A great man has died. He leaves behind
a playbook on how to live a life. But
somehow, I feel that few of us would be smart enough to follow what is written
therein. Anyway, by and large, it is wholly unimportant whether we do or not.
Our personal lives may end in a shambles or we might succeed in wrecking the
life chances of those nearest and dearest to us. But in the grand scale of
things that matters not a fig.
But when we
consider those who have the power of life and death over millions of their
fellow citizens, I shudder at the potential they have for continuing to cause
distress and suffering far and wide. Mandela’s playbook is one that the majority of
African leaders refuse to read (or, more likely, are not literate enough to grasp) so
that half a century after independence from European colonialism, African
countries continue to languish at the bottom of all tables of human
development.
Much
eulogizing is coming from all quarters including from Africa itself. I have no desire
to be a party-pooper, but many African leaders would be well advised to cut out
their sanctimonious nonsense, and instead, commit themselves to delivering the
good government that the continent has lacked these long fifty years. That
would be a legacy worthy of the man.
Tell Fren Tru
This is such a critical time for Africa. Let's hope Mandela's work becomes the foundation stone for better things for the whole continent.
ReplyDeleteAmen!
ReplyDeleteWe all wish it devoutly although, to be honest, I am not at all hopeful.
ReplyDeleteObama just delivered a powerful speech at the Memorial Service in Soweto, containing all the hint, subtle and not so subtle for leaders everywhere to improve their act. It would be so refreshing, not to say surprising if African leadership stepped forward and declared their conversion. I wish