This article is dedicated to the memory of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela(July 18, 1918-December 6, 2013).

All the things I read on Facebook/Twitter are a bunch of comments/Status/Tweet from people based on lies & assumptions from what they have heard from the media & other sources (people's opinions)...most are irrelevant & made up...what do you base your opinions on? Do you think you are better than this man? Have you met him & talked with him? How have YOU changed the world you live in? Before criticizing anyone's efforts, look at WHAT YOU HAVE DONE OR CAN DO to do better! I know people will oppose me even for posting this, and I will probably get hate inbox, but I strongly believe that anyone fighting for the rights of equality for all (black, white, male, female, rich, poor) deserves a lot of respect! I think Nelson Mandela changed the world for the better and deserves to be commended historically for radical change in thinking and behaviour and humanity!

"If there is a country that has committed unspeakable atrocities in the world, it is the United States of America. They don't care."

Who said these words? Go on, guess? Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? Nope. Fidel Castro? Guess again. George Galloway, Wrong.

It was the late, great Nelson Mandela, speaking in January 2003.

Speaking at the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People event in Pretoria in 1997, Mandela declaimed: "We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.. Yes, all of us need to do more in supporting the struggle of the people of Palestine for self-determination."

African National Congress (ANC), South African political party and black nationalist organization. Founded in 1912 as the South African Native National Congress, it had as its main goal the maintenance of voting rights for Coloureds (persons of mixed race) and black Africans in Cape Province. It was renamed the African National Congress in 1923. From the 1940s it spearheaded the fight to eliminate apartheid, the official South African policy of racial separation and discrimination. The ANC was banned from 1960 to 1990 by the white South African government; during these three decades it operated underground and outside South African territory.

His (Mandela) organisation, the African National Congress received years of material and political support from the former Soviet Union, Cuba's Fidel Castro and the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, both of whom Mandela never stopped lauding.

With his image of a revolutionary, Col Gaddafi inspired South Africans to fight for their liberation, funding and arming the anti-apartheid movement as it fought white minority rule.

Mandela named his grandson Gadaffi in honour of his freind Colonel Gadaffi.


Rise to power:

The administration of F.W. de Klerk lifted the ban on the ANC in 1990, and its leaders were released from prison or allowed to return to South Africa and conduct peaceful political activities.
Nelson Mandela, the president of the ANC, was elected in 1994 to head South Africa’s first multiethnic government.
Nelson Mandela, the most important of the ANC’s leaders, succeeded Oliver Tambo as president in 1991. Mandela led the ANC in negotiations (1992–93) with the government over transition to a government elected by universal suffrage. In April 1994 the party swept to power in the country’s first such election, winning more than 60 percent of the vote for seats in the new National Assembly. Mandela, who headed a government of national unity, was inaugurated as South Africa’s first black president on May 10, 1994.
After the withdrawal of the National Party from the government in 1996, the ANC entered into an alliance with its previous rival, the Inkatha Freedom Party, led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi. Mandela stepped down as ANC president in 1997, and in June 1999 his successor, Thabo Mbeki, became the second black president of South Africa.
The party celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2002 and continued its domination of South African politics.

Ronald Reagan (Former US president) had placed Mandela on the US international terrorist list, where the anti-apartheid leader remained until 2008.
I remembered this quote "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter" first written by Gerald Seymour in his 1975 book Harry's Game.
The early American founders were called Terrorist, the state of Israel will label you a terrorist at the drop of a hat if you disagree with them. Israel was a staunch supporter of apartheid South Africa. When you are in your own country and your oppressor keeps his boots on your neck you are obligated to use whatever means you can to stop the abuse. Mandela wanted to use the same brutal force against the Boers that they used against his people but he later changed his mind and rightly so. He was perfectly suited for his times, analytical, logical and patient. He looked to the future not the past knowing that the generations to come will have to continue his goal of reconciliation.
Nelson Mandela was a man of principle and courage who taught us the meaning of acceptance and forgiveness not only that but he also taught us human rights and dignity must be fought for every day we are alive.

After 27 years imprisoned, Nelson Mandela was a moral colossus, a global icon of forgiveness and defining symbol of reconciliation.
He saw the power of reconciliation and chose reconciliation over hate, revenge and retribution. This is one such example of the measure of his greatness.

He was an ordinary man who accomplished extraordinary things.
Awoowe Mandela was an extraordinary human being whose life story has become an inspiration for people around the world. His courage and dignity transcended all else. His humanity touched a chord with everyone.

The world could not ask for a better Man or wiser Elder to guide us through troubled times. As Mandela said: "As I walked out of the door towards freedom, I knew that if I did not leave all the anger, hatred and bitterness behind that I would still be in prison."

As the world mourns and celebrates the life of a man that rose above the hate, bitterness, oppression to shine a light of love, reconciliation and forgiveness, my biggest hope and prayer are that one day we (Somalis) will do the same & stop this tribalistic mentality and forgive each other.

Nelson Mandela was a true true inspiration and will be missed for generations to come. He was a brave not just because he fought against oppression but also because he could forgive. What a revolutionary, what an inspiration, what a visionary and what a human being Nelson was. Undoubtedly Awoowe Mandela was the greatest figure of the 20th century - a fascinating man.

Somalis should look to his example because we are sorely in need of a man like Nelson Mandela.