But why? What did he do, what did he accomplish, and who was he that makes him stand out head and shoulders above other leaders?
Part of the story is the tremendous life-long struggle he had to fulfill a vision. The vision itself was simple, obvious, and self-explanatory— to bring freedom and equality to his people. He wanted a free South Africa. He wanted democracy for all. He wanted the racist apartheid system to end and to create for his country what exists in other democracies around the world. What he wanted was not extraordinary. It was and is a basic human right.
Part of the story was how long it took to realize his dream. It took a very long time! He was able to rise up in the context of the heavy prejudice in his country to get educated, to become a lawyer and then to become a fighter against racist system of apartheid. From that position he then stepped forward as a young professional man to begin his resistance to the current system. When the system then found a way to unjustly imprison him, he spent 27 of his “prime” years as a prisoner of the system that he sought to reform. 27 years! He went sometimes two years at a time not seeing his wife and family. And for 11 of those years he was forced to break rocks in the hot sun.
Yet none of that killed his dream. None of that stopped him from persisting. That is what stands out as absolutely incredible. How long have you devoted to making your life dreams come true? His vision continued. Mistreat, abuse, the punishment of hard labor, none of that killed his spirit. And to make it even more amazing— through it all he became a better man. He could have become bitter. He did not. He became better. Over the weekend, President Bill Clinton said that Mandela went in an angry man and that he told him he beat the rocks for 11 years getting out his anger.
And why? How? Meaning. He had within in mind and heart an inspiring vision of justice and equality and the meaningfulness of that vision drove him forward. And he refused to play the victim! Even though he was being unfairly treated, mistreated in cruel ways, he believed he had control and choice. So he began writing from prison. And not because that was easy. He had to write and sneak out his writings.
His biography, The Long Road to Freedom, does not say this, but frame by implication he had to have a frame in his mind that he was free, he had choice, he could do something, his life still counted, and his actions did matter. Those are all of the qualities and meta-states of resilience. Amazing, eh? One news reporter said that when he greeted him in Feb. 1990 after 27 years of imprisonment, he looked like a man back from a 3 day holiday. Now how incredible is that? That’s speaks about the power of the mind— to make rich and robust meanings which keeps a person vital!
Part of the story is the ending— from prisoner to president! Now there’s a rags to riches story if there ever was one! The man that they tried to beat down in prison, in depriving him of contact with family, with trying to shut his mouth— steps up to the podium as President. And so he becomes President of the new South Africa (1993-1999) and what is even more amazing than that is what he did as President.
What did he do? Unlike almost every other president in African countries or the surrounding Middle East countries—when he became President he protected those who made his life so miserable, forgave them, and created a system of reconciliation. He did not imprison or kill his enemies. He did not retaliate. He did not do what is most “natural” in human nature that is not developed. Immature human nature retaliates. But mature, grown-up, and well developed human nature— human nature actualizing its highest and best — forgives, treats others with respect, looks for the good of the whole. And that’s what Mandela did.
When F.W. DeClarke, the white President of South Africa came to power, he immediately began undoing the apartheid system. He freed Mandela from prison and then began negotiating with Mandela as they worked together to end apartheid. Upon his death, DeClarke noted this weekend that Mandela did not just negotiate for his people, he also negotiated for the whites. He argued that the whites had to be made safe. And that’s what prevented a civil war— a war that many expected and that people in those days were preparing for. Amazing! Talk about collaboration!
Now for something even more amazing. Mandela came from a tribal background. His forefathers were tribal leaders there in Africa. But... and this is a gigantic but ... but he did not behave in a tribal manner. Unlike what’s happening in Iraq and Iran and other Middle East Arab countries and other African countries with all of the tribal wars and massacres, Mandela refused the tribal mind-set and frame of reference. Isn’t that absolutely incredible?
A self-actualizing leader and especially, a self-actualizing political leader does not misuse power. He or she is, in fact, the only person who should be given power because the self-actualizing person respects power and does not crave it. Most politicians are not like that. Most are hungry for power and therefore are not to be trusted with it. When he created his government and his cabinet, he actually put his opponents in positions of power. Now how amazing is that? How was that possible? He trusted them. And they came to trust him. That was his thinking and belief. He himself said, “In order to be trusted, you have to trust.”
I heard Charles Krauthamer on Fox News say that Mandela he was a great leader because he forgave. He said that given what the apartheid government had done to him— mistreated him, submitted him to 27 years of prison life, what he found amazing was that there was no sign of resentment and hatred in him. He said, “If he didn’t feel bitter after all those years— that in itself is amazing and incredible. If he did feel it and did not express it— well, that is saintly! Absolutely brilliant.” Now imagine that— no bitterness after when he went through what he went through! For me, another sign of a self-actualizing man— a self-actualizing leader, a self-actualizing politician.
If there was ever a truly great leader—it seems to me that the vote worldwide would probably go to Nelson Mandela, hands down. And why? What sets him head and shoulders above other leaders? (1913-2013).
He had a broad and bright vision equality for all, a dream that all would be treated with dignity.
He lived that vision. It was not just talk. He walked that talk and was willing to pay the price for it.
He refused to give up that vision when everything in his world looked impossible not for just this year, for 2 years for 10 years, for 20 years, for 27 years!
He suffered for that vision and he suffered with a grace that strikes most of us as unworldly, beyond this world.
When he had power to get back at those who took away his best yeas and he did not misuse it. He did not use it for revenge.
He led South Africa to transformation without a civil war.
Is there is such a thing a great political leader— a self-actualizing political leader? Yes. Mandela has pioneered that trail. It is possible. We can no longer dismiss the possibility. He has given us a model and exemplar for Political Science and what Government can be. Today we can now say to our government leaders who play dirty politics, are not transparent, play political games to besmirch the opposition, etc. — look at Nelson Mandela! Let the light of his example chase away the darkness of your example.
As a Neuro-Semanticist studying the highest values and meanings and the best performances so that we can model them and transfer them so that they can be replicate in the lives of others, Nelson Mandela provides a tremendous example of moral courage, humility, and compassion. He provides a model of self-actualizing leadership. May we have many, many more leaders in our world like him!
L. Michael Hall, Ph.D.
Neuro-Semantics Executive Director
Neuro-Semantics International
P.O. Box 8
Clifton, CO. 81520 USA
