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 .