Most of us realise that in a world in which politicians have lost a great deal of trust of the people, the one man, the one human being on the planet, that everybody trusts and everybody feels lucky to be alive at the same time as is Nelson Mandela.
Very few politicians have lived out a life that has been a complete success. There is a saying that all politics ends in failure. However, in the case of Mandela this is not true. He still shines an extraordinary light of hope, not just for Africa, but for all of us who hope that politics might actually do something.
Mandela said: "It is time now for other hands to lift the burden - it is in your hands now" - a huge responsibility for us. Who replaces Mandela?
He has become a giant on the world stage - an iconic statesman figure who is worshiped and adored. He is an inspiration to so many, he fights for the weak and those less fortunate than himself.
There is something very unsettling when a government (Conservative at the time) can recommend a tyrant such as Mugabe for an honorary knighthood, yet ignore Mandela. Politics is very odd indeed, unfair and unjust. Clearly the wrong man was knighted - maybe a Labour government can now correct that part of history by knighting this frail 90-year-old.
Sir Nelson Mandela has a nice ring to it and is so well deserved.
ROCKY FERNANDEZ
Via email
