Paper #2

Anyone from Sherman Lake Leadership might recognize the intro paragraph...


In the film National Treasure, the protagonist acquires a set of glasses invented by Benjamin Franklin. When the wearer puts them on, they can toggle through a spectrum of colors each of which allows them to see a different aspect of the treasure map. In a similar way, any action can be viewed through the lens of a person’s values, “Was what I just said fully honest?”, and “Am I fulfilling my responsibilities right now?” This essay will analyze the life of Nelson Mandela through three lenses; selflessness, communication, and strength. These specific leadership qualities that he exhibited throughout his political career combined together and made it possible for him to disable the entrenched opposition and navigate the complex political landscape of apartheid.
All great leaders exhibit a degree of altruism. Mandela observes, “It seems to be the destiny of freedom fighters to lead unstable personal lives” (pg 600); and after essentially losing two wives to the struggle, he is certainly no exception. In times of struggle sacrifice is required. While some would argue that investing in the world community is self-interest fully realized, and Mandela appreciates the honor that comes with being the Father of a Nation, he also says that it never brought the joy that being a father to his family could have brought him. Mandela’s kindness, another aspect of his selflessness, can be found in his conduct while imprisoned. Food becomes currency in prison, and especially in the early years of Robben Island prisoners were given less than subsistence fare. Mandela saw this as an opportunity to practice generosity, saving Christmas coffee for a friend’s birthday or dispersing the gifts he received from outside visitors among the other prisoners and wardens. One last aspect of selflessness would be Mandela’s sense of humility; despite his wealth of knowledge on many subjects he was never so arrogant as to think he knew everything. He respected and valued the opinions of others. Although he inherited a willfully stubborn temperament from his father, Mandela retains an open-mindedness to new experiences that serves him well throughout his life. When Mandela finds himself running out of arguments against Communism, he takes it upon himself to read all the literature he can find concerning the topic. Although he never “converts” to communism, from this point forward his thinking takes on many more socialist tendencies. A similar process of transformation occurs when he feels he has exhausted the tactic of non-violence. He acquires all the literature he can find on the topic, including some textbooks that could only be found abroad, and tries to implement his learnings in the most ethical and effective manner possible.
Mandela’s skill at interpersonal communications, both privately and publicly, was crucial in gaining the respect of the people he was leading as well as the opposition he debated and negotiated with. It was the single most effective tool at preventing outright civil war before and after his imprisonment. Early in his autobiography Mandela talks about his people’s “abiding belief in the importance of law, education, and courtesy”. His broad knowledge base and experience as a lawyer give tribute to the ways Mandela upheld these pillars of the Xhosa people, but the courtesy and respect he carried with him at all times was essential to his success in discussions. When dealing with the enemy, he did not allow himself to ever return an opponent’s disrespect with contempt. Even after the National Party leader DeKlerk abused the goodwill extended to him during the first CODESA peace talks, Mandela closed the session with the words, “Let us work together openly. Let there be no secret agendas… I am prepared to work with (DeKlerk) in spite of all his mistakes.” (pg. 598) He was also unfailingly honest, especially after his stint as the “Black Pimpernel” when he had to establish trust with the National Party leaders. He admitted guilt in court when the prosecutor least expected it. He was honest about his treatment in prison, both with his family when they visited and with the examiners from Red Cross and Amnesty International. Finally, in a country where language is so highly politicized, he learned a lesson early about speaking the language of the people he wished to lead, including Africaans. Anyone in public relations must have communications skills; a diplomat in South Africa triply so.
A person can be a powerful orator, but without strength and confidence a leader can easily stray from the path they have set for themselves and their followers. It takes great bravery to face powerful opposition and remain true to one’s convictions. Mandela steps up to this plate in his final statement to the judge in the Rivonia Trial, “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” (pg. 368) After the police and the court system failed to break down Mandela, he was subjected to nearly 10,000 days in prison. Mandela states, “prison is designed to break one’s spirit and destroy one’s resolve.” (pg. 390) In the beginning, the wardens attempted to strip the prisoners of their humanity with starvation rations, degrading clothing, and abuse. Because this failed to weaken Mandela, if anything it made him stronger, the government tried to nullify him by offering him freedom. Despite the good he could have done for his mother and wife and family in the Transkei, Mandela refuses the offer and continues to work for the greater good in conjunction with the ANC. His loyalty to his party never wavers, even when he has to move “ahead of his flock” as he puts it, in the case of negotiations with the National Party in Pollsmoor.
With this unshakable strong and confident approach to leadership that was communicated in an ethical and approachable way, Nelson Mandela lead the nation of South Africa out of it’s dark years, preparing “A Better Future For All” at the same time that he makes personal sacrifices. Over the past two summers, I have seen many young people mature into strong, selfless, articulate, effective leaders in my experiences in Kalamazoo. Soon I will be embarking on a live-in six-week internship in Zonkizizwe, and I will be befriending and working besides a staff in many ways similar to the youth I have been leading in the past. The same path that led Mandela to be the greatest statesperson in history can be followed by the staff at VVOCF, nowhere else could the international role model outlined in Long Walk to Freedom be more appropriate than here, right now, designing the future of South Africa.