:: Life Of Dave ::

Nelson Mandela

On the drive home from work I heard the news that Nelson Mandela had passed away. He was 95, which seems an excellent age to live to, especially given he spent nearly three decades in prison. He would probably not characterize it this way, since he spent a lot of time trying to ensure that South Africa didn't disintegrate under the weight of its past, but it seems to me a nice middle finger to the people who supported apartheid that he lived for so long after his imprisonment, and did so much. I also appreciate the fact that he was able to come around to peace and reconciliation, despite an earlier support for armed resistance. On a personal level, Mandela forms part of my earliest memories of politics - I remember vividly the boycott of Coca Cola, and my own complete incomprehension that something like apartheid could exist in the world.