First International Mandela Day July 18, 2010

The UN General Assembly did adopt a resolution declaring the 18th of July “International Mandela Day”. The UN wants to celebrate Mr Mandela's birthday - July 18 – as well as commemorate his tremendous contribution to the world.  In 67 years, he did resolve conflicts, promote race relations, human rights and reconciliation.Therefore July 18, 2010 is the first celebration of Mandela Day throughout the world. According to Mandela Foundation, “On Mandela Day people are called to devote just 67 minutes of their time to changing the world for the better, in a small gesture of solidarity with humanity, and in a small step towards a continuous, global movement for good.”

Mandela dynamic of forgiveness is a gift to the human kind. With this in mind, he is just a man not a saint. He is a great man indeed but still a man. At the crossroads we all know which path is the right path. Often we convince ourselves that the wrong one is the right one because it is just too hard to follow what is right.  He takes tremendous courage and sacrifices to follow such path to fulfill fate and destiny. Mandela preserved his integrity and forgave others. He is not a saint but sure look like one. He gave a lesson to all African leaders; power is nothing if you do use it to lead your people.

Mandela is my beloved dreamer. He did dream big and commit to his dreams until they came true. And the beauty is that he keeps on dreaming at 92 years old. Antole France said that “To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” Mandela did believe, plan, act, accomplish and dream for us.I want to thank Nelson Mandela, the man not "the Leader, Comrade, Negotiator, Prisoner and Statesman." Thank you, bless you and happy birthday Dear Mandela!

Let us gave back 67 minutes this Sunday!

Same moonlight for our dreams…

Some of my favorite Quotes:

• I dream of the realization of the unity of Africa, whereby its leaders combine in their efforts to solve the problems of this continent. I dream of our vast deserts, of our forests, of all our great wildernesses.
• I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself.  
• "I am the product of Africa and her long-cherished view of rebirth that can now be realised so that all of her children may play in the sun."Nelson Mandela's final speech as president to the South African parliament, Cape Town 26 March 1999.
• If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness.
• I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. 
• And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.