The greatness of Nelson Mandela exposes the deficiencies of the current political class in the world.
If the Fab Four from Liverpool revolutionized music, and Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, which definitely curtailed deadly diseases, Madiba leaves behind as his legacy a master lesson on how to do politics in difficult times.
Current Statesmen should take note. Given the hesitations and weaknesses of President Obama, who does not want, does not know or cannot deal with a hostile Congress and is overwhelmed by the spying of his Special Services all over the world, by the poor administration of Mariano Rajoy in Spain or by Syria's deep-seated autocrat Bashar al-Assad, who continues to slaughter his people, every self-respecting Statesman should learn from Nelson Mandela’s political strategies.
Mandela was not perfect. He was labeled a communist and a troublemaker. Until 2008, the FBI had him on their list of terrorists. But he knew how to maneuver in the turbulent waters of a nation in which State racism and the intrigues of his party –the African National Congress- prevailed and was able to achieve the miracle of national unity in South Africa.
The colossal process began in prison--from a prison cell in Robben, where for 27 years he was behind bars-. When in 1994 Madiba became president, he understood that, considering the political fragility of the country, his mission was to make sure that everyone was duly represented in the first democratic government of their nation.
He was a president for all South Africans, not only for his supporters. He could have taken revenge. He had the support of the majority. He controlled all the levers of power that would have permitted him to polarize society and adopt retaliatory strategies in the name of justice for his people, where a majority of 27 million blacks were segregated and trampled upon for decades by a regime which represented 3 million whites. He did nothing of the sort. He overcame hatred. He learned to forgive.
In his five years in office, Mandela laid the ground for his political magnificence. His ethics, honesty and transparency were his letter of introduction. He was a friend to many without ever compromising his political perspective. A man for all seasons of diplomacy and respect for others.
His great friend in America, Fidel Castro, now retired from power, could also draw lessons from Mandela’s virtuous style.
No one can doubt the sincere friendship that linked Castro with Madiba. Only months after leaving prison in July 1991, he visited Cuba. The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, where Cuban and Angolan troops destroyed several South African columns, was the final blow to the hateful apartheid regime.
But where the two statesmen have nothing in common is in the methods employed to achieve national harmony. If Fidel Castro had been like Nelson Mandela, he would have sat at the negotiation table a long time ago, to bargain with his political opponents.
First he would have spoken with the dissidents. Then with the White House. If Mandela had been Castro, the embargo would be ancient history. That ability that Mandela had to adapt to changing times and to live with democratic rules, the Cuban leader does not have.
Castro still thinks like a relic of the Cold War. Current dissidents ought to take note also of Mandela’s attitude and strategies.
If Madiba have been the leader of the opposition on the Island, in addition to sending messages to the world denouncing the human rights’ violations, and after analyzing the internal situation, he would have opted for a bigger and better job of social and political proselytizing within the neighborhoods and the communities.
What couldn’t a man like Mandela have accomplished if, when talking to the common Cuban, he would have noticed that 8 out of 10 Cubans are tired and disgusted of the ancient government and the abominable economic mismanagement of the Castro regime?
We could have used a Nelson Mandela in Cuba. His precepts should be engraved in Gothic letters and all should read them once a week. Like a Bible.
If the Fab Four from Liverpool revolutionized music, and Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, which definitely curtailed deadly diseases, Madiba leaves behind as his legacy a master lesson on how to do politics in difficult times.
Current Statesmen should take note. Given the hesitations and weaknesses of President Obama, who does not want, does not know or cannot deal with a hostile Congress and is overwhelmed by the spying of his Special Services all over the world, by the poor administration of Mariano Rajoy in Spain or by Syria's deep-seated autocrat Bashar al-Assad, who continues to slaughter his people, every self-respecting Statesman should learn from Nelson Mandela’s political strategies.
Mandela was not perfect. He was labeled a communist and a troublemaker. Until 2008, the FBI had him on their list of terrorists. But he knew how to maneuver in the turbulent waters of a nation in which State racism and the intrigues of his party –the African National Congress- prevailed and was able to achieve the miracle of national unity in South Africa.
The colossal process began in prison--from a prison cell in Robben, where for 27 years he was behind bars-. When in 1994 Madiba became president, he understood that, considering the political fragility of the country, his mission was to make sure that everyone was duly represented in the first democratic government of their nation.
He was a president for all South Africans, not only for his supporters. He could have taken revenge. He had the support of the majority. He controlled all the levers of power that would have permitted him to polarize society and adopt retaliatory strategies in the name of justice for his people, where a majority of 27 million blacks were segregated and trampled upon for decades by a regime which represented 3 million whites. He did nothing of the sort. He overcame hatred. He learned to forgive.
In his five years in office, Mandela laid the ground for his political magnificence. His ethics, honesty and transparency were his letter of introduction. He was a friend to many without ever compromising his political perspective. A man for all seasons of diplomacy and respect for others.
His great friend in America, Fidel Castro, now retired from power, could also draw lessons from Mandela’s virtuous style.
No one can doubt the sincere friendship that linked Castro with Madiba. Only months after leaving prison in July 1991, he visited Cuba. The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, where Cuban and Angolan troops destroyed several South African columns, was the final blow to the hateful apartheid regime.
But where the two statesmen have nothing in common is in the methods employed to achieve national harmony. If Fidel Castro had been like Nelson Mandela, he would have sat at the negotiation table a long time ago, to bargain with his political opponents.
First he would have spoken with the dissidents. Then with the White House. If Mandela had been Castro, the embargo would be ancient history. That ability that Mandela had to adapt to changing times and to live with democratic rules, the Cuban leader does not have.
Castro still thinks like a relic of the Cold War. Current dissidents ought to take note also of Mandela’s attitude and strategies.
If Madiba have been the leader of the opposition on the Island, in addition to sending messages to the world denouncing the human rights’ violations, and after analyzing the internal situation, he would have opted for a bigger and better job of social and political proselytizing within the neighborhoods and the communities.
What couldn’t a man like Mandela have accomplished if, when talking to the common Cuban, he would have noticed that 8 out of 10 Cubans are tired and disgusted of the ancient government and the abominable economic mismanagement of the Castro regime?
We could have used a Nelson Mandela in Cuba. His precepts should be engraved in Gothic letters and all should read them once a week. Like a Bible.
