Roy Paul - What We Can Learn From Nelson Mandela lyrics

My generation was blessed to live at a time when the great Nelson Mandela, one of the most influential men in recent history, walked the Earth. The world is a much better place because he lived. And if I have learned anything about the lives of great leaders, like Ghandi and Martin Luther King, Jr. is that because of their contributions to society, they will never die. What made them great was their ability to understand when to stand their ground and when to compromise. At 95-years-old Mandela lived a full life, but unfortunately when someone great pa**es, it feels like they have gone too soon. With fewer leaders to look to for guidance and direction, the work now falls to those of us who are younger. Fortunately, we live in a time when film, video, and the Internet preserves the legacy of our modern heroes. This technology is a tool, not a toy and a gift from these leaders to us. Preserving and creating legacies of our own for the future, belongs to us. We have the tools to make it possible. Do we have the will and the vision that Mandela had? If you want to learn how you - one individual - can use your gifts and talents to impact your community, look to Mandela. One man changed the politics of South Africa and became the first democratically elected President of that country. In an even more daring political act of power, he stepped aside after one term and let others take the lead. One man led the fight against apartheid and encouraged more to seek peace, instead of war. One man stayed true to his beliefs, indeed was ready to die for his beliefs, despite being falsely labeled a "terrorist." One man decided that despite the privileges he received throughout his life, his calling was serve others instead of materially enriching himself. With this great man's pa**ing, generations to come will have the opportunity to take up the torch for freedom, non-violence and public service. We can use Nelson Mandela as a perfect example of how to do it. Will we? Time will tell.