This is being written during the days that the world is mourning the death of Nelson Mandela, the man said to be most responsible for breaking apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid imposed by the Caucasian race that had made the nation into a double standard society through law that denied freedom and equality to the black race, persons who were in majority. The consequence was that the white citizens controlled the government, owned the best lands, and directed the economy. The black race in Africa holds the memory of Mandela as the greatest of heroes, and will be remembered in their history as Washington and Lincoln are remembered in the American context. He is deserving of the honors afforded him during a week of ceremonies. After nearly three decades imprisoned for his efforts to break apartheid, he was released, open elections that included the black race were held, and Mandela became the first black president of South Africa. On his retirement another leader of his race was elected president. The new administration is alleged to be weakened by corruption, disregard for the needs of the people, not addressing the general situation of deep poverty, poor public services, and, as some assert, permitting a situation that is no better than that during apartheid except that the general machinery for freedom has been put into place.
What is the legacy of revolutionary leaders? There have been a number in history. Many of them have been martyred, either by loss of their lives in violence, or in death that left the problems they fought to solve, changed a bit in context but still present. What happened to Mahatma Gandhi, to George Washington, to Abraham Lincoln, to Martin Luther King, Jr, and others including Nelson Mandela? They are remembered and revered in the history of their nations. So highly are they regarded that publics prefer not to know their weaknesses/complexities. They are heroes, deserving of lasting honor and memory. Even ordinary citizens are sometimes grouped together in similar treatment, as Rosa Parks illustrates. Today a congregation of several hundred persons tolled a bell 26 times, and made speeches about the tragic deaths of 26 persons, adults and children, just a year ago. They vowed that their memories will not be forgotten. They will be. We take little leisure from daily duty to remember the tragedies found in the human experience. A few of the large names will hold, but thousands will be lost in the sands of time.
One of the problems, of course, is that we do not do what needs to be done to return to society what heroes have afforded to us. We may build a community of interest, as has risen for the death of 3,000 persons in New York and for the terrorist attack that took down two magnificent buildings in the city on September 11, 2001. Gradually the area will settle into normal activity, and new tragedies will replace old. The museums, exotic architecture, and protests of citizens for remembrance will not achieve what we would like to see achieved in memoriam. Our approach may, in fact, invite others to gain publicity for themselves in the way memorials develop. The Amish community showed their magnificent way by leveling the land where three of their daughters were murdered, attending to prayer and empathy for the suffering families of the murderers. They refused to build a memorial that would inevitably include hatred. What should we accomplish to honor these persons who gave themselves, only to have their sacrifices spoiled by extremists after their demise? There is strong hint in the Nobel prizes. What if, instead of building memorials of steel and stone, or statues and plaques, we establish massive foundations in the names of honorees? Each year profit could be devoted to rewarding persons or institutions advancing the ideals of humanity. The foundations would be guaranteed by government for integrity in the management of funds. Colleges/Universities could make recommendations from which listings the Boards of the Foundations offer awards. The results, like those from the Nobel foundation could be given large publicity. The single institution coordinating member foundations would provide information, design reports, and make awards. This governing board would be formed so to channel the programs and awards with integrity. There is more here but this is a proposal whose time has come, and may be expected to stimulate the improvement of the management of earth life. The future would be inspired. The result would displace some of the preoccupation with nonsense of anger, negativism and forgetfulness *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020