Condition: Crisp and Clean
Year of Issue: February 2014
Shipping: Medium
On 15 December 2013,
following a period of mourning, the world said its final goodbyes
to South Africa's global icon, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Watched
by millions of viewers on television screens throughout the world,
Madiba was laid to rest during a state funeral in the small village
of Qunu in the Eastern Cape. He died on 5 December at his home in
Houghton, Johannesburg at the age of 95, leaving a rich and unique
legacy not only to South Africa, but also to Africa and the rest of
the world.
In Nelson Mandela's 95
years he accomplished what many thought impossible. Held prisoner
for 27 years and later becoming South Africa's first democratically
elected president, he practiced reflection, negotiation,
forgiveness, reconciliation and incredible perseverance, making him
one of the most remarkable and respected individuals of modern
times.
In honour of this global
icon, the South African Post Office has issued a special
commemorative miniature sheet and souvenir folder on11 February
2014. Printed in silver to reflect the richness of Mandela's
wisdom, his legacy and his stature, the miniature sheet features a
portrait of Madiba in duotone − a method of changing a
monochrome original illustration or photograph to two shades or
colours and printing it using two different plates.
Born on 18 July 1918, in
Mvezo, Transkei, South Africa, Mandela became actively involved in
the anti-apartheid movement in his 20s. He joined the African
National Congress in 1942 and for 20 years, he directed a campaign
of peaceful, non-violent defiance against the apartheid government
and its racist policies.
In 1993, Mandela and the
then South African President FW de Klerk were jointly awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to dismantle the apartheid
system. In 1994, Mandela was inaugurated as South Africa's first
black president following a landslide victory for the ANC in the
country's first democratic elections.
Mandela Day
In 2009, Mandela's birthday
(18 July) was declared as 'Nelson Mandela International Day' to
promote global peace and to celebrate his legacy. The annual event
is aimed at encouraging citizens worldwide to give back the way
that Mandela has done throughout his lifetime. Mandela gave 67
years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity, on Mandela
Day everyone is asked to give 67 minutes of their time, whether
it's supporting a chosen charity or serving a local community.
Before and after his death,
scores of people have contributed towards expressing Mandela's
legacy. Summing it up aptly, Rory Young from the Quora website
wrote, 'Nelson Mandela's legacy is peace in South Africa for the
last 20 years, hope for the future and dignity for himself, his
people, his country, and his continent …
'Without his amazing
personal leadership and ability to inspire people to forgive and
reconcile, there would have been a very different outcome, and no
matter who leads his country in the future, they will always have
to live in his moral shadow. He has shown us the way.'
Practical suggestions on
the CNN website on how to keep Mandela's legacy alive, elucidate
some of his greatest personal qualities which have set an example
to others. These include:
Make the best of your
current situation
'It is possible that if I
had not gone to jail and been able to read and listen to the
stories of many people. ... I might not have learned these things,'
Mandela said in an interview in 2000.
While he was imprisoned,
Mandela's mother and eldest son both died. While he had ample
reason to remain bitter about his mistreatment, he wrote in his
1994 autobiography Long Walk to Freedom, 'Prison is itself
a tremendous education in the need for patience and perseverance.
It is, above all, a test of one's commitment.'
Don't judge a book by its
cover
'I have been surprised a
great deal sometimes when I see somebody who looks less than
ordinary, but when you talk to the person and he (or she) opens his
mouth, he is something completely different,' Mandela explained how
his prison experience has taught him to respect even the most
ordinary people.
Use your passion to
persuade others
'If you have an objective
in life, then you want to concentrate on that and not engage in
infighting with your enemies,' Mandela said. 'You want to create an
atmosphere where you can move everybody toward the goal you have
set for yourself.'
Change yourself first
'One of the most difficult
things is not to change society - but to change yourself,' Mandela
said in an interview in 2000.
Don't be afraid to
acknowledge weaknesses
'If you come across as a
saint, people can become very discouraged. ' Mandela said in
2000.
'In his twilight, Mandela
was at pains to publish and acknowledge his weaknesses and
shortcomings in his family life, in his relationships with women
and his first wife, Evelyn,' John Battersby wrote, 'He was keen to
dispel any notion of sainthood that might be bestowed on him.'
Get educated - educate
others
'Education is the most
powerful weapon we can use to change the world,' Mandela said
during a speech at the University of the Witwatersrand in
Johannesburg in 2003.
Mandela admitted he was a
poor student, but eventually he earned his LLB. Six weeks after
being elected President in 1994, he called on South Africans to
urgently solve the country's 'profound education crisis.'
Look people in the eye and
shake their hands
Nelson Mandela made the
common gesture of shaking someone's hand, which is 'something
transcendent - a greeting that crossed all societal barriers, a
symbol of reconciliation, even a declaration of victory,' wrote
CNN's Tom Cohen in his piece, 'Nelson Mandela: Man of many
handshakes.'
Before meeting visiting
dignitaries or political adversaries in conference rooms, Mandela
made sure to approach the security guards, waiters and other
workers outside to shake their hands, Cohen added.
Maintain a sense of
humour
'You sharpen your ideas by
reducing yourself to the level of the people you are with and a
sense of humour and complete relaxation, even when you're
discussing serious things, does help to mobilise friends around
you. And I love that,' Mandela said in a 2005 interview, published
by the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
At election rallies in
1994, Mandela often light-heartedly explained how voters should
search their ballots for the picture of the 'very handsome young
man' - referring to himself - to mark their support for the
ANC.
Forgive
Having been imprisoned,
forgiveness was a fundamentally transformative experience for
Mandela. By reconciling with former adversaries 'It enables me to
go to bed with an enriching feeling in my soul and the belief that
I am changing myself,' Mandela said during an interview about his
experiences with businessman Douw Steyn,
By living up to these
ideals, Nelson Mandela not only became the great example of a
leader that Africa needed, he became a unique and wonderful example
to the whole world.
The words in the date
canceller: 'Long Walk' is based on Nelson Mandela's own
handwriting.
Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2013/12/06/what-is-nelson-mandelas-legacy/
edition.cnn.com/2013/12/16/living/keeping-mandelas-legacy-alive/
https://www.biography.com/people/nelson-mandela-9397017
(dictionary.reference.com/browse/duotone)
https://www.nelsonmandela.org
