Last Saturday, Nelson Mandela, the world’s most revered celebrity, hosted a group of his musician friends to perform another benefit concert for his Foundation to combat the AIDS pandemic in Africa.
It is noteworthy, however, that where two former American Presidents were recently feted for being drafted to lead the Tsunami relief efforts, this former South African President volunteered many years ago – to rather quiet acclaim – to lead relief efforts on behalf of HIV/AIDS sufferers whose dire circumstances make Tsunami survivors seem very privileged indeed.
According to Mandela, who recently lost his eldest son to AIDS, over 25 million Africans (mostly women) are infected with this deadly virus. And, he pledged the $1.6 million raised at this concert to help defray the cost of treatment protocols for a great many of these them.
As he often does, Mandela addressed those who still wonder why he doesn’t just settle in to a comfortable retirement – given his 27 years of unjust imprisonment under hard labor:
“You may well ask, what is this old age pensioner doing here tonight, when he is supposed to have retired? Yes, I would love to enjoy the peace and quiet of retirement, but I know that like many of you, I cannot rest easily while our beloved continent is ravaged by a deadly epidemic.” Indeed.
Therefore, on behalf of an all too fickle world, I thank you Madiba:
For your quiet dignity which rises above the crooning of celebrities and speaks volumes through your tireless and uncompromising humanity.
News and Politics
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