"The 3 Decisions That Made Nelson Mandela A Great Leader"

[applegrove]

The 3 Decisions That Made Nelson Mandela A Great Leader

by Paul J. H. Shoemaker, Inc/ Business Insider


http://www.businessinsider.com/the-3-decisions-that-made-nelson-mandela-a-great-leader-2013-12

"SNIP..........................................


1985: Turning down Botha's offer of conditional amnesty

In a 1985 speech to the nation, pro-apartheid President F. W. Botha offered Mandela freedom if he renounced violence and other illegal activity. The President tried to shift the blame for imprisonment to Mandela himself: after all, he was now free to go, provided he would be law abiding. Mandela did not fall for this transparent ploy. Yes, he very much desired freedom after decades of hard labor and confinement in a small cell. But he also felt it would betray his principles, his leadership and the ANC’s long struggle. Here is how Mandela replied, in part, to President Botha’s disingenuous offer:

“What freedom am I being offered while the organization of the people remains banned?.... What freedom am I being offered if I must ask permission to live in an urban area?.... Only free men can negotiate. Prisoners cannot enter into contracts.”

Mandela turned down Botha and opted to stay in his cold, dark prison cell -- about 8 feet by 8 feet in size -- and was prepared to serve out the remainder of his life sentence. This strategic decision was enormously powerful, since it greatly elevated his position as the face of the ANC’s opposition, while also drawing attention to his enormous personal sacrifice.

1993: Finding a way to make peace in the wake of Chris Hani's assassination



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[Cha]

1. Mahalo, applegrove.. makes for

very interesting reading!

[applegrove]

2. Hey Cha. Sad day as Mandela belongs to the "ages" now as they say. I liked that

he refused to be known as a saint.... said that he was a man who had made mistakes in his life....a much more grown up view of what a leader is than what we used to worship in the 20th century.

[Cha]

3. Yes, a sad day for the passing of a beautiful life who

did so much to bring about equality in South Africa and the World~

Here's a short vid of Nelson Mandela in Massachusetts with Teddy Kennedy in 1990 that is very precious! When we all were so young!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4139387

[sheshe2]

4. Beautiful, applegrove, thank you for posting this.

The most famous lines of this landmark speech are inscribed in stone on Robben Island. Here is part of what he said:

“We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discriminations. Never, never and never again shall this beautiful land experience the oppression of one by another….


Read more: http://www.inc.com/paul-schoemaker/what-made-nelson-mandela-such-a-great-leader.html?cid=sf01001#ixzz2meiCKgKL

[applegrove]

5. That is so great. I wonder if I'll ever get to that part of Africa. I've always wanted to

go.

[Cha]

6. Okay, I've had a chance to read the whole thing now..

When turning down President Botha's condition of release.. he was prepared to spend the rest of his life in his cell.

"Only free men can negotiate. Prisoners cannot enter into contracts.”

And, 5 years later he was in Massachusetts.. and then a year before he was elected President.. from your link..

1993: Finding a way to make peace in the wake of Chris Hani's assassination"

Tonight, I am reaching out to every single South African, black and white, from the very depths of my being. A white man, full of prejudice and hate, came to our country and committed a deed so foul that our whole nation now teeters on the brink of disaster. A white woman, of Afrikaner origin, risked her life so that we may know and bring to justice, this assassin."

1994: Refusing to stand for a second term as president

"The most famous lines of this landmark speech are inscribed in stone on Robben Island. Here is part of what he said:

“We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discriminations. Never, never and never again shall this beautiful land experience the oppression of one by another…."

Thank you again, applegrove.. I learned so much for this.