Nelson Mandela

Two weeks ago former South African President P.W. Botha died at the ripe old age of 90. I’m sure that there were a lot of people hoping he wouldn’t have lived that long. He was a staunch, heavy-handed defender of the Apartheid system in South Africa and he was never going to release Nelson Mandela because he knew it would mean his own political end. To the rest of the world and the Black South African, Botha was the face of systematic racism. He understood the political expediency of being a white leader and he understood that it was his responsibility to maintain the status quo. Consequently, releasing Nelson Mandela was never an option and recognizing the African National Congress an impossibility.

They say that revenge is a dish best served cold and one would be hard pressed to not hear negative statements from President Thabo Mbeki and Mandela about Botha and the “Old Crocodile’s” toughness. But no. It did not happen. Nelson Mandela was quick to offer words of condolence and respect: [his death] should serve as a reminder of South Africa's "horribly divided past." Mandela added, “we also remember him for the steps he took to pave the way toward the eventual peacefully negotiated settlement in our country.” High praise indeed, from a man imprisoned for 27 years for his political beliefs, most of which were during Botha’s political career.

Nelson Mandela's words say more about Mandela than they do about Botha and it’s a pity we don’t have more people like him in the world. Our human history is full of tyrants and peacemakers and it’s remarkable how often the former defeat the latter. Perhaps Mandela is right: the power of forgiveness is the greatest of all.

That’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.