THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING – MANDIBA NELSON MANDELA – 94th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS, SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa’s first democractically elected black President turned 94 yesterday. He is the man who insighted the world to see beyond color and unfair laws that once supported apartheid’s economic flows certain ways.

As a child, his name is significant to me as my Aunty Awa and her sister marched on rugby stadiums with young activists making a point in those days with other New Zealanders of the calibre of fiery activists like Ripeka Evans and filmmakers like Merata Mita (her filmmaking friends) and their many Pakeha New Zealand friends too. They united as one people, to show solidarity towards a cause of a long walk to freedom.

His name as we know, is Mr Nelson Mandela, a man who inspired Maori and Pasifika children in particular in New Zealand and the South Pacific to hold on to an enduring dream just as he had. Although we had advanced and conscientious school teachers at the school I went to (Barbara Stuthridge-Rudolph being one and Eileen Parore and Jewish-Kiwi, sports obsessed Steven Cohen beingothers), our Pakeha friends, saw us in a different light because of this man’s unusual story.

How would I describe him? He is a vessel of brokenness whose life is filled with the fragrance of humane wisdom, deep gratitude in life; more precious than saphire, he is a gem smith’s diamond cut for freedom’s wider purposes in the world, that makes us look at things beyond the price of oil, in a brighter light of justness towards the gift and maximum miracle of healthy change by being more fair.”

In my childhood in Whangarei City, the most economically oppressed city in those years of NZ - the cry for freedom and change from little ‘ole New Zealand was like a resounding declaration that change was upon us. New Zealand sensed this early and mobilized in response. The cry from Aotearoa New Zealand was:

“the whole world is watching.”

My own mom, to be fair – not only supported her whanau (family) protesting for change, she also invited the South African rugby football team home for lunch from The Grand Hotel. They were so thankful to be invited home. Mom wanted to ensure they experienced Maori manaakitanga amidst the Springboks rugby Tour that would change New Zealand in hard-fought ground for the good. These lessons were stepping stones and milestones of New Zealand culture, that our peace must be founded upon strongly. Some of New Zealand’s most important stories have happened against the backdrop of a sporting context’s profile as was the case when we protested apartheid for people like Mandiba Mandela. It is what we do well. In him and peple just like him, we saw our own redemption.

That day, although we were poor and my missionary parents who once had struggled like the people of the South Pacific do in Island paradise Isles like Samoa, Tonga and Fiji – had lived in a State-bought house they paid off, that was originally built for a Maori radio jockey. He abandoned the home last minute when his marriage unexpectedly dissolved and we were lucky to be moved into it. On the day the Springboks team came home, mom cooked curry with rice in the kitchen - just how she’d learned to in Fiji, that day. Her cooking was a big hit.

Mandela’s name and presence was ever-present in the room on this day too with some of South Africa’s best rugby football stars in our humble Northland home. The moment was surreal yet normal too.

Perhaps as a credit to their own statespersonship and humility caught up in the cross-fire, they were relieved to be welcomed into a Maori-Kiwi cross-cultural home to experience a form of real New Zealand life as it really was. No pretense, a real home with a real young family.

Back to the birthday boy. He is also one of the world’s most favorite anti-apartheid activists towards Peace. In one of the two video clips from South Africa, his angel (a messanger) of hope is one of my favorite American Presidents, Mr Bill Clinton. Not perfect, yet the President with the most personality, love of fun and imbued pizazz – the world has always looked to the USA to provide as an entertaining nation working in tandem with our founding ties and high regard of British culture too. Our indigenous people signed an agreement with Queen Victoria many years ago. We are stil working on getting this right 171 years on since the ink dried. A signed deal for equality means that between our indigenous people and The Crown that represents this agreement. Mandiba Mandela’s story, helped bring this agreement more to the forefront of New Zealand cultural life. He, a bright angel of hope all of those years ago.

Although today, I think South Africa could do with gun reform laws (a notion formerly put forward by New Zealand for South Africa years ago by a leading judge and ignored at home by short-sighted arrogant oversights of governance at the time); an idea that would have made South Africa as a nation safer for its citizens today; this man’s birthday is a very special occasion.

The remarkable footage of 12 million students celebrating the birthday of South Africa’s “Mandiba” Nelson Mandela reminds us that inside prisons sits like deep reservoirs – a living resource, more precious than oil, where some of our most remarkable citizens on earth are found. Prisoners: Real people with bright futures needing rehabilitation, restoration and grace. Nelson Mandela’s life story is a living symbol of this fact. So today, I bow to his legacy and early years as a leader and thank him and his family and friends for what they endured as our teachers.

Euronews reported: “”If was not for him, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t even be smiling again and saying we are one as a rainbow nation,” said Sello Sebogwane.

“When I talk about you (Mandela) I feel like crying. I’m talking about the hero. The man who has spent years in jail for us. You worked for the nation, you helped black people spending 27 years in jail at Robben Island. You did not enjoy your life. God bless you, we still love you and wish you a happy birthday,” added Salome Makgamatho, who was overcome with emotion.”

Grandson Mandla Mandela, said he inspires the idea of “being of greater service (in daily life) and to the nation at large.”

In South Africa: “Mr Clinton, accompanied by his daughter Chelsea, opened a new library for the No-Moscow Primary School in Qunu, ahead of his meeting with Mr Mandela. “When I think about Mandela I always think about someone committed to the future,” Mr Clinton said.

Former President Bill Clinton also said: “He was very pleased the way the people celebrated his birthday with sixty-seven minutes of service.” How sweet… the sound… of South Africa today.

Photos: BBC. Nelson Mandela‘s granddaughter, Ndileka Mandela in a cute Halle Berry reference and nod to Hollywood-Brit, Oscar’s star system said, “he can charm bees out of their beehive.” I think she was referring to Bill Clinton on that one – who does the exact same cheeky thing.

[Photo caption: Graca Machel (left) walks with Chelsea Clinton (second left) and her father, former US president Bill Clinton, as they arrive at a party to celebrate Nelson Mandela's birthday in Qunu. Part 2: Bill Clinton & supporter Mr Robert Ellis and friends].

[Birthday - postcard from New Zealand for Nelson Mandela's 94th birthday... coming up soon. God bless you, your family and your dreams still being fulfilled. Thank you.]

~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 20.7.12~

July 20, 2012 | Categories: A Different View, A List, Action Stars, Activists, Anna Harrison, Aotearoa New Zealand, Apartheid, Authors, beverly hills, Bill Clinton, Birthdays, Bronaaki, Chelsea Clinton, Civil Disobedience, Civil Peace, Civil Rights, Civil Violence, Counter-Culture, Courage, Courage To Love, Discernment, Empathy, Encouragement, Endurance, Entertainment Celebrity News, Foreign Affairs, Freedom, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Speech, Homage, Hospitality Industries, Hot B*tches, Hot Chocolate, Hot Face of The Day, Human Rights, Humanitarian Angels on Horiwood.Com, humility, Humor, I have a Dream, Icons, In Good Faith, Manaakitanga, Mandla Mandela, Max Key, Maximum Miracles, Merata Mita, Miriam Makeba, Ndileka Mandela, Nelson Mandela, New Zealand, Northland, Patience, Pizazz, Pizzazz, Redemption, Ripeka Evans, Robert Ellis, Rugby, Russell Crowe, Smile Club, South Africa, Sports, Sports Horiwood, Sports Psychology, Sports Talent Management, Springboks, Springboks Team 1981, Star System - The Art of Global Celebrity, Stephanie Key, USA, Whangarei City, What's Cooking in Your Kitchen for The World?, World History, World News, World Peace, World Vision, Writers | 1 Comment »