Mandela did something that few others in his circumstances would have done.
When given the opportunity he forgave his enemies.
As president Mandela had the power to extract reparations for what was done to himself and millions of others by the Apartheid regime.
But instead he forgave them and offered the hand of friendship and peace.
That is what Jesus would have done.
And that is why Mandela will always be remembered as a great man. He arose above and beyond the hatred. He reached out to his oppressors and embraced them. He treated them with respect as human beings.
Above all Mandela has shown us a way to overcome our own petty differences. We too can put the past aside and move forward together in friendship and peace.
There has been so much discussion of this--'forgiveness'.
He had a mission--wanted to do what he felt he should do.
His daughter doesn't think he followed 'one' particular set of beliefs.
I won't have time today to verify this--but I assume from every set of religious/spiritual beliefs--'reconciliation' is recognized as a way to move forward.
Terrible, unforgivable things have happened throughout history. If there is any way to do better--that makes sense to me.