The significance of President Nelson Mandela to President Barack Obama
By Roger Caldwell
President Nelson Mandela’s physical body has left this dimension, but his spiritual, political, economic, educational, and psychological impact he had on South Africa and the globe is a study in humanity. He was sent here to liberate a nation and a world, and inspire us that we can be greater than we were yesterday. Mandela was truly an angel, because his heart was pure, and he lived each day with a smile on his face.
He has been to the mountaintop, and the 27 years he spent in prison only imprisoned his physical body. But his mind and spirit belonged to the ages, and the millions of people he inspired. President Mandela transformed the world as the greatest shepherd of peace and he consistently radiated love.
The world will never under-stand the ruthless brutality that Mandela and his nation endured from a small group of people, who stole the resources and government apparatus from the indigenous people of the land. They were supported by the most powerful countries in the world, and the United States listed Mandela as a global terrorist until 2008.
There is a fundamental in-sanity that exists within the world powers, and many times they cannot distinguish right from wrong. Many of these governments believe that their destiny is to rule the world, and never answer or be accountable for their actions. But President Mandela was a freedom fighter first, then a statesman, and President Barack Obama has followed in his footsteps, yet our president’s fight is in America.
“During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against Black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities,” are words from President Mandela.
It was extremely ironic that Mandela was the first Black President of South Africa, and he lived to see President Obama become the first Black President of America. To many in America it was a miracle to have a Black President. But in South African it was also a miracle for Mandela to gain his freedom from prison, and next become the president of the country.
“The day he was released from prison gave me a sense of what human beings can do, when guided by their hopes rather than their fears. Like so many around the globe, I cannot fully imagine my own life without the example set by Nelson Mandela,” says President Obama.
Many times in the political battles in Washington, every-one wonders how President Obama can be so patient and cool. But now I understand that his example, mentor, and guide were also his moral compass. Mandela endured greater suffering and cruelty for four decades that President Obama could not even fathom, yet he was able to smile at his enemies, once he became their leader.
Mandela has taught our President that greatness is a result of the domination of the brain over emotions. I am sure there are times that President Obama gets angry with the Republicans, and he wants to curse them out, but instead he tells a good joke and operates from a position of grace and majesty.
There are many parallels between both men and each one overcame great challenges, but Mandela came first. Mandela was the father to the world and President Obama is the son to the world. Both men are a light and inspiration to the world, and Mandela has passed the torch to President Obama.
