(From PBS.org)
He united a nation and inspired the world.
In the wake of Nelson Mandela's passing, we've made FRONTLINE's The Long Walk of Nelson Mandela available to watch online for the very first time.
In The Long Walk of Nelson Mandela, FRONTLINE tells the intimate and surprising story of the Nelson Mandela few people know: a bomb-throwing revolutionary who became a skilled politician in prison, and a passionate man who sacrificed the love of his life for a country that needed him more.
Watch and blog, what YOU and YOUR GOVERNMENT LEADERS can learn from Nelson Mandela.
Viewers & Teachers Guide
43 comments:
"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate." There are many things to learn from Nelson Mandela. This quote in particular presents a very important lesson that we as people shouldn't judge people on the way they look, their beliefs, etc, but instead learn to be more accepting and loving of the people in our society. Government leaders can also learn from Nelson Mandela. They can take from his life how to handle adversity. Even though Nelson Mandela was in prison for a long time he still came out with a positive understanding attitude, and still worked hard to obtain his goals despite the horrible situation. -Tara P
In prison Mandela persuaded the racist guards to treat him as any other man. Mandela realized that if he could change the guards then he could change the thoughts and beliefs of the people in South Africa. Our political leaders need to look and learn from Mandela today so that we may have a more equal future tomorrow.
"When other people want to walk fast, insist on walking slow" Nelson Mandela was a great man, and he will continue to live in our minds and hearts. I think this quote shows how special Mandela was because it took a lot to stand up for what he thought was right. The quote represents that you shouldn't just let people treat you the wrong way and not do anything about it. Mandela was very different from everyone else, and he was not afraid to stand out from the crowd, he was a great man.
Mandela lived a great life. He influenced others in many ways. One which was influencing guards while in prison to treat him as a original man. The fact that he convinced those guards showed that he can change others viewpoints of citizens in South Africa. Our government can take what he did and apply it to our future.
"he was a fearless man ready to do anything" nelson mandela wanted nothing but everyone to have an equal right of freesom and he tried to show and teach everyone that you are the same as them and you shouldnt treat them any different then the way you would treat your friends. mandela also shows that you shouldnt hate anyone that lives around you because they are trying to do what you may be trying as well and why hate someone if you are both following in the same foot steps and living under the same ruler.
Nelson Mandela was regarded as a man who wanted peace between people of all races. This is evident when he states, "I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony." He was not a bias man because of the color of his skin. I, along with government leaders, can learn to want peace in the world from Nelson Mandela's actions and beliefs. We can also learn not to hold a grudge against another country or a group of people. Mandela exhibits the leadership quality of forgive and forget when he does not develop bitterness while facing a life sentence in prison. He takes the harsh sentence with grace and acceptance. What everyone can truly learn from him comes from his actions after he is released from jail after 27 years behind bars. His first goal is not to seek revenge on those that imprisoned him. His sole goal and wish is to eliminate the divide between races and create peace amongst all people. Because of these reasons, along with many others, everyone can truly learn from Nelson Mandela.
Nelson Mandela was truly an amazing man. He knew what he believe in and he didn't stop until is belief came to flourishing. Mandela, "Sacrificed the love of his life for a country who needed him more". Mandela knew that his country could be so much greater than what it presented its self to be, and he believed he was the one who could do it. Mandela was faced with a life changing decision and ultimately chose his country when he went to prison. I have learned that when you truly believe in something you must be fully committed to do whatever it takes to see your dream/belief pass,no matter how big the sacrifice or consequence. I feel my government today can learn in order to be a great leader you must make great sacrifice. There are endless lessons that can be learned from the great Nelson Mandela however this one stood out the most to me today.
“He was born ‘Rolihlahla’, shaker of trees, he became Nelson Mandela, and shook the world”. I believe this may be one of the most powerful statements I have heard that captures the entire life of this great man. Nelson Mandela teaches all of us that no matter how small or insignificant you may feel, sometimes it only takes one person to change, or shake, the world. Nelson Mandela tells us all to stand up for ourselves when we experience something we don't agree with and encourages us to go against the norm of society and to challenge the so-called “majority”.
"People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love" I think we all can learn from Nelson Mandela's tentative struggle to bring whites and blacks together.We all are capable of hate but love comes naturally.Our government can learn best from Mandela's powerful choice in weapons,his voice and a ballot box.
"Mandela had said 'the enemy is not surrendering, all he's left with is his army, intact, Mandela said'" To me this quote was one of the most powerful I heard in the film. To me it shows how much everyone really stood by him and the massive movement he created. Despite his sentence his followers stood by him through it all. Even when the times were the toughest his army came through it all and remained strong. To me that just shows how much of an impact he really had on the world and his followers. We can learn so much from Nelson Mandela. Sometimes our voice and our impact are our biggest weapon. Bigger and more successful than any bomb or man-made weapon available. Nelson Mandela was an amazing man who's legacy will live on forever as someone who never gave up fighting for what he believed in and whose followers never stopped fighting for him or their cause.
Nelson Mandela once said, "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." This quote is very inspiring and it shows something many people in this world need to learn. People think that courage is often like bravery and involves no fear but Mandela reassured us that it is normal to feel fear but to overcome it is what will make you courageous. It is important to realize that Mandela with this admits to have been scared at times with the things he was doing but regardless he kept on going and overcame this fear to do the great things he did for what he believed in. Without his fear of what he was doing he would have never had the drive to overcome it and never had as much motivation as he did to fight for what he believed in. Fear is essential in our lives and when used the right way can lead us to do great things.
It is very interesting to me how a man who doesn't necessarily follow the rules can become the most influential and empowering of men to ever live. This is why I love the story of Nelson Mandela. He was a man who led with great reason, but when reason was not heard, he led with great demeanor. He was not a man like Ghandi. He may have led, but he did it in a different way. He led with action, not with words alone. The man was in jail for 20+ years, but he continued to bring action for his people. Ever since his death, I have researched a lot about Nelson Mandela's life, and I am consistently in awe by what he did for his people, and how it has positively affected this world. A man that was once considered a terrorist, has shown through leadership that he was just the opposite. A man who would do anything to create a harmonic and peaceful world.
"he became Nelson Mandela and shook the world" this quote stands out so much because it is saying how big of an impact he had on the world and how much of an amazing influence he had on us. Mandela truly shows us how one person can make such a big difference as long as he tries.
The opening quote within itself, "he was born Rolihlahla, shaker of trees, he became Nelson Mandela and shook the world", really sums of Mandela as a person. The government and we can learn from him that not one person should go unaccounted for and no matter who you are, you can achieve any goal despite the situation. Mandela showed the world how to achieve success through any situation because even though he was imprisoned for 27 years, he came out a stronger man and ready to work. He came out ready to put aside differences and work alongside the men who imprisoned him in order to achieve a common goal. We should really take away from all of the unbelievable things that Mandela achieved, because he pushed through situations we couldn't even begin to grasp and he came out on top.
About an hour in, the documentary tells of how Mandela was isolated from his ANC cellmates. Mandela then asks to begin talks with the government. Officials begins meeting with Mandela in private, and Mandela does not tell his advisors at first. This attempt to find a compromise was opposed by many ANC members and his close advisors. I think today's leaders should do as Mandela has, and not be afraid to against their backers and parties in order to compromise and do what is best for everyone.
As a whole, people can be reminded that we should not judge others around us and if we can learn to hate others we can just as easily learn again to accept them again. Government leaders should see that Mandela knew what he stood for, he wanted equality and he never strayed from what he stood for and he never gave up trying to gain that equality for people even after being in jail. I feel like a lot of leaders just want the majority of people to like them so they'll say whatever they think they need to in order to receive the votes they need and they will not have peoples best interest at heart. Mandela's first priority was getting people the equality they deserved and that is what set him apart. He had good intentions and he did not let anything lead him astray from his goals.
When the narrator talks about how Mandela sent letters to a government official so people could learn in prison I thought it was a small act that showed the true character of Mandella. It wasn't the biggest issue but he spent years writing letters in order to be heard and that is a lot of time and effort for a subjects that a small percentage of people would care about. I think that is a very good trait to have for any individual or government because if we care enough about something we can change it.
The leaders of our country today can definitely learn a lot from Nelson Mandela. I think his greatest traits were his persistence and fearlessness, both of which our leaders could certainly use. He was a persistent man like no other - dedicating his life to ending Apartheid. The problem with many politicians in our country is that they accept things the way they are. Our country is far from perfect, yet many of our leaders (especially in Congress) are complacent and cynical about how it's impossible to fix a broken system. Mandela restlessly fought against racial segregation that had been in place for decades and was widely accepted. However, nothing would stop him. Additionally, he did not fear the consequences of his actions. He believed 100% in what he was fighting for, and if it meant spending years in prison, then so be it. His complete courage aided him in becoming Prime Minister, shortly after being released from prison. Politicians today need to be fearless like Nelson Mandela. Instead of constantly worrying about getting re-elected and not wanting to take stands on certain controversial issues, they need to have more of a backbone.
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” This is my favorite qoute from Nelson Mendela because this is the truth. We unconsciously learn hate as children and act from our hate as we get older until it becomes a habit. Mendela believed that a person can discontinue his hateful habits and learn to love all men equally.
In this video Nelson Mandela said that "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it". I think this is a very good quote to show in a way how courageous Mandela was. He did not show fear in what he did because he knew if he feared of the possible danger he was putting himself in, then he wouldnt have gotten done all the historic work he did. When being a leader and a hero, there is not time or space for fear, you have to be charasmatic, determined, and courageous just like Nelson Mandela showed. His legacy will NEVER be forgotten
"He was born Rolihlahla, shaker of trees, he became Nelson Mandela and shook the world" is a very powerful quote in itself but it also speaks volumes about the type of person Mr. Mandela was. Starting out as a poor tribal boy with little influence in the world to a world renowned man who lead a country in its march to freedom.
I believe the US government could learn plenty from Nelson Mandela but first and foremost, they need to listen to their CITIZENS! The same people who put you in power can just as easily take it away and I think the government sometimes needs reminding of that. Nelson Mandela always seemed to make it one of his top priorities to insure that he was helping his people and listening to their concerns.
I as a person can learn a lot from Nelson Mandela. Sometimes...you don't NEED to use violence to get your point across. Sometimes, heated words and bold actions can get someone's attention just as easily as if you'd punched them in the nose.
Mandela fought against racial segregation, that had been in place for decades and was widely accepted. There was not a day that went by that he didn't fight for what he stood for. Nelson stated that People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love" this shows that he had love for everyone even the ones that hated him or what he stood for. You can never go wrong with love. Courage is not the absence of fear, courage is a right to have courage takes alot from someone &' Nelson was a man that had it &' stood for alot more.
"another person should not be treated differently because of the color of their skin". Nelson Mandela believed in fairness and equality for all regardless of their skin color. The fact the he made the gaurds treat him equally shows that Mandela is able to convince someone in higher authority to consent in his beliefs.
I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. I believe he is very inspirational due to this quote. It really reaches out to those who really are afraid to overcome things because of fear and that anyone can have courage if they overcome that fear and not making excuses for themselves.
"Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people." This quote from Nelson Mendela is very important to his character because of how much he wanted to help change his country. He was so determined he even gave up someone he loved very much, his wife. Also Mendela sacrificed part of his life in jail and was not even mad or showed any anger. He is truly a great man.
Nelson Mandela drafted his speech in prison, “I have challenged the idea for a free and democratic society. It is an idea which I hope to live for and to achieve. But it is an idea for which I'm prepared to die.” We should learn his attitude when facing difficulties. He had a gold, and wanted to fight for a free society with his life. Nelson Mandela had the desire to change, to contribute his life for his gold. Our government also needs this kind of desire. We have golds and we want to change, but the difference is that we are not eager enough to take the steps. From Nelson Mandela, I learned that we'll need actions to achieve anything.
Mandela was a Beast!! he believed in his dream of rights and peace and chased them day in and day out. He has a great mind that only sees positivity. he said "People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love". This is so true in many ways cause think about it no one is born with hatred in their heart. If todays leaders thought like nelson Mandela did not only would world peace be tangible but it be very, very, possible.
Nelson Mandela was a Beast!! He Chased his dream and vision of freedom and rights no matter what. in doing this he loved those who hated. I believe that he said even if we get are freedom and rights its not right to have hatred in anyone's heart. He said "People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love". This point is important saying no human is bore with hatred and negativity inside of them it is something learned. If you can learn the bad why cant the same be done with the good? If todays leaders had this mentality, World peace would be tangible and very, very, possible.
Jocelyn Rodriguez
" A real leader must be ready to sacrifice all for freedom for their people" i feel like this quote was a very significant statement that described Mandela because he truly sacrificed his freedom for what he believed in. He spent 20 plus years in a prison to sacrifice his freedom and to show that Mandela was for the people and that he was willing to make such a large impact on his peoples right. Mandela will truly be remembered not only did he have such an impact on his own country but as well as other countries around the world. He may be gone but his legacy will live forever.
Maya O
Nelson Mandela said"At the end of the day violence was the only weapon to end apartheid."
Nelson Mandela once said, "Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people". The legacy of Nelson Mandela and his ability to find success in a country so filled with hatred are just two of the many achievements that current leaders could learn from. Mandela fought for civil rights and freedom instead of racism and segregation. The determination and will of Nelson Mandela to make a change shows the potential of a strong leader. Mandela was able to gain the trust of his own prison guards and later the entire South African Nation through forgiveness rather than hatred. The role of government is to unite the people and protect the rights of all men as equals, which Nelson Mandela achieved once he took office.
In addition, during the service today to remember the life of such a great man, President Obama repeated Nelson Mandela's quote, “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” This illustrates the extent of which Mandela was willing to go in order to pursue what was right and the fundamental freedoms of a democratic government. I believe that Obama, as the fist black president, made a great statement through Mandela's quote as well due to the struggles he too had to go through to become president. Also, Obama's image further serves as a representation of the changing world towards equal opportunity and freedom.
Another interesting debate that occurred after Nelson Mandela's death revolved around President Obama's order to lower the U.S. flag to half-mast in honor of his death. In response to the order, a South Carolina sheriff refused to do so saying that flags should not be lowered in honor of someone who was not American. He and many others believe that the honor of lowering the flag is reserved for fallen Americans only.
Do you believe that the flag should be lowered for those who are not Americans or do you think that it is an honor reserved for Americans? Was Nelson Mandela's death an exception?
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/12/editorial_board_roundtable_fly.html
Nelson Mandela was and still is the epitome of leadership. He devoted his life to principles of democracy and empowering his fellow citizens to bring about a peaceful and democratic end to the apartheid. He put aside his anger and frustration with government, and systematically devoted his life to the selfless service of those around him. While it would be nice if our own politicians could learn from his example, I doubt they will. While very few american politicians will be able to because so few of them have experienced the hardships like Nelson Mandela had.
Nelson Mandela is definitely a man that should be remembered. He fought for freedom and equality and ultimately wanted peace. "People must learn to hate, and if they learn to hate, they can be taught to love" Mandela challenged the ideas of society. The quote basically means that if one knows what hate is or what it feels like then they will most certainly cherish love. Mandela learned to love the ones that didn't love him. He was a man of courage and shaped his own destiny. Mandela doesn't follow the rules necessarily, but he stands up for what he believes in and is thus extremely influential. He will be remembered for a long time for his humble accomplishments and his fight for freedom.
Brock Westwood..
"Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people." I learned that Mandela took a big sacrifice for his people he wanted freedom. even though itput him, in jail for along time he thought it was worth it for the other countries to agree with Nelson and protest agaist their country. Mandela is a great leader he put others befor him. and took a great risk to stop racism people need to appreciate mandela so that some day we might have a more equal future.
Nelson Mandela is a powerful influential human being that has changed the history with Africa and the rest of the World. While Nelson was in jail. He studied politics and coming up with new innovations. While some just sit in somber, Nelson Mandela used his time wisely. What we can learn from Mr.Mandela is that fear is a good/bad thing. If you handle it and react to it in a peaceful manner.
One important thing we can learn from Nelson Mandela is to never give up. Although he spent over 3 decades in jail, he did not lose sight of what he wanted to accomplish. He continued his journey and changed his nation and inspired the world. He taught us to overcome our fears instead of allowing ourselves to be restricted by them.
Nelson Mandela, as the video says, "shook the world". There are endless lessons that can be learned from this extraordinary leader. One that I found particularly moving was when Mandela said "Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people". Mandela shows this to no end. Mandela was able to sacrifice his anger and violence towards the government, and move to find a peaceful solution to bring about a peaceful democracy for his people. One of my personal favorite quotes from Mandela is "The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall". Nelson Mandela showed this courage in so many different ways. He was in prison because he was a violent person, and came out a completely changed man, ready to lead a country and fight to end violence. Nelson Mandela was an amazing person and hopefully people and other leaders will continue to learn from the extraordinary things he accomplished.
Mandela exemplified how the best leaders are not the ones who have the most money or follow a set formula, but are the people who have a passion and will do anything to see it's success. Mandela created his own unique form of leadership. He did not simply accept the way society was like so many other leaders and politicians do today; he knew that things needed to change in order for everything to get better. In my mind, that's the most important legacy he left as a leader: to go out and better the community in every possible way, even if it is not the cheapest and easiest way.
Nelson Mandela. The name itself will forever represent the epitome of leadership. He devoted his life to He questioned society and took his passion and made it into success. Something most people and politicians lack to do in the world today. He devoted his life to selfless service to his community. In an idealistic world, out politicians would all follow through and learn through Mandela's leadership but realistically it probably won't be the case. However, we as citizens of the world should learn from Mandela and pursue a life for the betterment of society.
For me, Nelson Mandela represents this concept of patience. He was in prison for 27 long years. But he still stood for equal rights, and apartheid in South Africa.
American politics today stand for impatient, quick decisions (or severely delayed) and ideologies that fade like a fad. I honestly think its time to take a cue from Mandela, and figure out what we really stand for, and start asking out politicians to sort out what truly matters, as opposed to arguing about problems that won't matter in lets say 27 years.
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