Friday, July 18, 2008

Happy 90th Birthday Nelson Mandela!

Today is Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday. One of the greatest living freedom fighters in the world, Mandela stands as a living symbol of hope for oppressed and tyrannized people everywhere. Thank you Papa Mandela! Your life example is an inspiration to MILLIONS who are struggling for a more humane and democratic way of being... you have changed the world! We are all blessed by your continued presence here with us.

NPR has produced and posted a really good audio history of Nelson Mandela. Please check it out!

Here is another NPR piece.

Mandela's "pivotal moment."

NPR also has a slew of other excellent programs reflecting on the tenth anniversary of apartheid's demise in South Africa. Again, great stuff. Please check it out!

PRI has an interesting segment on race and reconciliation in South Africa today.

Listen to an interview on Democracy Now! related to Mandela's 90th birthday.

A 1961 news report on South Africa featuring an early interview with Mandela:


Here is the historic BBC news report of Mandela's release from prison in 1990.

A PSA of Mandela speaking of tolerance:


Mandela's 1994 Inaugural Speech:


George Bush making an ass of himself, declarinjg "Mandela's dead":


Mandela has inspired many musicians to create songs in his honor. Take a listen to a few:

Mikey Dread, "Nelson Mandela":
Nelson Mandela - Mikey Dread

Special AKA, "Nelson Mandela":
Nelson Mandela (Extended Version) - The Special AKA

New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble, "Nelson Mandela":
Nelson Mandela - New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble

Bono, the Edge, David A. Stewart, Abdel Wright, Youssou N'Dour, "Long Walk to Freedom":
24 46664 Long Walk To Freedom (con Bono y Moritz).mp3 -

Various, "Amandla":


And, of course, Nelson Mandela was not the only Freedom Fighter in South Africa. Not everyone made it through the struggle alive and we should also pause on this special birthday to remember those martyrs. To that end, here is Peter Gabriel singing his classic, "Biko," in honor of Steve Biko, who was imprisoned, tortured and murdered by the racist government of South Africa... all for advocating equality, democracy and justice for black people in his country:


What will each of us do to carry on this struggle? What will each of us do to honor the legacy of Mandela, Biko and all the other Freedom Fighters across the globe? What will YOU do?

No comments:

Post a Comment