My Hero: Nelson Mandela

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My Hero Nelson Mandela
By Eric Vos

• Circumstances Under Which Mandela Became a Hero

• How Mandela Became a Hero

• Mandela Becomes a Hero

• Why Nelson Mandela Is My Hero

• The Future for Nelson Mandela

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Circumstances Under Which Mandela Became a Hero

• What was Mandela fighting against?

• What was the extent of apartheid in South Africa?

apartheid a whole body of laws that separated
blacks from whites.
A little under 20 of South Africans were white
large minority.
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How Mandela Became a Hero

• Elected deputy president of African National
  Congress (ANC) in 1952

• Freedom movement forced to turn to armed struggle
  Umkhonto. However, physical violence was never
  advocated in this movement.

• Sentenced to life in prison on charges of sabotage

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How Mandela Became a Hero

• When in jail for 27 years, Mandela was offered
  time and again his freedom if he would simply
  renounce the violence. He never did. He only
  renounced the violence upon being freed.

• Mandela never lost hope. He remembers playing
  Creon in Sophocles Antigone. He enjoyed Greek
  plays, taking from them that a hero was a man
  who would not break even under the most trying
  circumstances.

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Mandela Becomes a Hero

• Known as the most famous prisoner in the world

• Began secretly negotiating with the government
  his release

• Instrumental in creating a pure democratic
  government in South Africa and toppling apartheid

• Wins first all-race presidential election in
  South African history in 1994

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Mandela Becomes a Hero
This is one of the most important moments in the
life of our country. I stand before you filled
with deep pride and joy pride in the ordinary,
humble people of this country. You have shown
such a calm, patient determination to reclaim
this country as your own. And joy that we can
loudly proclaim from the rooftops Free at last!
http//www.cnn.com/resources/video.almanac/1994/ma
ndela/freeatlast.45.mov
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Why Nelson Mandela Is My Hero
Mandela holds every intrinsic heroic trait

• He is a virtuous person and a good role model to
  those with bleak futures in their midst.
• His determination is an example of inspiration to
  everyone.
• His wife, Winnie, indicates his constant
  selflessness If you became involved in our
  cause as he was, it was just not possible to
  think in terms of yourself at all.
• His achievements are truly extraordinary.

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The Future For Nelson Mandela
There should be no tensions in any region in
which we have not emerged as the majority party.
Let us stretch out our hands to those who have
bitterness and to say to them We are all South
Africans, we have had a good fight. But now this
is the time to heal the old wounds and to build a
new South Africa.
http//www.cnn.com/resources/video.almanac/1994/ma
ndela/healwounds.31.mov