We Can Too!

In electing Barack Obama US president the majority of voters, it seems, judged the man not by the colour of his skin but by the content of his character  -  part of Martin Luther King, Jnr's dream expressed in his evocative, timeless 1964 speech.  Despite some mud slinging both Obama and McCain have, today, been lauded for their dignity and grace and this took me back to just a decade ago when South Africa was still celebrating a dream.  A chance at democracy, guided by the extraordinary grace, dignity and humility of Nelson Mandela.
He taught us to look for the similarities in each other, not for the differences.  He said "if you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with him. Then he becomes your partner."  Today Barack Obama said "I will listen to you, especially when we disagree".
Perhaps some South African leaders will have heard those words and will step back from the slippery slope leading to that place where only differences are highlighted, where adversaries are labelled treacherous and where ego and self-promotion replace dignity, grace and humility.