perfect union which would include all South Africans.
Long live Madiba!
And now today's:
Random Song of Joy!
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