We just finished going through the Apartheid Museum and it was extremely moving. I’ve seen similar things in viewing Civil Rights memorials in the U.S., but these events seemed so recent. The picture of legislated oppression was just mind-boggling.
In seeing South Africa’s history in pictures, it’s hard to imagine how the country was able to come together at all after so many years of tense separation. With that in mind, I have always been captivated by Nelson Mandela’s perseverance and determination in the face of oppression. After today, I’m even more impressed with his will and spirit of love for people. His ability to fashion a climate of forgiveness and reconciliation in light of everything that non-whites have experienced is almost unbelievable. But the image that comes through most strongly from Mandela’s 27 years of imprisonment is that all human life is to be respected and embraced.
It’s hard to even put into words how truly touching and thought-provoking the tour of the museum was.
