Freedom fighter, prisoner, moral compass and South Africa's symbol of the struggle against racial oppression.
That was Nelson Mandela
who emerged from prison after 27 years to lead his country out of decades of
apartheid.
He died Thursday night at age 95
His message of reconciliation, not vengeance,
inspired the world after he negotiated a peaceful end to segregation and urged
forgiveness for the white government that imprisoned him.
"As I walked out the door toward the gate that
would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred
behind, I'd still be in prison," Mandela said after he was freed in 1990.
Mandela, a former president, battled health issues in recent years, including a recurring lung infection that led to numerous hospitalizations.
Despite rare public appearances, he held a special
place in the consciousness of the nation and the world.
"Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our
people have lost a father," South African President Jacob Zuma said.
"What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw
in him what we seek in ourselves."
His U.S. counterpart, Barack Obama, echoed the same
sentiment.
"We've lost one of the most influential,
courageous and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with
on this Earth," Obama said. "He no longer belongs to us -- he belongs
to the ages."
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