Invictus
This is a true story based on a movie that was based on a book. The movie was entitled Invictus which, was based on John Carlin's Book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation. The movie starred Morgan Freeman as South African President Nelson Mandela together with Matt Damon as the rugby captain Francois Pienaar - Springboks being their team. This movie was directed by Clint Eastwood.
The movie took place in a newly reformed nation of South Africa some time in 1994. Nelson Mandela won the seat of presidency ending an almost five-decade regime of apartheid system - 1948 to 1994.
The movie began by depicting President Mandela's win, showing a joyous victory for the blacks and, fear by the whites. Francois Pienaar and his family was watching the TV proclaiming President Mandela as the newly elected president of the Democratic Republic of South Africa. Francois' father expressed regret and fear that they have a black president, fearing reprisal by the black south africans. The following day, President Mandela immediately reported for work and on his arrival he took notice of the white workers packing their belongings. He called them for a meeting and told them that if they wanted to stay to work for their nation, their nation would appreciate it - implying that it's not a matter of race to determine who has the right to work for the office of the president. This was one of President Mandela's challenges, to unite a nation. This was his first Mandate, though it wasn't stated clear in the movie it definitely showed that to him nation building is colourless. The movie showed that in his doing so, he slightly abated the fear of the white workers but he didn't stop there.
Prior to his victory, President Mandela was a political prisoner and that was because he was anti-apartheid. But His belief and determination was never rooted in revenge but instead of forgiveness and reconciliation. Which is why when he finally became president he never mandated or ordered or in any implied that he will only work with people of colour same as his. In fact, he had ordered his black bodyguards to work with the previous president's bodyguards who were whites. Of course, as everybody can expect on his black bodyguards who was close with Mandela - whom they called Madiba - insisted that he cannot work with people that hated them and attempted to kill them. President Mandela quipped back saying "reconciliation starts here".
That wasn't the only thing that President Mandela encountered resistance from his idea of unity. In fact, one newspaper posted "He won the election, but can he rule a nation?" of which he said in a calm voice, "That's a legitimate question".
The movie also showed that the AFricans specific to the southern region loved soccer and rugby. They had Springboks which, became the apartheid regime's rugby team. The team was almost disbanded by a black-ruled sports commission, this commission came to be following Mandela's victory. They had ordered that Springboks be abolished for this was a representation of the oppression during the apartheid but before it could happen, one of President Mandela's supporters informed him of this premature decision. He rushed to the scene and spoke with them. He said, "this is not the time for petty revenge", and this happened to be one my favorite scenes in the movie.
What I may have written here isn't all true - this was movie based on a book based on a President's challenges and determination - that's because that isn't the story that I would mention to be true. This is my true story, a story that made me realize that meanings and hardships in life are always there. It is about me and my realization of what reconciliation and forgiveness is and how much I hungered for it as to hunger in giving it. They are considerably long words. In fact, it has letters more than "hate" and that's because "hate" is easy and while forgiveness isn't. It's never difficult to hate, ever heared of the quote "familiarity breeds contempt"? Hate is easily justified but for forgiveness to come, you have to exert it and I may try to explain what it is but I fear my words will never be enough. It is true to what he said, "forgiveness is such a powerful weapon". Although not many will come to realize the fullest of it, and you may not see it now but try not to forget it because someday you will need it's power.
However, you may wondering what Invictus means. It's a poem but literally it means unconquered, undefeated. This was the poem that gave President Mandela his much needed inspiration while he was in prison. Read it.
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/invictus/
