Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela

"To raise our country and its people from the morass of racism and apartheid will require determination and effort. As a government, the ANC will create a legal framework that will assist, rather than impede, the awesome task of reconstruction and development of our battered society.

While we are and shall remain fully committed to the spirit of a government of national unity, we are determined to initiate and bring about the change that our mandate from the people demands.

We place our vision of a new constitutional order for South Africa on the table not as conquerors, prescribing to the conquered. We speak as fellow citizens to heal the wounds of the past with the intent of constructing a new order based on justice for all."

The above is from the inauguration speech by Nelson Mandela in 1994. I will never be as wise and as patient and as peaceful as Nelson Mandela, and I will (most likely) never do as much good for the world as he has done. But I do have one thing in common with Nelson Mandela - we share the same birthday.