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I know that I’m dating myself but I remember the debates going back and forth about boycotting South Africa because of Apartheid. On one hand Apartheid was a despicably act forcibly separating people just based on race yet on the other we were in the mist of the Cold War and it appeared to many that the ANC (led by Nelson Mandella) was a communist front. They feared that the release of Mr. Mandella would turn South Africa into another communist haven and this would even be more detrimental to not only those who lived in South Africa but the world as a whole. I state these facts because things may not appear as simple as many portray them to be.

Mr. Mandella became one of the greatest leaders of our time but like most great leaders it is not a process that came overnight. We all understand that the system of Apartheid and the slaughter of the innocent by the government was reprehensible but we almost must note that many innocent died by the acts of ANC ,which Mr. Mandella led.  It is hard to say how one would act if they lived in such a state but just because we might act in a certain way doesn’t make it right. What made him the great leader is was once he was released from his prison he didn’t seek retribution from those that oppressed him and his people but sought reconciliation.  Most importantly he brought all South African’s together as a people whether there skin color happened to be black or white.