Invictus, the movie, tells a story about a noble man who became the first black President of South Africa. This man is Nelson Mandela. I have heard of this name before, I know him just as most people would know, as the first President of South Africa in the post-apartheid days.
The movie, being time constricted, couldn't detail every turn of events, but it certainly inspired me to find out more about the struggles of this man in his endeavor to unite a very bitterly divided nation, a nation where the blacks do not trust the whites, and vice versa. It shows of how he leaves no stones unturned in the quest for reconciliation. He led by example in forgiving the very people who arrested him and threw him in jail for 27 years, by welcoming them to continue working for him in his newly elected government. He knew the importance of those that represented him, so he chose a mix of black and white people as his bodyguards, and made them work together.
Most importantly, he understood the power of sports in uniting people, and saw the great opportunity presented by the 1995 rugby world cup as the venue to unite his nation. His vision of focusing on sports (more specifically on rugby), while having to deal with so many other matters for a nation that is in a period of instability and on the edge, shows how wise and enlightened he is. He developed a special relationship with the captain of the rugby team, in order to inspire him to inspire his teammates. The captain finally understood the struggles the President went through. In my opinion, the President demonstrated that he fought and gave his all for his people, and the captain, seeing this leadership, was moved to also fight to inspire his team mates. The rugby team beat tournament favourites, New Zealand in the final, not because they have one outstanding player (NZ had the intimidating Jonah Lomu and the Haka dance), but because they fought for each other. NZ pretty much didn't stand a chance on hindsight, once S.A. played as one, because it was not 15 players against 15, it's not even 63000 (number in the stadium) against 15, it was 42 million (the whole nation) against 15.
Once the SA players understood that by fighting for their nation, their nation is also fighting for them, they have the power of 42 million in the arms, legs, bodies.
I realized then that, the gift of inspiration is truly powerful. Great leaders are not masters at managing, or accomplishing tasks. Great leaders inspire, and even greater leaders inspire by example, through struggles that we can relate to.
Below is a poem which inspired the man himself during his dark days in prison.
I Am The Captain Of My Soul
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
how charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate
I am the captain of my soul
"Invictus,"
by William Earnest Henley
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
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