Sunday, July 17, 2011

Tribute to Nelson Mandela on his 93rd Birthday on 18 July 2011

I received a book called: ‘Conversations with Myself,’. It has a foreword by President Barack Obama. 
According to Verne Harris, project leader for the book, says that the new writing about Mandela ‘… aims to give readers access to the Nelson Mandela behind the public figure, through his private archive. 
This archive represents Mandela writing and speaking privately, addressing either himself or his closest confidantes. This is him not geared primarily to the needs and expectations of an audience. Here he is drafting letters, speeches and memoirs. Here he is making notes (or doodling) during meetings, keeping a diary, recording his dreams, tracking his weight and blood pressure, maintaining to-do so lists. Here he is meditating on his experience, interrogating his memory, conversing with a friend. Here he is not the icon or saint elevated far beyond the reach of ordinary mortals. Here he is like you and me. …’

On page 9 of the book, Mandela writes ‘…the cell is an ideal place to learn to know yourself, to search realistically and regularly the process of your own mind and feelings. In judging our progress as individuals we tend to concentrate on external factors such as one’s social position, influence and popularity, wealth and standard of education. These are, of course, important in measuring one’s success in material matters and it is perfectly understandable if many people exert themselves mainly to achieve all these. But internal factors may be even more crucial in assessing one’s development as a human being. Honesty, sincerity, simplicity, humility, pure generosity, absence of vanity, readiness to serve others – qualities which are within easy reach of every soul – are the foundation of one’s spiritual life. Development in matters of this nature is inconceivable without serious introspection, without knowing yourself, your weaknesses and mistakes. At least, if nothing else, the cell gives you the opportunity to look daily into your entire conduct, to overcome the bad and develop whatever is good in you.’


July 18 is Mandela Day, an international day first recognised by the United Nations in 2009 in honour of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former South African president Nelson Mandela's birthday, during which he not only turns 93 but asks everyone to help make the world better, healthier, and just.

The Mandela Day slogan is "Take Action. Inspire change. Make every day a Mandela Day."

This year, he is asking you to set aside time (67 minutes to be exact, symbolising his 67 years of service to the people of South Africa and the world) to do something positive for your community and for yourself, from cleaning up litter in your neighbourhood to getting tested for HIV if you haven't already.

Here are 13 healthy things from Mandela's 67-item wish list, and he only suggests that you pick one:

1. Get in touch with your local HIV organisations and find out how you can help.
2. Help out at your local hospice, as staff members often need as much support as the patients.
3. Many terminally ill people have no one to speak to. Take a little time to have a chat and bring some sunshine into their lives.
4. Talk to your friends and family about HIV.
5. Get tested for HIV and encourage your partner to do so too.
6. Take a bag full of toys to a local hospital that has a children's ward.
7. Take younger members of your family for a walk in the park.
8. Donate some medical supplies to a local community clinic.
9. Take someone you know, who can't afford it, to get their eyes tested or their teeth checked.
10. Bake something for a support group of your choice.
11. Start a community garden to encourage healthy eating in your community.
12. Donate a wheelchair or guide dog, to someone in need.
13. Create a food parcel and give it to someone in need. 

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