Yesterday I was asked what I thought of the controversy surrounding Nelson Mandela and the idea that he is being kept alive for the sake of the nation.
My inner reaction was ‘is that true?’ as I’ve not heard that per se. I pay scant attention to the news, though it is becoming clear that as the local Mandela expert, I had better pay attention to this topic.
Yes, he is on life support, and according to the morning news of 9 July 2013, ‘very much alive.’
As a fellow African, it is easy for me to accept that his spirit is reluctant to go because of the feud in his family. He can’t be at peace while this is going on. That is one thing. But to keep him alive for the sake of the nation; if that is what is going on; or to keep anyone alive for the sake of what might happen if they are no longer in this mortal world, is very selfish and disrespectful.
Financial Legacy
There is much speculations about the financial legacy of Nelson Mandela and accusations of a scramble for financial gain. The case that caught my attention was the reports that two of Mandela’s daughters want George Bizos and two others removed from the board of Mandela companies. The claim was that Bizos and the two others were never appointed as shareholders or directors. George Bizos acted as Mandela’s lawyer long before Mandela was incarcerated in Robben Island. If Mandela asked him to look after his affairs, whether that agreement was verbal or in writing; in my view it has to be honoured. I can’t see Bizos acting disrespectfully towards Mandela, his family or his affairs. It goes against the grain, the friendship and the trust Mandela placed in him for 50 odd years. My belief is that Bizos acts and is acting out of good will.
Moving the Dead
Then there is Mandla, his grandson, accused of exhuming and moving the remains of his siblings to Mveso some years ago. I would like to think he did that with his grandfather’s blessing. Recent news suggests it was not the case. If not, he was out of order. Even as that order is restored and the remains reburied in Qunu, the place of Mandela’s childhood, there’s another storm raging on whether or not Mandla is Mandela’s rightful heir and whether he should be stripped of his chieftaincy.
It is very sad these things should be going on at all, let alone at this time.
Another long walk to freedom?
As for the nation, the government, his family or anyone else not letting him go as is alleged, there is a time to die and a time to be born. Mandela’s body is worn out. He has walked a long walk to freedom to release the shackles of apartheid. Must he now walk another long walk to freedom to release his spirit from this mortal life? Kept in prison for more than 27 years, are we imprisoning him now with the family feud and our own reluctance to let a beloved icon; a beloved family member, a beloved leader go?
Let them go with love and compassion
I think it is disrespectful to the cycle and circle of life to interfere with the process of death. There is a dignity about death. It is a transition to something else. Perhaps the greatest gift we can give someone is to when their time comes, to let them go with love and compassion. So many times you hear stories of people being rushed to hospital to be resuscitated just because a family member could not bear to see them go and so deny them a peaceful death. I think it is a tragedy that in the West we have made death a bogeyman; not to be talked about; something to be scared of.
From what I know of African culture, there is a deep respect for elders and a deep respect for life, including death. If that has changed, it is as a result of Western influence.
This is a difficult time for Mandela’s family; feuding or no feuding. They are in the public eye because of him. As such they attract criticism and speculation. May love and wisdom prevail despite the speculations and misrepresentations of journalists and those of us who comment so freely.
The greatest tribute
The greatest tribute we can pay Nelson Mandela is to honour his legacy and the things he taught us. And live it each and every day.
What does freedom mean if we are still shackled to the chains of our mind that cast one against another?
Madiba taught us to get to know our enemies so we can work with them and become partners together. Madiba taught us forgiveness. Madiba taught us to recognise and acknowledge the spark of goodness that lies in each one of us. Madiba taught us the value of reflection, of collaboration, of listening. He taught us to take action on behalf of what’s good for everyone. He taught us to take care of the next generation.
He lived these things; he did not just preach them; he walked his talk. And if he messed up, as I am sure he did from time to time, because as humans, that’s part of our humanity, he learnt from it.
A Prayer
He deserves peace. He deserves our blessing and our love. More than anything else, he deserves to be honoured in our daily actions, practicing and living the principals he taught us. Only then can we claim we are truly free.
Photo Credit: South Africa The Good News / www.sagoodnews.co.za
[CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
