How many of you know who Nelson Mandela is?? 10 points to the best answer...?

Answer 1

None of us really know who Nelson Mandela is. He is one of the most complex people alive.
He is a former lawyer, freedom fighter and prisoner, he was the first truly democratically elected President (note: not Prime Minister!) of South Africa and he was one of the co-founders of the ANC's armed wing. At the same time he is a very tolerant man and managed to emerge from the struggle without hatred for his former oppressors. He is also a loving father, grandfather and husband.
And, most importantly in my eyes, he is a man who can give hope to those who have none as long as they are willing to shed all hatred and anger.

Answer 2

Nelson Mandela was jailed on Robben Island for 27 years. He was an activist fighting against the racist apartheid system that divided whites, blacks, indians and coloureds in South Africa. He is a lawyer by training and has been married 3 times. His second wife Winnie Mandela is widely known for continuing the struggle and fighting for his freedom whilst he was in prison. His current wife is Graca Machel, the widow of the late Mozambican President Machel. In 1994 He became the first African President of the new South Africa and ruled for one term only. He is a wonderful man because despite the persecution he went through, he has been able to reconcile with his oppressors and was instrumental in the formation of a peace and reconciliation process that helped heal the wounds of apartheid for the entire rainbow nation. He has many charities focussing on children's rights and HIV/AIDS and I was lucky to see him when he visited my country Zambia in 1991(that was the 1st country he visited when he came out of prison). He also has a famous tshirt that he sells with his prison number 46664 ( I think) - the 666 obviously meaning that he was a "devil". He has a heart of gold and is an excellent example of self sacrifice and humility in trying to achive equal opportunities for his people. He is one of the greatest men in the whole world and very few stand with him. He also got a Nobel peace prize with the former South African President De Klerk - who had allowed his release from prison and shared a coalition government before the elections that saw the Afican National Congress win and place Mandela as its President.

Answer 3

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (IPA: [roli'ɬaɬa]) (Born 18 July 1918) was the first President of South Africa to be elected in fully-representative democratic elections. Before his presidency he was a prominent anti-apartheid activist who, while imprisoned for 27 years, was involved in the planning of underground armed resistance activities. The armed struggle was, for Mandela, a last resort; he remained steadfastly committed to non-violence. Through his 27-year imprisonment, much of it spent in a cell on Robben Island, Mandela became the most widely known figure in the struggle against South African apartheid. Although the apartheid regime and nations sympathetic to it considered him and the ANC to be terrorists, the armed struggle was an integral part of the overall campaign against apartheid. The switch in policy to that of reconciliation, which Mandela pursued upon his release in 1990, facilitated a peaceful transition to fully-representative democracy in South Africa.

Having received over a hundred awards over four decades, Mandela is currently a celebrated elder statesman who continues to voice his opinion on topical issues. In South Africa he is often known as Madiba, an honorary title adopted by elders of Mandela's clan. The title has come to be synonymous with Nelson Mandela. Many South Africans also refer to him reverently as 'mkhulu' (grandfather).

Answer 4

Nelson Mandela is the leader of South African National Conference (ANC). Former political prisoner and a peaceful warrior to end apartheid

He is often mis credited with writing the following speech for his inauguration, but this was actually written by Detroit area resident, author, teacher- Marriane Williamson...



Our Deepest Fear
by Marianne Williamson
from A Return To Love: Reflections on
the Principles of A Course in Miracles


Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Answer 5

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (Born 18 July 1918) was the first President of South Africa to be elected in fully-representative democratic elections. Before his presidency he was a prominent anti-apartheid activist who, while imprisoned for 27 years, was involved in the planning of underground armed resistance activities.

Answer 6

Nelson Mandela's no great leader. He's a communist and needs to be recognized as such. Then again, so was Martin Luther King Jr and he's one of the most celebrated Americans ever. Reverse racism?

Answer 7

Winnie Mandela's husband and a South African leader against Apartheid.

Answer 8

Is this supposed to be so simple?

He became the Prime Minister of South Africa after being held as a political prisoner for over 20 years.

Answer 9

Does anybody really not know who he is? I remember the day he was released I woke my 3 year old daughter up from her nap to watch such an historic moment on the T.V. There was a time in the 70s and early 80s when we believed he would die in prison.

Answer 10

nelson mandela was the first president of the FREE south africa after apartheid was made illegal and wrong.