Hope

It is hard to believe that any other world leader of the present age could receive such universally heartfelt tributes on the scale of those that commemorated the passing of Nelson Mandela yesterday evening. Watching the televised obituaries, it is depressing to be reminded of the history of apartheid, of the injustices that a political ideology can impose on a whole population, denying fundamental human rights and treating people as an underclass in their own country. But there is also a message of hope: hope that an unwavering belief in justice and the value of human dignity can be strong enough to bring down an oppressive regime. Mandela's story illuminates both sides of human nature: from the depths of cruelty to the heights of compassion. Perhaps the message we should cling on to is that we are not helpless in the face of injustice, however weak we may feel ourselves to be individually; but collectively we have the strength to change society for the better.