Nelson Mandela (1918-2003)

It would be complete folly on my part to sum up Nelson Mandela's long, inspiring life in one blog post, and I'm not going to try.  Rather, let it be said that he was indeed an inspiring figure, fighting for justice and liberty for his people against the oppressive apartheid government in South Africa, constantly defying the authorities who repeatedly tried to bring him down, and being incarcerated for his beliefs and his revolutionary activism for nearly thirty years.  Yet, when he came out of prison in 1990, he was not bitter or vindictive.  He instead chose to embrace love and understanding even after everything he'd been through, and he pursued his ideals as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.  He set the standard for justice in his country, adhering to the rule of law he fought to establish.  He helped heal a country with a checkered past so that it could embrace a more hopeful future.  The main takeaway is that he did not become a vengeful leader against his former oppressors, like Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, and he did not allow himself to be corrupted by power.  He was not a saint - Mandela himself probably would have been the first to admit to that - but he did his best, and his best was usually more than just good enough.