Today, July 18th, is Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday.Mandela was a leading figure in South Africa's anti-apartheid movement. Unfortunately, some of his earlier methods were not ones that I admire, as he did resort to violence initially. He ended up spending 27 years in prison for crimes including the sabotage of military and government targets. Because he advocated the use of violence, Amnesty International did not declare Mandela a "prisoner of conscience". The ends don't always justify the means.
But he has long since redeemed himself many times over. After his release from prison, Mandela changed his tactics. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, he switched to nonviolent methods and helped to bring an end to apartheid through peaceful negotiation. In 1993, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Even at his advanced age, Mandela continues to campaign for human rights, social justice, and political reconciliation.
Happy birthday, Mr. Mandela. You are a true inspiration.
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