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Nelson Mandela has been back in the news yesterday and today. He celebrated his birthday in private with friends yesterday and today, publicly, with fellow presidents, village elders, and African royalty. For a man who has been through as much as he has, it is really great to see him healthy and vibrate at 90 years old.
I read a good AP article that mentioned something about Mandela that I didn’t know – he’s not one for oratory. In his own words, Mandela said, “As you know I am not a speaker at all, and I am not going to make any exception on this occasion, except to say thank you for all you have done for me.” This is something to keep in mind with Barack Obama being such a sophisticated public speaker. Great leaders are not necessarily the best speakers – leadership requires a lot more than mere words.
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1 response so far ↓
1 Joanne Leith // Aug 5, 2008 at 5:11 am
Amazing. I was fortunate enough to be in South Africa during Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations and what struck me was the patient and respectful way he spoke to the media and the many, many people who wished him well. Who would have thought that he didn’t believe himself a good speaker. It’s true that a good leader is not always a good speaker, but someone who has earned their position of leadership and respect.
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