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Georgie Anne Geyer Pays Tribute to Nelson Mandela |
| Editor’s Note—Ms. Geyer was one of several journalists invited to a press
briefing hosted by the Fulbright Association on October 1, 1993 before the J.
William Fulbright Prize award ceremony. A nationally recognized journalist and
syndicated columnist, Ms. Geyer contributed an essay to the volume of Fulbright
memoirs, The Fulbright Difference. She has also spoken at the Association’s
1991 and 1993 conferences. Ms. Geyer was a Fulbrighter to Austria in 1956. The
following was taken from the Georgie Anne Geyer column, ©1993, Universal Press
Syndicate. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. |
| WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 1993—When Nelson Mandela received the J. William Fulbright
Prize for International Understanding here recently, he began his short speech
with a charming story. |
| "A day or two ago, I met a young lady," the straight, tall gentlemanly South
African "revolutionary" began. "'How old are you?’ she asked. ‘I can’t
remember,’ I replied—and that was also truth. |
| "'How long did you remain in jail?’ she asked. ‘I can’t remember,’ I
replied—and that was also true. ‘You are a foolish old man, aren’t you?’ she
said. And I had to agree with her!" |
| That penchant for self-deprecating storytelling is typical of the man who just
won the Nobel Peace Prize, along with South African leader F.W. deKlerk, for his
life–long work to bring justice and integration to South Africa, as well as his
courage and his intellect. After telling the story here, he in a sense gave his
own benediction. |
| "Every person will one day roll up and disappear from the earth," he said, "but
I believe it is my fervent wish that when that day comes, those left behind can
say, ‘Here lies a man who has done his duty to his country and to other people
and to humanity during his lifetime.’" |
| Because this interview with several members of the American press was the last
interview he gave before the prize, I am going to give the column over on this
historic day to Nelson Mandela: |
| On foreign investment and the lifting of sanctions: |
| "It would be reasonable for investors to be extremely cautious in investing in
our country, for there is an alarmingly high level of violence. This violence is
politically motivated. We have put in place mechanisms for the purpose of
addressing the violence, and the greater part of the country is free of
violence, but….progress has been made with the extreme right. They have agreed
that violence is not in the interests of the country or their party, but if the
sanctions are not lifted soon, our country will be turned into a wasteland. We
are functioning far below capacity right now. We have 50 percent unemployment.
We have become the most violent country in the world, and this situation can
only be redressed by the lifting of economic sanctions." |
| On the first free elections scheduled for next April 27: |
| "The African National Congress has a popularity rating of 78 percent, so there
is no reason to believe that we are losing support. …But the violence will
intimidate a lot of people, and a large percentage will stay away from the
polls. This is the aim of those opposed to the elections. That is why it is
our duty to ensure safe conditions for the elections. (A pause) At age 75, I
have never participated in a general election…So, this will be the culmination
of decades of political struggle." |
| On the possibility of a "peacekeeping force" to take over independently from the
present tainted security forces controlled by the 15 percent white minority and
be controlled under the Transitional Executive Council formed to oversee
government activities until the April election: |
| "As far as we are concerned, a peace-keeping force is necessary. We need to
form a national army that will defend the entire country. We are determined to
create the new South Africa of our dreams." |
| Why he chose law as his profession: |
| "I chose law as a profession because of our experience as an oppressed people.
I wanted to use my profession to help my people, but I soon realized that the
law itself was unjust—that the law was the principal means of subjugation. Even
with the best will in the world, you cannot administer unjust laws. The law
excluded the majority. I realized that, in the absence of democratic government,
the law was an elusive concept." |
| The principles he has fought for over the years: |
| "That governments derive authority from consent of the people they rule over.
That no group of people should be dominated by virtue of their color or
religion. That all persons have the right to security. That all persons should
have the right to express themselves freely, as long as this does not impinge
upon the rights of others." |
| Finally, Nelson Mandela stated: "The best way to resolve the problems of South
Africa is to forget the past and all the crimes. But we should not forget to the
point of impeding our journey toward democracy. Our country stands at the
threshold of democracy because of resistance. Submission to oppression would
never have led to today’s situation." |
| "We have inherited a filthy society. Our commitment as leaders of the
democratic movement is to those people who have been deprived, but we must
consider not only the demands of the deprived. We want to free not only the
oppressed but the oppressor himself. That is the challenge facing South
Africa." |
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