Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery Remembering Nelson Mandela Johannesburg, South Africa
December 10, 2013
To Graça Machel and the Mandela family; to President Zuma and members of the government; to heads of state and government, past and present; distinguished guests – it is a singular honor to be with you today, to celebrate a life unlike any other. To the people of South Africa – people of every race and walk of life – the world thanks you for sharing Nelson Mandela with us. His struggle was your struggle. His triumph was your triumph. Your dignity and hope found expression in his life, and your freedom, your democracy is his cherished legacy.
It is hard to eulogize any man – to capture in words not just the facts and the dates that make a life, but the essential truth of a person – their private joys and sorrows; the quiet moments and unique qualities that illuminate someone’s soul. How much harder to do so for a giant of history, who moved a nation toward justice, and in the process moved billions around the world.
Born during World War I, far from the corridors of power, a boy raised herding cattle and tutored by elders of his Thembu tribe Madiba would emerge as the last great liberator of the 20th century. Like Gandhi, he would lead a resistance movement – a movement that at its start held little prospect of success. Like Dr.King, he would give potent voice to the claims of the oppressed, and the moral necessity of racial justice. He would endure a brutal imprisonment that began in the time of Kennedy and Khrushchev, and reached the final days of the Cold War.
Emerging from prison, without force of arms, he would – like Abraham Lincoln – hold his country together when it threatened to break apart. Like America’s founding fathers, he would erect a constitutional order to preserve freedom for future generations – a commitment to democracy and rule of law ratified not only by his election, but by his willingness to step down from power after only one term.
Given the sweep of his life,the scope of his accomplishments,the adoration that he so rightly earned, it’s tempting I think, to remember Nelson Mandela as an icon, smiling and serene, detached from the tawdry affairs of lesser men. But Madiba himself strongly resisted such a lifeless portrait. Instead, Madiba insisted on sharing with us his doubts and fears; his miscalculations along with his victories. “I’m not a saint,” he said, “unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.”
It was precisely because he could admit to imperfection – because he could be so full of good humor, even mischief, despite the heavy burdens he carried – that we loved him so. He was not a bust made of marble; he was a man of flesh and blood – a son and a husband, a father and a friend. That is why we learned so much from him; that is why we can learn from him still. For nothing he achieved was inevitable. In the arc of his life, we see a man who earned his place in history through struggle and shrewdness; and persistence and faith. He tells us what’s possible not just in the pages of dusty history books, but in our own lives as well.
[pullquote]There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba’s struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people. And there are too many of us who stand on the sidelines, comfortable in complacency or cynicism when our voices must be heard.[/pullquote]
Mandela showed us the power of action; of taking risks on behalf of our ideals. Perhaps Madiba was right that he inherited, “a proud rebelliousness, a stubborn sense of fairness” from his father. Certainly he shared with millions of black and colored South Africans the anger born of, “a thousand slights, a thousand indignities, a thousand unremembered moments…a desire to fight the system that imprisoned my people.”
But like other early giants of the ANC – the Sisulus and Tambos, Madiba disciplined his anger; and channeled his desire to fight into organization, and platforms, and strategies for action, so men and women could stand-up for their dignity. Moreover, he accepted the consequences of his actions, knowing that standing up to powerful interests and injustice carries a price. “I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination,” he said at his 1964 trial. “I’ve 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.”
Mandela taught us the power of action, but he also taught us the power of ideas; the importance of reason and arguments; the need to study not only those you agree with, but those who you don’t agree with. He understood that ideas cannot be contained by prison walls, or extinguished by a sniper’s bullet. He turned his trial into an indictment of apartheid because of his eloquence and passion, but also his training as an advocate. He used decades in prison to sharpen his arguments, but also to spread his thirst for knowledge to others in the movement. And he learned the language and customs of his oppressor so that one day he might better convey to them how their own freedom depended upon his.
Mandela demonstrated that action and ideas are not enough; no matter how right, they must be chiseled into laws and institutions. He was practical, testing his beliefs against the hard surface of circumstance and history. On core principles he was unyielding, which is why he could rebuff offers of conditional release, reminding the Apartheid regime that, “prisoners cannot enter into contracts.” But as he showed in painstaking negotiations to transfer power and draft new laws, he was not afraid to compromise for the sake of a larger goal. And because he was not only a leader of a movement, but a skillful politician, the Constitution that emerged was worthy of this multiracial democracy; true to his vision of laws that protect minority as well as majority rights, and the precious freedoms of every South African.
Finally, Mandela understood the ties that bind the human spirit. There is a word in South Africa- Ubuntu – that describes his greatest gift: his recognition that we are all bound together in ways that can be invisible to the eye; that there is a oneness to humanity; that we achieve ourselves by sharing ourselves with others, and caring for those around us. We can never know how much of this sense was innate in him, or how much of was shaped and burnished in a dark, solitary cell. But we remember the gestures, large and small – introducing his jailors as honored guests at his inauguration; taking the pitch in a Springbok uniform; turning his family’s heartbreak into a call to confront HIV/AIDS – that revealed the depth of his empathy and understanding.
He not only embodied Ubuntu; he taught millions to find that truth within themselves. It took a man like Madiba to free not just the prisoner, but the jailor as well; to show that you must trust others so that they may trust you; to teach that reconciliation is not a matter of ignoring a cruel past, but a means of confronting it with inclusion, generosity and truth. He changed laws, but he also hearts.
For the people of South Africa, for those he inspired around the globe – Madiba’s passing is rightly a time of mourning, and a time to celebrate his heroic life. But I believe it should also prompt in each of us a time for self-reflection. With honesty, regardless of our station or circumstance, we must ask: how well have I applied his lessons in my own life?
It is a question I ask myself – as a man and as a President. We know that like South Africa, the United States had to overcome centuries of racial subjugation. As was true here, it took the sacrifice of countless people – known and unknown – to see the dawn of a new day. Michelle and I are the beneficiaries of that struggle. But in America and in South Africa, and countries around the globe, we cannot allow our progress to cloud the fact that our work is not done. The struggles that follow the victory of formal equality and universal franchise may not be as filled with drama and moral clarity as those that came before, but they are no less important. For around the world today, we still see children suffering from hunger, and disease; run-down schools, and few prospects for the future. Around the world today, men and women are still imprisoned for their political beliefs; and are still persecuted for what they look like, or how they worship, or who they love.
We, too, must act on behalf of justice. We, too, must act on behalf of peace. There are too many of us who happily embrace Madiba’s legacy of racial reconciliation, but passionately resist even modest reforms that would challenge chronic poverty and growing inequality. There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba’s struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people. And there are too many of us who stand on the sidelines, comfortable in complacency or cynicism when our voices must be heard.
The questions we face today – how to promote equality and justice; to uphold freedom and human rights; to end conflict and sectarian war – do not have easy answers. But there were no easy answers in front of that child in Qunu. Nelson Mandela reminds us that it always seems impossible until it is done. South Africa shows us that is true. South Africa shows us we can change. We can choose to live in a world defined not by our differences, but by our common hopes. We can choose a world defined not by conflict, but by peace and justice and opportunity.
We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. But let me say to the young people of Africa, and young people around the world – you too can make his life’s work your own. Over thirty years ago, while still a student, I learned of Nelson Mandela and the struggles in this land. It stirred something in me. It woke me up to my responsibilities – to others, and to myself – and set me on an improbable journey that finds me here today. And while I will always fall short of Madiba’s example, he makes me want to be better a man. He speaks to what is best inside us. After this great liberator is laid to rest; when we have returned to our cities and villages, and rejoined our daily routines, let us search then for his strength – for his largeness of spirit – somewhere inside ourselves.
And when the night grows dark, when injustice weighs heavy on our hearts, or our best laid plans seem beyond our reach – think of Madiba, and the words that brought him comfort within the four walls of a cell:
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
What a great soul it was. We will miss him deeply. May God bless the memory of Nelson Mandela. May God bless the people of South Africa.
Great minds, visionary statement, we all got to reflect, if we understand what really happened in SA, then this speech is timely..
someone please give that speech to Paul chella and Sata, so that they can see how a presidential speech looks like
So jacob Zuma wont allow any african presidents to give a speech except the namibian president? Very odd. But member countries of BRICS. the symbolism here would make an interesting chapter in history.
Mushota, Jesus, the greatest man( God personified ) that ever lived was not white. You are delusional. Jesus was raised by Africans in his formative years, now remember intelligence is situational.
What a hypocritical speech. Madiba was wiling to pay for the freedom of others with his Life. America has always been slaughtering people around the world for their own wealth and looting nations for it’s watoness and lack of respect for other peoples freedom and self determination.
What a Sham
Long live the spirit of Nelson Madiba Mandela.
Best part for me was…………
“There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba’s struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people………… And there are too many of us who stand on the sidelines, comfortable in complacency or cynicism when our voices must be heard”.
Mugabe comes to mind in regard to the first sentence. Second bit is for me to reflect on.
Very meaningful speech. A classic Obama speech for the text book.
“There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba’s struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people”
The biggest example is right here at Home. Lucky Mulusa, the champion of dissenting voices had to be fixed. It was an order and the supreme court had to obey.!!!!!!!
@Kolwe, very perceptive – was also thinking about that!! wrong forum!
No need for any other speech this has done it!
@ Kolwe,
Never mind Jacob Zuma, as if we all dont know him! Anyway, too many “some of us” at this funeral it’s like the Golden Globes ceremony!
@Silozi
Keep HH out of your madness. Sata your leader carried buckets full of amafi at Victoria station for so many years thats why he has brain washed you to worship him like a god. The confusion from touching and swallowing the amafi splatters has been passed onto you PF zealots.You have all been blindfolded to worship him even when its clear the lunatic is leading my lovely country into a ditch.
For your info not long from now people will rise up and remove this monster from Plot 1. If elections get rigged and fail to do the job then a gun will suffice.
At least today at Mandela ‘s memorial service the world leaders got to know first hand what a useless leader Zambia has. And when the people rise up against this tyrant the world will support them including China.
@Ndobo….LOOOL…yaba…very true though….
This leader President Obama, moves my heart and he gives me hope! I love him and love the tribute to Mandela. Surely God bless South Africa. Zambia should learn from South Africa and Mandela in particular. Leaders should learn to leave power and remain Global Icons, will Satan ever leave Power?
we can learn from Mandela and not Zuma for sure
By the way refresh the page to see Myco Shilufya’s Speech..He could not resist the temptation from bald-head Zuma……..
I heard one of the MCs announce that the president of Zambia Michael Sata was also in attendance…? Can’t be true.
President Sata is going to kenya for some jubilee celebrations.. haven`t heard
I surely hope he has’nt gone there. One would never know what to expect of him.
“There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba’s struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people”…..A perfect description of Ukwa.
“And there are too many of us who stand on the sidelines, comfortable in complacency or cynicism when our voices must be heard”…Another perfect description of Ukwa
“We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. But let me say to the young people of Africa, and young people around the world – you can make his life’s work your own”
ALL THOSE WHO CONDEMNED SATA’S SPEECH WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE YOUNG ONES LEARNING SOMETHING FROM MANDELA’S LIFE CHECK OUT THE EXTRACT ABOVE.
If I can remember well, the bloggers were not against the advice to the youths but were also advising the adviser to reflect on his/her conduct in relation to the advice he/she was giving. In short, anyone who claims to admire Mandela’s greatness should be seen to be trying to becoming at least a quarter of what Mandela was
What buffles my mind is that when 90 Presidents are there & yourself you decide to attend to Chinsali Girls at Home. Imagine: 4 USA Presidents, 3 British Prime Ministers, the entire SADC leadrship in attentance….etc . I am shocked!
Great speech by HE President Obama, he will also go in history as a man who stood and believed in himself that All things are impossible until you try. Leaders like these rejuvenate my spirit to believe in myself and know that I can achieve everything I set my mind and effort to.
Wholesome speech from another world leader. We must learn to be humane in order to deliver value to our people. Greed does not pay; instead it brings distruction. Zambian leaders and politicians must learn from Madiba’s legacy and move the country forward.
great words form a great man. not bitter word from from hh, a bitter man. always inciting people to rise against the government. let hh not forget that we only have one zambia. lets unite for the betterment of our children’s children. if we cannot development, upnd(if they ever rule), will find zambia undevelopable. anyway HH is an insect unworthy of being discussed
You are just an *****.Why bring in HH here .Read your last sentence you fool.
HH is living in denial. MMD need to accept they are nolonger in power and UPND need to accept they will never rule zambia
I thought all the violence is coming from the Panga family, and you are now hating on HH. Go back to the cave, were you belong .
Wow, what a speech that was and the delivery was so presidential and inspiring. I kept on thinking to myself that can our so called president even deliver something remotely close to that? The M.C did acknowledge the attendance of Chilufyanya. Was he there? I thought he said in the post that he was sending KK to represent him. Maybe he stayed away because he thought he would be required to make a speech. We all know he has a phobia of addressing learned people, he would rather address villagers during By elections.
I also head the MC acknowledge the presence of Michael Sata president of Zambia. I was really happy to hear that as was somewhat perturbed that when Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, head of the AU made her speech she mentioned many African countries that helped the struggle of liberating South Africa and she did not mention Zambia at all her long list. Found that very strange indeed and made me wonder whether as Zambians we overstate the role we played in liberating South Africa if they don’t recognize that role themselves. However to allay my fears, the MC a few moments ago just acknowledged the elderly states man ‘KK’ Kenneth Kaunda.!!
Guy Scott was right, South Africans are arrogant and ungrateful. Thabo Mbeki and his cohorts were hiding in Mtendere, whilst Zambians were suffering defending them from rampaging boers. Only Madiba showed appreciation and came to Zambia to say ‘thank you’ when he was released from prison.
I too was extremely perturbed and I don’t think we overstate our role. The first foreign visit Madiba took was to Zambia precisely because our great nation played that role!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think it was an insult to all the innocent Zambians who lost their lives both for Zim and RSA
@The Kambanguist and Bootyful
NO no no,, you guys,, you dont make freindship and fail to grow it or maintain it!! the relationship/friendship between Zambia and RSA collasped a long time ago…
Chiluba with influence of Sata `spat` into mandela`s face by ignoring Mandela`s advice to NOT jail KK… Remember the relation link was UNIP, KK to ANC, Mandela through to Zambia and RSA…
The humiliation of KK at the hands of Chiluba with the influence of Sata did not go down well with mandela hence the delink… Mwanawasa tried to restort some connection,, then RB (Ex-UNIP) connected the link with Zuma his old time friend..
But Sata and Zuma are NOT good friends for reason,, if you doubt.. why do you think Zuma is keeping RB`s son??,, then to make matters worse Guy Scott is a DA supporter
This man has changed world politics. He has changed America too. America will never be the same after Obama. Great speech my man! Kudos!
SATA WOULD GIVE EXACTLY SPEECH.OBAMA SPEAKS LIKE OUR OWN SATA IAM VERY PROUD
Obama Obama great man. Similarities with Satas speech.Urgingyouths to be like Mandela
Our own president’s speeches are equally great. Please, stop comparing people because each individual is unique.
You must be styopet for you to assume that SATA can make an inspiring, visionary and strategic speech. infact, its nonsense of the highest order for Zambia to send Guy Scot to South Africa, when this is the same chap who insulted the South Africans. You guys, where is the SHAME???. Where is the morality???. May be Kaunda, in the company of Nevers, HH, Nawakwi and that NAREP boy, would have made just a little bit of sense.
He is busy oppressing his people instead of developing the nation. A man who believe that building roads and universities will bring food to the tables of starving Zambians. Zambia needs a proper Agriculture policy that support agriculture because every Zambian belong to a villiage where land is avaliable. We need to manufacture our own agriculture equipment. We need to process our agriculture products. We need to internationally market our agriculture products.
mmamba….you are not correct. I will break this to yuo in simple terms. Roads open up places to development. what can you do with agriculture if you cannot move your harvest to the market. maybe you want pipo to do subsistance farming and call it development. Universities…provide the knowledge to people. if you want to eqiup anyone with the power to develop…give them knowlegde. I end here.
we praise foreign leaders day in day out and our own go to their graves not knowing how much they were loved by the people, this is a very bad spirit even our leaders need inspiration and encouragement not the insults we continue pouring on them.
look at the way people praised levy in his grave, its difficulty to appreciate the genuineness of our praise or we just say it because trditionaly we dont speak against the dead……good or bad every leadership is appointed by God to take care of the affairs of his people….what kind of Christian Nation are we who dont respect our leaders….how do u compare a president to a Nigerian Movie character….and you ask God to bless you while u pour scorn on the people he has put in leadership…..lets change NOW
AS IF YOUR FATHERS ARE GREAT MEN.
Never runs out of well organized speech. Obama, the man of the moment
President Sata missed. His friend Kenyatta Uhuru was there at the memorial. So if the reason for not coming to RSA was the Kenya celebrations there it does not hold water since the host of the celebrations Kenyatta was here. When they were announcing names of Presidents I was thinking I was gonna hear Michael Sata Zambia, Awe nakalya.
Actually Michael Sata’s name was mentioned at some point around 2.30pm but probably in error seeing that he was not there and was represented by Guy Scott. Later towards the end..around 3.30pm the presence of KK was also acknowledged
Thanks Obama for coming to Madiba`s funeral and for ur great inspiring speech. U such a great model
this Obama…full of pretence….why do you keep killing everybody that seem to be in your way….you have finished all the socialists silently with your CIA. Hypocrit
this is how a President should talk..very eloquent and mindful..careful and captivating..viva Obama..not ukwa..
Watching live the proceedings at Mandela’s memorial service it was pleasant to notice that Sata was not amongst those distinguished dignitaries from around the globe.Staying away was perhaps Sata’s greatest favour he has done for Zambia. Imagine the embarrassment he would have caused. His best buddy, Mugabe attended but looked sheepish and out of place like a typical black sheep.
Zambia’s international relations urgently require redemption.
Sata would not have spoken so what embarrassment would he have caused? Only one African president spoke. So calm down mate.
@Mutale Chikwanda,
It is always a good thing to be broadminded. One does not have to utter a word to be an embarrassment. Sata’s presence would have been enough to cause chaos because of what he is and you know that very well. Why are leaders in the region and around the world shunning him and Zambia since he took over? The only ‘state visit’ to Zambia so far was by his fellow shunned dictator Mugabe. Do you mean you can’t see all this?
Obama says “ It is hard to eulogize any man…”
Former President Rupiah Banda “eulogizes Mandela..”
Take your pick
The mc announced that our president ws in attendance. Hw he made himself at the time available to the pupils at state house, only God knows.
Those of you getting worked up about Sata not attending, did you hear Zambia mentioned for our support of the ANC and the liberation struggle? Poor KK!
Think about this citation and put it in Zambia’s perspective. “I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination,” he said at his 1964 trial. “I’ve cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.
1. Sata has promoted regional domination.
2. Is Zambia under Sata a free society where all people live together in harmony with equal opportunities?
The answer is No,and mcs will not change,its Zambian youths who should arise.all we need is a courageous new generation,as a leader and we shall join him.
but bantustan enclave bloggers,.. Your hatred for HEMCS and your love for that scumbag HH surprises me. You enclave bantustans support a scumbag that totally has no leadership qualities apart from his scientific breakthrough in beef aromatic alderhyde and formalderhyde he fed the nation through zambeef.
Bantustans!! choose another leader. scumbag HH is not a saleable product. Which sane person can buy a bitter and envious product.
great speech and very inspirational..this is what we need to hear from our leaders ;giving us hope not just pointing fingers at each other
Great speech indeed by Obama. He will go down in history as a great orator, and not much more than that.
As Zambia has discovered along with America, it is two different skill sets — making promises and moving a crowd and to deliver on those promises to build a better nation.
the speech had no substance but an insult to africa. obama and his goons went to lybia to kill africa great man in the name of peace, just like mandela sold south africa in the name of recociliation, most of those leaders therfe are surpoters of black misery let them all go to hell sata is african so is mugabe obama is a killer so is bush and hater of africa