Tag: Madiba

Mandela Day without Mandela

Today would have been Nelson Mandela’s 96th birthday. As you hopefully know, his birthday was declared Nelson Mandela Day by the United Nations in 2009. It is supposed to be a day dedicated continuing Madiba’s legacy, and to the idea that every individual can make a contribution toward making the world a better place for all. I wrote about Mandela Day and in particular my opinion around the whole 67-minutes idea last year.

Today is also the first Mandela Day since his death in December last year.

It feels to me like it’s much less of a big deal this year. Last year politicians were all over the place, putting in their 67 minutes of charity work. This year (judging by newspaper headlines) they’re all sitting in budget votes or testifying before commissions investigating government corruption, except for our president who’s apparently cleaning a school.

I’m wondering if all the hype last year was simply because of Mr Mandela’s illness and the approaching elections.

I really try not to be cynical, but sometimes…

Update: According to the evening news our politicians did indeed put in their 67 minutes today, and some of them even more than that. It doesn’t temper my cynicism, though. I can’t help but think our country would be much better off if they spent every day out in the streets picking up trash and giving food to homeless people, rather than sitting in parliament debating pointless laws…

Here’s an idea: people elected to political office must be obligated to spend ten hours a week minimum doing humanitarian work which requires them to be in actual physical contact with people requiring aid. Attending fundraising banquets don’t count, nor does any work involving sitting in an office. If I ever become supreme ruler that’s the first law I’m implementing. I have spoken.

Rest in Peace, Tata Madiba

By now you’ve probably heard the news that Nelson Mandela has died at 95 years of age. I’m sure many will write tributes in the days to come. I’ve already seen a few, with at least one turning it into a soapbox to criticise our current government and others rushing to point out that Mr Mandela had been a terrorist in his early life, thus hardly deserving of our tribute and respect. This saddens me, for though he was far from perfect, he was still a great man in the way that very few men in history have been. Continue reading “Rest in Peace, Tata Madiba” →

On Mandela Day

Today is Nelson Mandela’s (who, according to his family is doing much better) 95th birthday. Today is also Mandela Day. Mandela Day was started in 2009 by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, a year after Madiba’s 90th birthday. Later that year the UN officially declared July 18 to be International Nelson Mandela Day.

It’s not a public holiday, not even in South Africa. It’s rather (according to the official website) “a day dedicated to his life’s work and that of his charitable organisations, and to ensure his legacy continues forever.” The idea behind it is that, “Mr Mandela gave 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity. All we are asking is that everyone gives 67 minutes of their time, whether it’s supporting your chosen charity or serving your local community. Mandela Day is a call to action for individuals – for people everywhere – to take responsibility for changing the world into a better place, one small step at a time, just as Mr Mandela did.” Wikipedia calls it, “…a global call to action that celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world, the ability to make an impact.”

I don’t have a problem with honouring the legacy of someone like Madiba. The impact he has had on South Africa and the rest of the world cannot be denied and he will forever be remembered along with people like Mahatma Ghandi, Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King Jr. Nor do I disagree that every individual can and should make an impact – in fact, it should be said more often.

But this 67 minutes-thing bugs me. Continue reading “On Mandela Day” →