The United Workers Party honors Nelson Mandela, who passed away at age 95. Mandela is admired worldwide for his uncommon humanity in forgiving those who imprisoned him for 27 years due to his political beliefs supporting democracy and racial equality in South Africa. Rather than seeking revenge after his imprisonment, Mandela pursued peace and avoided violence, establishing freedom, racial equality and peaceful change from white to black rule in South Africa. As a messenger of freedom and racial equality, Mandela inspired mankind by convincing South Africans that change could be achieved through peaceful means rather than hostility. He taught the world that civil discourse leads to a more harmonious society. Mandela will be long remembered for spreading freedom and peace worldwide.

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UWP HONORS AN EXTRAORDINARY MAN
CASTRIES, Saint Lucia – Friday 06th December , 2013 – As tributes pour in from all
over the world on the death of Nelson Mandela, the United Workers Party would
like to add our voice to honour this extra-ordinary man. Despite the advanced age
of 95 and a prolonged illness, the world is still stunned by the passing of a man
who is considered to be among the ranks of the greatest of the 20th century.
What has made Nelson Mandela so admired by world leaders and people of all
races the world over? It was his uncommon humanity and the courage it took to
forgive those who sent him to prison for27 years, based on his political beliefs
which were rooted in democracy and the equality of all citizens of South Africa,
regardless of the colour of their skin. What was remarkable about Mandela and
made him a household name throughout the world was the expectation that his
imprisonment would make him a bitter and angry man, who would seek revenge
against those who put walls around him for 27 years. But imprisonment
transformed him. His embarkation on a path of peace among South Africans
became the centre-piece of his political philosophy and his life, which avoided the
descension into violence and anarchy that would have resulted in the change from
white to black rule. He embraced peace, freedom and racial equality as the basis of
the relationship not only among South Africans, but of man’s relationship with
each other in the rest of the world.

2. This messenger of Freedom and Racial Equality demonstrated that a man with a
moral conscience can inspire all mankind. He was able to convince his people that
freedom and equality could be achieved by peaceful means.
He exuded a dignified presence by his grace and gentle nature and his playful
smile. He never appeared to be angry, always smiling. He taught the world the
value of the principles of peace and freedom, and did not display the distant and
arrogant posture that most leaders assume on getting into office.
The lesson that humanity has learned from the life of Nelson Mandela is that an
antagonistic and hostile posture are not necessary, because civilized discourse
brings a people to a higher level in the development of a more harmonious and
progressive society.
There are many anecdotal stories about Mandela that revealed the heart and spirit
of the man, who never lost the common touch and would always engage the staff
by the habit he had of always visiting the staff in the kitchen when he was
entertained by world leaders. He never forgot old friends, and the story is told that
on his visit of St. Lucia he asked about his old friend Sir John and to arrange to
meet him personally.
There is much that we as a nation can learn from the life of Nelson Mandela, that
more is achievable through respectful dialogue and engagement, than hostile
postures. And by his transformation he was able to overcome the terrible system of
apartheid in South Africa. It is the pursuit of selfish and personal agendas that
account for the pain and unspeakable suffering that prevails in the world today.
Mandela shows that with dialogue and peace that we can overcome the darkness
and misery that still consume parts of this world. Nelson Mandela will long be
remembered as a man who spread the cry of freedom and peace throughout our
world.

3. May he rest in peace.
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