Nelson Mandela Quotes
Prosecute? I am not interested in prosecuting. I am interested in building a nation.
Nelson Mandela, 1918-2013, President, South Africa, Nobel Peace Laureate, Founder, African National Congress, South Africa, Response to a journalist’s question of what jurisdiction should try the white South African’s who had committed atrocities during the apartheid era
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For centuries whites had dominated and abused the Blacks of South Africa. When the Black majority finally gained power, there were many calls for retribution and justice. However, under Mandela’s influence, South Africa made one of the most successful transitions of power to the majority who had been oppressed. The concentration on the future made South Africa the most successful country in Africa and a model for the world. See {633690} for another of his implementing statements of this principle.
This advice after the horrors of WWII, was resented by many who wanted justice and retribution. However, the West managed to put the war behind them and go forward. However, there are many countries and cultures that have been able to put the past behind them. The Balkan current strife is fueled by historical memories of atrocities and injustice that go back over 1000 years.
This famous quotation, from this important address, at such a critical time in history has been admired for years. Despite his great oratory, the next months were to see almost 2 million Indians of all faiths killed in what was probably the worst internecine violence in human history. Ironically, the politically motivated terrorism had stopped since all the decisions had been made. The motivation for the frightful atrocities that took place from then on was vengeance and fear of more vengeance." 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
He and Mandella were both awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for engineering what was probably the largest transition of power without violence in world history.
The statement was made just before Kenyan Independence was official. His statement was surprising to many people who perceived him as a racist and anti-white. There was a fear that whites would no longer be welcome in Kenya after independence, but Kenyatta’s leadership maintained a pluralistic society.
- Born: July 18, 1918
- Died: December 5, 2013
- Nationality: South African
- Profession: Activist, Politician, Philanthropist, Lawyer
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid by tackling institutionalised racism and fostering racial reconciliation. Ideologically an African nationalist and socialist, he served as the president of the African National Congress (ANC) party from 1991 to 1997.
