Freedom
A little over twenty years after he was freed I am finally reading Nelson Mandela's autobiography entitled Long Walk to Freedom. I strongly recommend the book. It really takes an amazing strength of character to be able to see the positive side of one's enemies especially when they directly harass you and your loved ones as well as your dearest friends for so many years. He is an inspiring man. What I want to mention in this post is a thought that popped up as I was commuting to downtown Montreal yesterday morning.
I was sitting on the train reading Mandela's autobiography. In front of me a woman was reading Eat, Pray and Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. The man to my left was reading the Globe and Mail newspaper. All around me people were reading magazines, listening to podcasts, watching video, reading newspapers and books. Listening to music. Some slept.
The words I was reading described a completely different world. One where a newspaper was a rare and valued item. An item that had to be earned over a few years of good behaviour. One where the newspapers had many cut-out articles or blacked out words. A place where all your mail is read, where one letter is permitted per year. Where only books that the ruling regime allows you to read are available. Where, in the world outside of jail, you need a pass to travel from one city or township to the next. Where one must live underground (or end up in jail) if you are to have an opinion that does not match the government's.
What a contrast to the world I was sitting in yesterday morning. Sadly, there are still too many places on Earth that have these kinds of limitations - North Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran are a few that pop into mind. Hopefully there are some Mandelas working towards freedom in those places.
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