On Tuesday last, former United States President Barrack Obama delivered one of the most historic speeches at the 16th Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture in South Africa, in the presence of close to 16,000 people and over one billion people worldwide who were viewing/listening via the live stream and other mechanisms.
Obama’s speech, which marked Mandela’s 100th birth anniversary, came at a time when South Africa is facing tumultuous challenges as a result of the scandals related to poor and undemocratic governance, ethnic and social disunity, rising levels of institutional and public corruption, and unprecedented levels of inequality.
Also, at the time of delivering the lecture, the world is grappling to deal with the declining levels of economic, social and religious security, as a new World Order is emerging that is directly challenging some of the gains made during the 20th and 21st centuries, which include settling a number of conflicts and leading to partial peace being brokered.
It is in this context that the former US President set the tone of his tribute and reflection on the life of Mandela, when he described today’s times as “strange and uncertain” before adding that “each day’s news cycle is bringing more head-spinning and disturbing headlines.” He even went further to state that these days “we see much of the world threatening to return to a more dangerous, more brutal, way of doing business”.
Throughout the lecture, it was clear that Obama’s vision of the world vindicated the long held view that he represented a great deal of what Mandela stood for, since it struck the right chord on many important issues, and served as a forceful reminder of how far humanity has come over the past century; as well as highlighted the world’s current tensions and uncertainties.
The lecture also argued that social justice and democracy can prevail in a world in which tolerance, inclusivity, and the pursuit of a common good are the norm. According to Obama, Mandela was a humble visionary leader of international stature, seeking to bridge the divides between the North and the South, to promote a common humanity, to reinvigorate multilateralism, to fight inequality, and to provide a moral compass for the world.
Obama’s speech also emphasised the fact that Mandela’s ideas about attaining peace in Africa through negotiations and mediation, and creating more inclusive societies, are ones that still shape conflict management on the continent.
In fact, in South Africa, his contribution remains his vision of a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic society that eschewed tribalism and patronage politics, and that promoted collective and servant leadership. He was a unifier in a deeply racially divided society.
But the last decade has seen a shift from Mandela’s vision – globally, continentally and nationally. Globally, multilateralism is under threat by rogue states, “America first” forms of engagement with their stress on national interests, and the return to militarised solutions for resolving conflicts.
For its part, the continent has lost its way in implementing the ideals of pan-Africanism. Today, it’s more constrained by narrow nationalist and authoritarian politics, and by high levels of poverty and inequality. Mandela’s legacy was probably under the greatest threat in South Africa itself, where there was substantial deviation from integrity, humility, non-racialism, participation, eradicating inequality and empowering all.
Obama’s speech was powerful because it drew on all these themes, and perhaps Guyanese and other Caribbean nationals can learn from the lessons outlined in Obama’s speech about the principles of Mandela.
The first lesson is that, ultimately, right makes might; and since Madiba is an example of the politics of resilience and hope, Guyanese should never give in to cynicism.
Guyanese need a collective spirit – young people are hope carriers. Keep believing in the vision; keep marching; keep building; raise your voices.
Citizens here must become wary of those strong men politicians who are on the ascendancy, hiding behind façade of elections while harassing their opponents and the media. And we have to believe in the facts. Some politicians now make up stuff, and when caught out lying, show no sense of shame.
Second, unlike some free market fundamentalists, Obama more than once made the point that if we want to work for freedom, we have to fight inequality. Where you have extreme economic inequality, the wealthy elite will have wildly disproportionate political influence. We need to keep protesting and keep resisting. We need inclusive education, collective bargaining rights, and to break up monopolies. You must worry about economics if you want to get democracy to work.
Third, the struggle for basic freedoms and justice is never truly finished. Human rights require us to recognise the humanity in all persons. These are not western ideals, but universal ideals. Schools should teach not blind obedience, but critical thinking.
Democracy is about more than just elections. It means listening to opposing views, not only the ones you agree with. It means working with your enemies, so they become your partners.
