In January 2003, my late wife and I went to South Africa on the recommendation of our oldest son whose work had taken him there on several occasions. We flew from Atlanta to Johannesburg, checked into a hotel, went to a mall, bought a book of country maps, rented a car and drove all around beautiful SA for the next two months. One of the stops along our journey was a visit to
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| Robben Island Prison |
Robben Island where Nelson Mandela had been imprisoned for more than 20 years.
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| Mandela's cell. |
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We walked in the stone quarry where he labored. We could only imagine what life must have been for him there and, like former President Bill Clinton, we remain amazed that Mandela came out of 27 years imprisonment with love and a desire for reconciliation of all South Africans in his heart.He said he lived on hate for the first eleven years and then slowly his mind changed his heart.
Mr. Mandela died last week at age 95. South Africa mourns him and will be a lesser place in his absence. The good he accomplished in his one term in the presidency has been squandered in recent years but his memory lives on
and with effort South Africa can be again a leader on the continent and a land of fulfillment for all races and creeds.
May his soul rest in peace.
