ESL Blogs

It was not a long journey for me as it was for you, nevertheless I enjoyed accompanying you. You told me about your childhood herding sheep and playing with other boys. As you grew older you realized that there was a difference between you and the people whom you called ‘white people’. One of these white families helped you to go to school; when you didn’t accept the pre-arranged marriage your difficulties began. Despite all obstacles you became a lawyer. Now you could see all the disparities toward yourself and your people. It was then that you decided to join ANC (African national congress). You chose a way that you never regretted.  Once you said that you were not hungry for freedom because you were born free but as you grew up you realized that your freedom had been stolen; that’s why you decided to become a freedom fighter.

You knew that it was going to be so hard. You knew that you couldn’t have a normal life. You were aware that you couldn’t fulfill your duties as a son, a brother, a husband or even a father but that was the way that you chose with all your heart.

Tears welled up in my eyes when you gave your speech in court. When you told them the story of a man who had studied law and wanted to obey laws, but since those laws were immoral and unjust, his conscience forced him to protest. How he had become an outlaw and why and if he had given the chance he would have chosen the same path over and over again. You talked about the injustice of Apartheid and how you were treated in your own land unfairly and cruelly.

I was stunned by your point of views even about your enemies. You said:’ deep down in every human heart, there is mercy and generosity. No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.

After struggling all your life and suffering when you were freed from prison you didn’t ask your people to get revenge from those who put you in prison for twenty seven years, on the contrary you reminded them that liberation struggle was not a battle against one group or color, but it was a fight against a system of repression and injustice. You asked your people to join hands and be united and move toward future as one country, one nation and one people.

I pay my tribute to you and your great soul. You were born to be a leader. May your soul rest in peace. I wish the world had more people like you.

I read a book named’ a long walk to freedom’ by Nelson Mandella. It inspired me to write about him. I hope you like it.