Nelson Mandella: A Man that Inspires

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In my opinion inspiration means to be influenced by someone else's actions, so that your own thoughts and actions change. Nelson Mandela is an inspiration to everyone. His fight for his own equal rights, and those of his race, is truly inspiring. He has always inspired me throughout my life. The following will discuss his life’s events, his beliefs, and why I am personally inspired by Nelson Mandela.

Nelson Mandela was born in Transkei, South Africa, July 18, 1918. Nelson was the first of his family to gain a full education, this truly showed his determination. Nelson was a good student, and had gained a full law degree by 1942, and in 1943 he joined the African National Congress. After years of campaigning for the ANC, Nelson Mandela along with several other ANC members, were arrested for treason in 1956. Fortunately, after years of long court cases, Nelson was set free in 1961. Upon Nelson’s release the ANC became banned nationwide. However, this did not stop him and his party from campaigning against the apartheid regime. Mandela formed the Umkhonto we Sizwe, which was an armed resistance to fight against apartheid. Shortly after, in 1963, Mandela was arrested and convicted for treason. He was given the death sentence. Although Mandela did not know it, his imprisonment helped shed light on the apartheid regime, and forced other countries to implement sanctions on South Africa for having the apartheid regime. On February 11, 1990, Nelson was released after huge international pressure. This day truly signified the end of apartheid throughout South Africa. In April of 1994 South Africa had its first true democratic election, in which the ANC won 65% of the vote. Mandela became the first president of South Africa. He was a ...

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... forgiveness.’ (Nelson Mandela)

Nelson had a dream, to create a beautiful South Africa, and he did this by leading by example, as every great leader does. He forgave to show all the other ‘black’ South Africans that it was right to do so. This is why Mandela inspires me the most, because he put everything he’d gone through behind him, forgave his prosecutors, all for the good of his people.

In conclusion, Nelson Mandela should be an inspiration to everyone. If everyone lived the way Nelson did the world would be a truly beautiful place. If everyone, at least once in their lives, gave up something for someone else, as Nelson did, the world would be a better place. Nelson in his complete modesty truly showed the meaning of life in following quote.

“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” (Nelson Mandela)

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