For as long as I can remember I've had an obsession with the Empire State Building (I blame Sleepless in Seattle). Now a "New Yorker", I've put it on such a pedestal that I've avoided visiting it, waiting instead for the perfect moment.
Imagine my excitement, then, when I witnessed the building lit up in blue, green, red, and yellow last December in honor of Nelson Mandela’s recent passing.
An idol to myself and so many others, Mr. Mandela was a humanitarian whose legacy won't soon be forgotten.
The former South African President is largely known for his role in ending apartheid in South Africa, but I was surprised to learn that he was an avid advocate for more than just racial equality. In addition to fighting for equality in his country, Mr. Mandela dedicated much of his life to working to end poverty both domestically and internationally.
Always an eloquent speaker, his voice remains one of the strongest and has inspired people from around the world.
"Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom. Of course the task will not be easy. But not to do this would be a crime against humanity, against which I ask all humanity now to rise up."
"Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom."
“There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
"Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings."
“It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.”
"I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.”
Rarely do you encounter someone who truly practices what he preaches or teaches by example. Mr. Mandela, however, was one such man. For that reason, I can’t think of anyone better suited to be honored by my favorite NYC building.
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