In 1984, I was 18.
I’d read the book 1984 by George Orwell as part of my ‘O’ level curriculum, that’s what GCSE’s were called back then and I was curious to see how our world was evolving. Would it ever end up like Big Brother was watching over you 24/7? Maybe not quite on the scale that Orwell was talking about but think of the internet and the freedom that has allowed us, think of the video surveillance on our streets – there for our protection and think of the public mind control theme running through the book and consider a country such as North Korea…
The 80’s were a great time to be young and full of hope and dreams for the future, there was an undercurrent flow of change that you could feel pulsing in the music and films of the time. One of those songs has been on repeat in my mind since I heard the sad news of Nelson Mandela’s passing.
“FREE Nelson Mandela”
You’ve probably heard it many a time since and for me it was the first time I had ever heard of this man. The song propelled him into the spotlight and we all became aware of what he was trying to do in a small country hundreds of miles away.
I have seen so many people send out their gratitude to this wonderful man for everything he did for our world over the past 48 hours that it is truly humbling.
It’s not often we get really special people on earth and when we lose them we mourn them. We thank them for the changes they made and we pray that someone else will be inspired to continue their good work. I want to share with you one of his famous quotes as a reminder that we can make this world a better place.
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” —Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, as per usual leave a link to your My Best Post of The Week in the Linky below and if you get the chance visit a couple of other blogs and comment, everyone loves a comment.
About Marianne Weekes
BLOGS AT: Mari's World; TWITTER: @maris_world. Mother of four and nana to three, Marianne Weekes has spent half her life in the UK and the other half in Italy. Blogging since Jan 2010, she finds it hard to drag herself away from her laptop and writes about food, travel and lifestyle. Always on the lookout for the next thing which takes her down many surprising lanes.
Hayley Goleniowska
Thursday 12th of December 2013
So true, what an inspiration to us all Nelson was, his mantras for how we must live our lives will go on. I hope we can begin to make real change for those with disabilities by recreating his enthusiasm and determination on the face of bigotry.
Dee Kirkby
Sunday 8th of December 2013
I was the same age in 1984 and had also read the same book. I lived in Canada which shows how popular his book was! Did you know that Nelson Mandela's middle name was Rolihlahla? It means 'shaker of trees'. Thank you Nelson for shaking our trees. No one shook a tree quite like you did.
Nadine Hill, Juggle Mum
Saturday 7th of December 2013
haha I used a heart symbol in my linky title and it has come up as a question mark!! That'll teach me for trying to be clever and usinhg less charatcters!! I'll have a cuppa later and read some of these posts
Ross Mountney
Saturday 7th of December 2013
Thank you - and wishes for a wonderful weekend to you too! x