Three stories to remember Nelson Mandela, dedicated by Daniela Baroni, to her students from the Bruno Franchetti, the largest high school in Mestre.
In order to give my sympathy on the passing of Nelson Mandela I will tell my students three true stories. The first story is about a strike, the other two are about sport.
Do our students know that, back in the 1970’s, some Irish shop assistants refused to work because their supermarket sold fruit from South Africa. Why? Because, in those years, the country was under Apartheid regime. The 12 workers, mostly young girls, were suspended. But the news reached Mandela who was a political prisoner at the time. I saw the ringleader on TV the other day. She was very emotional.
The second story is about national pride. Through the film Invictus, a lot of you have heard about a poem written in 1875 by W.E. Henley, which was a favourite with Nelson Mandela in prison. In the 1990’s sharing this poem with the François Pienaar, the Captain of the Springboks, the first black President of South Africa inspired him to lead the rugby union team to win the World Cup. It was an exceptional victory, which helped a lot to unite a divided country. You may read the poem either in English or in Italian.
“Invictus” (Unconquered, unconquerable)
| Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed.Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, |
Dal profondo della notte che mi avvolge, Nera come un pozzo da un polo all’altro, Ringrazio qualunque dio esista Per la mia anima invincibile.Nella feroce morsa della circostanza Non ho arretrato né gridato. Sotto i colpi d’ascia della sorte Il mio capo è sanguinante, ma non chino.Oltre questo luogo d’ira e lacrime Incombe il solo Orrore delle ombre, E ancora la minaccia degli anni Mi trova e mi troverà senza paura. Non importa quanto stretto sia il passaggio, |
The last story did not come to me from the media but from a wonderful book I am reading at the moment in my free time: Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer (author of Into the Wild). It is about an Everest expedition of 1996.
Quoting:
«And then there were the South Africans. Sponsored by a major newspaper, the Johannesburg Sunday Times, their team had inspired effusive national pride and had received a personal blessing from President Nelson Mandela prior their departure. They were the first South African expedition ever to be granted a permit to climb Everest, a mixed –race group that aspired to put the first black person on the summit. Their leader was Ian Woodall, thirty-nine […]
Woodall had recruited three of South Africa’s strongest climbers to form the nucleus of his team: Andy de Klerk, Andy Hackland, and Edmund February».
Unfortunately Ian Woodall was the wrong guy. Luckily Edmund February, the black climber and his partner realized that and walked out of the mountains. The mission was aborted. If you want to know more, dear students, read the book!