Everyday I learn something new whether it being in math, biology, or a moral lesson. Nelson Mandela taught me more than what I ever thought I could learn in just one day. He is a man of great determination, creativity, and smarts that he has shown throughout his life. Mandela is one who knows right from wrong and ways of running a democracy for the historically racial nation of South Africa.
The first thing I learned was that being white doesn’t mean you are the best. Today as Americans, we don’t fully understand what being a slave is like or being killed for simply being black. I, being a white male, still have not come to fully understand what really went on and why all this madness occurred. In South Africa blacks were not allowed to vote in a nation of mostly blacks. I don’t understand how a mostly black man’s nation is ruled by white men. Mandela however knew what was right. Before, during, and after being in jail he knew what was right and persevered. His determination has stood out for me.
Secondly, I learned that it is good to be smart, but be smart in a creative way. Mandela becoming the president had to be smart in political ways, but he also knew what his nation's people liked. The sport of Rugby was well loved. Knowing this, Mandela could bring one of the most racial countries in the world together with one event. It was 1995. The World Cup has begun. The most important game of the South Africans lives was against New Zealand. During this game, it didn't matter what color you were, you supported your national team. After winning the game fifteen to twelve, the racial concepts all but got better. All because of Mandela knowing how to be creative and smart, he brought people together. This is what I want to be like.
Reading Invictus, I have learned to not let myself ever think I am better than a black man. Even with a black president, we are still a nation ruined by wealthy white men. I think this is wrong, racial differences should be equal. Second being a man of smarts alone doesn't get you to where you want to be. It is one thing to have all the brain power in the world, but if you don't think things through all the way, or in a creative way, you will boring and lazy. Mandela is a great man of knowing what is right and wrong and being smart and creative all at the same time. Today even if racism is not so evident, we still see it in who runs are country. The wealthy white man is really in charge of our country.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Nelson Mandela and Imvictus 1
Benet Kinghorn
SS
3/5/2010
" Out of the night that covers me, black as the pit from pole to pole, I think whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul." Invictus written by William Ernest Benley. Nelson Mandela went through the madness of not gods, but of a government that wanted his soul. Nelson at this time was leading a group of people wanting an un-racial government. Mandela was sent to jail for leading this group because of a conviction of sabotage during his leadership of the group. After being in jail for twenty-seven years he was released on February 11, 1990. After this he put more emphasis on a multi-racial democracy in South Africa. After four years he won the battle and became president on May 10, 1994.
Mandela, to me, is a strong, smart, and willful man. He has provided many blacks freedom from the racial government of South Africa. He was able to bring a nation together through the sport of Rugby. Rugby, being a popular sport in South Africa, is a most loved sport. Set to have the Rugby World Cup in1995, Mandela set out and changed the whole outlook of the people towards the South African Springboks. The team, consisting of mostly white team members, with only one black, was not very pleasing to most South Africans. On the other hand, the World Cup interested the blacks enough to back their country instead of hating it because of all the racial whites around them. During the World Cup all people came to see the games, especially the game with New Zealand. They were the most successful team in the world at the time. South Africa won the game fifteen to twelve. Winning the game started the uphill battle leading to racial freedom.
To me, Mandela is a great role model teaching the importance of equality. It doesn't matter if you are black, white, or green. We all are smart and should have the same rights as the next guy. Mandela being a smart man, brought a racial-torn country together with a sport they all loved to watch. Being a man of smarts and creativity is the best combination to me because of knowing what to do and how to do it in a creative and not so loud way. A man of knowing what to do is one thing, but a man that actually gets the job done is remarkable. Nelson Mandela is the man I would like to be like someday .
SS
3/5/2010
" Out of the night that covers me, black as the pit from pole to pole, I think whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul." Invictus written by William Ernest Benley. Nelson Mandela went through the madness of not gods, but of a government that wanted his soul. Nelson at this time was leading a group of people wanting an un-racial government. Mandela was sent to jail for leading this group because of a conviction of sabotage during his leadership of the group. After being in jail for twenty-seven years he was released on February 11, 1990. After this he put more emphasis on a multi-racial democracy in South Africa. After four years he won the battle and became president on May 10, 1994.
Mandela, to me, is a strong, smart, and willful man. He has provided many blacks freedom from the racial government of South Africa. He was able to bring a nation together through the sport of Rugby. Rugby, being a popular sport in South Africa, is a most loved sport. Set to have the Rugby World Cup in1995, Mandela set out and changed the whole outlook of the people towards the South African Springboks. The team, consisting of mostly white team members, with only one black, was not very pleasing to most South Africans. On the other hand, the World Cup interested the blacks enough to back their country instead of hating it because of all the racial whites around them. During the World Cup all people came to see the games, especially the game with New Zealand. They were the most successful team in the world at the time. South Africa won the game fifteen to twelve. Winning the game started the uphill battle leading to racial freedom.
To me, Mandela is a great role model teaching the importance of equality. It doesn't matter if you are black, white, or green. We all are smart and should have the same rights as the next guy. Mandela being a smart man, brought a racial-torn country together with a sport they all loved to watch. Being a man of smarts and creativity is the best combination to me because of knowing what to do and how to do it in a creative and not so loud way. A man of knowing what to do is one thing, but a man that actually gets the job done is remarkable. Nelson Mandela is the man I would like to be like someday .
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