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Barack Obama has always recognized Mandela as the "compass" of his career. At a cricket stadium in Johannesburg, Obama spoke about it again. For a sum of five figures in dollars, anyone could buy a seat at your table. The historical assessment of fate that the compass called Mandela brought to Obama has not been seen yet.
Mandela was not a saint either. But beside him, every celebrity was reduced to the human scale. Nelson Mandela respected musicians and presidents, queens and prison guards. When he was released after 27 years in prison, he had become a brand, a global idol, a projection screen full of expectations. Suddenly he stood on the stage and used it. And unlike others, he had a vision and a moral compass, as Obama correctly recognized him.
Without resentment despite incessant incarceration
The former South African president described the years of imprisonment as "University of Life". He did not become a resentful citizen or a populist. There, he learned discipline, humility, patience and tolerance. But he has exaggerated a bit, according to critics that he has received from characters like Julius Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, popular with South African losers of # 39; aujourd & # 39; hui. The people of Malema now preach a dangerous counter-racism, but they also have a strong argument: after two decades of democracy, not all South Africans have the same opportunities. Nowhere else in the world is there such a big difference between the rich and the poor. Local elites and European delegates live in very safe neighborhoods and villages. In "closed communities", miniparaises are hermetically closed and guarded. At low economic levels, the local population and immigrants face brutal and xenophobic competition.
Claus Stäcker, journalist DW
In the West, we are not far off. Also in Europe, "closed neighborhoods" are emerging, isolating the rich, while whole neighborhoods of the city are becoming socially disadvantaged and parallel worlds are emerging.
The differences between the rich and the poor increase. In Germany, where tax revenues are booming, the educational advantage of elites is increasing. Children from disadvantaged families have been delayed since birth and never catch up. If even Germany can not narrow this gap, how could the least prosperous companies reach it first?
Increasing Selfishness
Today, Mandela's ideals come up against concrete walls of egoism the world. In his own country, until recently, a whole presidential clan has made unrestrained use of state reserves. From Ankara to Budapest via Moscow and Washington, the leaders set the course. At the same time, the model of the social market economy and representative democracy, which has been successful for many years, seems to be out of balance and to have crumbled the social glue.
Of course, every society must ask itself if it can be generous. If they are exploited. If his rules and laws are accepted and respected. How many strangers can you tolerate? If the right to asylum is not correct. But the debate on migration in Europe has degenerated into a mere discussion of distribution, a mechanism for self-protection. Build walls and close your eyes! But then, of course, to find yourself in a yoga class.
Social rhetoric does not even try to hide the lack of solidarity. Political language has become grossly rude and partly inhuman. Our apathy towards the suffering of others is surprising.
How can the world and it want to be united?
No wall construction can stop the desire for a better life in the end. Of course, not everyone can escape, we must find solutions on the spot. And the budget of German Development Minister Gerd Müller will never be enough. Mandela's big question today is: how much solidarity do we want and need to pay?
His greatest achievement has been to break ideological stereotypes. To be able to listen. Make people understand that thinking differently should not turn into hostility. He became a role model for Blacks and Whites, Communists and Businessmen, Calvinists and Muslims. Now we can complain every day that there is no more Mandelas. But on Mandela's International Day, perhaps the question is simply: how much Mandela is in each of us? Are we ready to share our wealth? How much would we be willing to give up? Or would we rather lean into a fortified fortress?
Author: Claus Stäcker (CT / MN)
Deutsche Welle is the international broadcaster in Germany and produces independent journalism in 30 languages. Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | YouTube |
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