THE PEACE ALLIANCE

"We at The Peace Alliance honor and celebrate the life and enormous contributions of Nelson Mandela. While his presence will be greatly missed, his legacy and teachings will carry on for generations. Among his many contributions, his commitment to peace and reconciliation after so many years of personal and national oppression, make his legacy all the more significant. The relative healing that has resulted in South Africa offers us all a new way forward, out of violent and oppressive conflict.

You can read statements from The Elders.  The Elders is an independent group of global leaders, chaired by Kofi Annan, who work together for peace and human rights. They were brought together in 2007 by Nelson Mandela.

Maya Angelou gave a beautiful poetic video tribute that the State Department released Friday "on behalf of the American people."  As one might expect, she says it quite perfectly." 

Excerpt:

"No sun outlasts its sunset, but will rise again and bring the dawn. Yes, Mandela's day is done. Yet we, his inheritors, will open the gates wider for reconciliation. And we will respond generously to the cries of blacks and whites, Asians, Hispanics, the poor who live piteously on the floor of our planet. He has offered us understanding, we will not withhold forgiveness, even for those who do not ask.

Nelson Mandela's day is done. We confess it in tearful voices. Yet we lift our own to say thank you. Thank you, our Gideon. Thank you, our David, our great, courageous man. We will not forget you. We will not dishonor you. We will remember and be glad that you lived among us, that you taught us and that you loved us all."

~ Maya Angelou

In Peace,
Matthew Albracht

“I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.”

~ Nelson Mandela

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."

~ Nelson Mandela