To paraphrase John F Kennedy, "Ask not what Mandela can do for us, but what we can do for Mandela."Our Constitution is his living legacy; human dignity, the achievement of equality, and the advancement of human rights and freedoms. It specifies non-racialism and non-sexism and the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law.The preamble of our Constitution reads, "Recognise the injustices of our past; Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land; heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights."This is the essence of Mandela - the restoration of human dignity. He is the symbol of the hope that made so much of the world feel a special part of our shared humanity; the struggle between good and evil, justice and injustice.
For many in the world, he represents that impossible, but achievable, dream of a future free from want, fear and marginalisation. His life has been one of service to his people, nation and the world. As he said, "Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made, and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings."And his first words after 27 years in Apartheid's prison still ring true: "I stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people. Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I therefore place the remaining years of my life in your hands."
