Mandela Speaks About Bravery
Lesson #7 January 4, 2014
Mandela: Do you wish to choose a topic for discussion today?
Nazira: Oh no, sir.
Mandela: Then we shall talk about bravery. What is bravery?
Nazira: Bravery is an attitude, followed by an act. It may be an emotional act such as saving a drowning child, or rushing into a burning building to save someone.
Mandela: How can children be brave?
Nazira: Will you speak to this, please?
Mandela: A brave child will care for members of his family when an emergency occurs. A brave child will save a tiny animal from torture or death, if that is possible. When you were a young girl can you recall when you were brave?
Nazira: I rode on a very large farm horse without a saddle, to bring the cows home at night.
Mandela: How did you feel?
Nazira: In a way I did not want to do it alone, but knew there was no one to help me. It was my job.
Mandela: How do children in Africa need to be brave today?
Nazira: Some have lost one or two parents. They are lonely, perhaps hungry, perhaps not treated as children should be treated. By nature children are not brave, because they have parents to care for them. They may need to switch their personality and feel mature, even when they are only small children.
Mandela: How does this change them?
Nazira: They will never learn to play. Their childhood is taken from them.
Mandela: Who will they look to for guidance?
Nazira: This is the saddest situation. There is rarely anyone who will replace their parents. I feel very sad when I consider this.
Mandela: If you could bring change, so that no children lose their parents, and cannot play and laugh, what would you do?
Nazira: I would teach all the men in Africa to not kill Africans.. Is there something else that can be done?
Mandela: Shall we decree an era of peace in Africa, and remove all guns and weapons?
Nazira: Oh, yes.
Mandela: .And might we place children in homes where they are cared for and loved, until they are ready to earn their own living?
Nazira: Yes, Mr. Mandela. Yes, yes..
Mandela: The sun is beginning to shine upon Africa. In the coming year it will shine more brightly.
Nazira: Yes. Thank you very much.
Recorded and transcribed
