Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela

I’ve never really thought of strong political leaders having birthdays. They always seem formal and distinguished, so who can envision them sitting around a table with their family and friends, wearing neon party hats and blowing out their birthday candles. But everyone has a birthday, and today, there are people in South Africa celebrating Nelson Mandela’s.

Nelson Mandela is to South Africa what George Washington is to America. Nearly everyone admires and loves him. He emerged on the world stage when he was imprisoned as the leader of the African National Congress, seeking to overthrow his nation’s oppressive apartheid regime. He will forever be known for the dignity and tone of reconciliation that he struck when he negotiated the end of apartheid, winning Nobel Peace Prize and becoming South Africa’s president.

A few months ago, my Dad was invited to South Africa on journalism business, and I got to tag along. On the last day of our visit, we got a special tour of Soweto by a college student and her mom, both who were incredibly nice.

We stopped by a little street corner where people were all lined up in front of a little brick house that could’ve easily passed for a shed. There was a little trash can and broom in the front of it, and a modest flower bed. The inside had a table, a few trinkets and some wool blankets. It was only till I entered the 10’ by 5’ living room that I realized that the house was the former residence of Nelson Mandela. The living room had wall to wall shelves stuffed with awards that seemed to have been given to Mandela in honor of his political works.

A plaque outside had a quote by Nelson Mandela, where he told about the time his house was surrounded by policemen and no one could get out or in. I couldn’t even imagine policeman armed with guns standing at the ready, shoulder to shoulder, outside this sweet little cozy nook of a house.

In the nearby sprawling city of Johannesburg, I saw one of the harsh prisons where he was first detained, with claustrophobic dank cells. His life story is a central part of Apartheid Museum, which captures the punishing history of segregation. Unimaginable just 20 years ago, there is now a beautiful painting of him that is the centerpiece of the ritzy Rand Club, once a whites-only private enclave for mining owners. And the biggest bridge in the city is a beautiful span named after him. Perhaps that is the most appropriate because of the way he bridged the divisions in his nation after decades of repression.

What I want to say is the modern savior of South Africa, who went through a hard life, is celebrating his 93rd birthday, and our world is a better place because of him.