Nelson Mandela: From a letter to my Daughter and Son in Law

Joya Lonsdale, my daughter, who grew up at Quarry Hill, worked in South Africa to help prevent the spread of AIDS/HIV.  Tonight, I thought of her and her husband  upon hearing the news that South African former President Nelson Mandela, a great Bodhisattva, had died. 

Dearest Joya and "Rupert Moonjumper, Jr."
So Nelson Mandela has died. As was said of Lincoln, Obama said, "... he belongs to the ages."

I think he was one of the bravest and most amazing humans who ever lived. I was fortunate to live at the same time as many great people-- among the greatest, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. What a time to have lived-- in the same world with them and JFK and Robert Kennedy and Malcolm X (he became peaceful after he visited Mecca, Allen always says) and many , many great women...

I imagine you, Joya, probaby have the image of what it is like in S. Africa tonight; though I understand that most S. Africans are asleep and will not learn this news till tomorrow morning. There were news images of black and white marchers already singing and marching the streets of that long-downtrodden country together.

What a loss to that nation and this world, but maybe he will be an inspiration, as Dr. King was, to white and black to join together...

WE SHALL OVERCOME!


All love.

Ladybelle

Love, Joy, Peace and Compassion