Gonzo
The Living Force
I just saw the movie Invictus, starring Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon as François Pienaar, the captain of the Springboks, the South African national rugby team.
It is the true story of Nelson Mandela's first year as president of South Africa after having spent 27 years in prison for fighting the former apartheid government.
Although the white Afrikkaners were in the minority, they had ruled South Africa with an apartheid policy, where the black majority had considerably fewer rights than the whites.
The Springboks were the favorite team of the white and since the blacks were so marginalized, they would rather support any team but the Springboks.
The African National Congress, Mandela's political party, had voted to close down the Springboks and ban their emblem and colours as they represented the apartheid regime in the eyes of blacks.
However, Mandela would not allow the move as he knew his power was fragile and such an action would only validate the fears of the whites of retaliation.
Instead, Mandela recognized that forgiveness and reconciliation were the only paths to rebuilding South Africa and he could pull his countrymen together is he could get the Springboks to win the World Rugby Cup less than a year away.
For those of you who don't remember, during the end of the apartheid era, the entire world seemed against such clearly racist ideologies. International entertainers were refusing to play there and the world rugby federation had banned South Africa from participating in any official championships. South Africa was suffering tremendously from the international isolation. For a nation that loves sports as much as americans love oil, to not be able to compete on the international stage was a moral blow to the entire citizenry.
Because of the years of isolation, the Springboks were out of shape and, when the international community allowed them to start participating in international sports again, they performed poorly, further deepening the crisis of moral.
However, Mandela was an inspiring leader and was able to inspire the Springboks to practice harder as their country so desperately needed them to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
During Mandela's imprisonment, he had a poem that "kept him on his feet when his body just wanted to lie down". The poem was Invictus, which he shared with Springbok team captain François Pienaar.
Pienaar was so impressed with Mandela that he helped his teammates overcome their own racism and recognize that South Africa belonged to all of its citizens regardless of history and heritage.
Against all odds, they summoned strength from the hopes of their wounded nation, persevered and won the cup.
I was deeply moved by the movie, which was directed by Clint Eastwood.
I read a South African journalist's article about the movie, saying not only were the details precise, Freeman's Mandela was equally accurate.
Although Mandela was a hero of mine, I had only seem Mandela on the television. But Morgan Freeman seemed to have nailed the accent and gestures down and I only saw Mandela in the movie and not someone acting as him. I was pleased to read the above mentioned journalist felt the same.
I would like to share the poem with you since it provided so much inspiration to a man who never gave up or gave his enemies the benefit of his suffering.
Invictus, which in Latin means undefeated, was actually an untitled poem of William Ernest Henley (1849–1903. The title Invictus was given to it when it was included in an anthology many years after its initial publication.
Invictus
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.
Gonzo
It is the true story of Nelson Mandela's first year as president of South Africa after having spent 27 years in prison for fighting the former apartheid government.
Although the white Afrikkaners were in the minority, they had ruled South Africa with an apartheid policy, where the black majority had considerably fewer rights than the whites.
The Springboks were the favorite team of the white and since the blacks were so marginalized, they would rather support any team but the Springboks.
The African National Congress, Mandela's political party, had voted to close down the Springboks and ban their emblem and colours as they represented the apartheid regime in the eyes of blacks.
However, Mandela would not allow the move as he knew his power was fragile and such an action would only validate the fears of the whites of retaliation.
Instead, Mandela recognized that forgiveness and reconciliation were the only paths to rebuilding South Africa and he could pull his countrymen together is he could get the Springboks to win the World Rugby Cup less than a year away.
For those of you who don't remember, during the end of the apartheid era, the entire world seemed against such clearly racist ideologies. International entertainers were refusing to play there and the world rugby federation had banned South Africa from participating in any official championships. South Africa was suffering tremendously from the international isolation. For a nation that loves sports as much as americans love oil, to not be able to compete on the international stage was a moral blow to the entire citizenry.
Because of the years of isolation, the Springboks were out of shape and, when the international community allowed them to start participating in international sports again, they performed poorly, further deepening the crisis of moral.
However, Mandela was an inspiring leader and was able to inspire the Springboks to practice harder as their country so desperately needed them to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
During Mandela's imprisonment, he had a poem that "kept him on his feet when his body just wanted to lie down". The poem was Invictus, which he shared with Springbok team captain François Pienaar.
Pienaar was so impressed with Mandela that he helped his teammates overcome their own racism and recognize that South Africa belonged to all of its citizens regardless of history and heritage.
Against all odds, they summoned strength from the hopes of their wounded nation, persevered and won the cup.
I was deeply moved by the movie, which was directed by Clint Eastwood.
I read a South African journalist's article about the movie, saying not only were the details precise, Freeman's Mandela was equally accurate.
Although Mandela was a hero of mine, I had only seem Mandela on the television. But Morgan Freeman seemed to have nailed the accent and gestures down and I only saw Mandela in the movie and not someone acting as him. I was pleased to read the above mentioned journalist felt the same.
I would like to share the poem with you since it provided so much inspiration to a man who never gave up or gave his enemies the benefit of his suffering.
Invictus, which in Latin means undefeated, was actually an untitled poem of William Ernest Henley (1849–1903. The title Invictus was given to it when it was included in an anthology many years after its initial publication.
Invictus
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.
Gonzo
