In the Class 10 English chapter 'Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom', the story opens with a historic and massive inauguration ceremony in Pretoria in 1994. After decades of brutal racial segregation, Nelson Mandela is being sworn in as the first black President of a democratic South Africa. During his speech, he makes a point to specially address the international guests.
The inauguration ceremony was the largest gathering of international leaders on South African soil in history. Dignitaries from more than 140 countries traveled to the Union Buildings amphitheater in Pretoria to witness the end of white supremacy.
Nelson Mandela warmly thanked the visiting international leaders and dignitaries for coming to South Africa to witness and participate in the inauguration ceremony.
He thanked them because their presence represented a global recognition of the new South Africa. For decades, the international community had completely boycotted and cut ties with South Africa (canceling trade and sports) because of its evil, racist Apartheid system.
By attending the ceremony, the world leaders were officially welcoming South Africa back into the international community. Mandela considered their presence a shared, global victory for "justice, for peace, and for human dignity."
To understand his speech, you must understand the pain behind it. Apartheid was a brutal, legal system of racial discrimination implemented by the white minority government in South Africa. It forced black citizens to live in poverty, stripped them of their voting rights, and strictly banned them from entering white hospitals, beaches, and schools. Mandela himself spent 27 years in a dark prison fighting this system.
Looking at the international leaders, Mandela made a legendary promise to the world. He swore that never, never, and never again shall the beautiful land of South Africa experience the oppression of one person by another.
In the chapter, Mandela states that every man has two obligations in life: First, an obligation to his family, parents, and children. Second, an obligation to his people, his community, and his country. Under Apartheid, a black man was punished if he tried to fulfill his duty to his country.
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