December 19, 2004

• PEOPLE WHO KNOCK ME OUT
  Nelson Mandela
  (See sidebar for others)
  He is 86 years old now and has returned to live out his life in the place where he was born – Qunu, Transkei on the eastern Indian Ocean side of South Africa. He retired from the Presidency of South Africa five years ago after marrying his third wife, Graca Machel, on his 80th birthday.
  
  South Africa was first colonized by the English and the Dutch in the 17th century for its fertile farmlands and in 1900 when diamonds were discovered, the two powers clashed in the Boer War. In the 1940′s the Afrikaner National Party invented apartheid as a way to keep economic and social control by white domination. This situation worsened by the 1960′s when it was called “Grand Apartheid” and enforced by police repression.
  
  Mandela was born into a fairly powerful family in 1918, his father being the counselor to the main chief of the surrounding territory, and when his father died he was groomed for the chieftainship. As early as 1940, when he was 22, he was expelled from college for participating in a student strike and finished his BA degree by correspondence. Three years later, at 25, he joined the African National Congress as an activist. He married for the first time and formed the Youth League of the ANC. By age 34, he had opened a law office in Johannesberg and married his second wife, Winnie, who was also a famous activist. Four years later, he was arrested and charged with treason and was finally acquitted in 1961 but arrested the very next year again for inciting a strike. While in prison this time he was put on trial for treason and received a life sentence. He was then 44. It would be 28 years before his release in 1990 at the age of 72. During that time, he twice refused release because it was on the condition that he renounce violence. He said only a free man can negotiate. In 1990, the African National Congress was finally unbanned and Mandela was released from prison to the great joy of his countrymen. The next year he became President of the ANC and in 1993 received the Nobel Peace Prize. He then became the first black President of South Africa, holding the position until 1999.
  
  Well, this is my little history lesson for today. The word “apartheid” is a South African word, but it’s an old story – bullying of one group of people by another for the sake of greed and power. Kind of like what’s happening in Iraq today. Sometimes one man, when he becomes a symbol of resistance, is enough to turn the course of history. Mandela went to prison for almost three decades of his life because he was a true patriot on a mission. Each time someone steps forward in this way on the world stage, it gives the rest of us a little added push to know that there are just some things up with which we will not put. I hope he spends his final days in truly deserved peace.
  

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  Deep Thought: “I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I don’t pretend to even know what the questions are. Hey, where am I?”
  Today I am grateful for: The joyous dysfunctionality of Christmas activity
  Guess the Movie: “So that’s why everyone around here treats me like some dime-store floozy. They all think I’m screwing the boss. And you just love it, don’t you? It gives you some kind of cheap thrill like knocking over pencils and picking up papers. I’ve put up with all of your pinching, poking, staring and chasing me around the desk because I need this job. But this is the last straw. I’ve got a gun out there in my purse. Up until now I’ve been forgiving and forgetting because of the way I was brought up, but I’ll tell you one thing. If you say another word about me or make another indecent proposal, I’m gonna get that gun of mine and I’m gonna change you from a rooster to a hen with one shot. And don’t think I can’t do it.” Answer: 9 to 5, 1980. Winner: rideuponthewind.
  10 Ways to Be a Better Person
  #1. Exercise patience in everything you do and understand that change will take time, devotion, and hard work. Accomplishing one simple goal right now wll make it easier to accomplish larger more difficult ones later on. (more later)
  End of Day: 8:37 pm
  + = Gorgeous sunny day today.
  - = Rumsfeld – get him the hell out of there.

  • 9:39 am
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