Which of the following nationalist leaders do you feel is most deserving of a peace prize? Provide two reasons for your choice and support those reasons using specific examples and quotes from your text.
• Mohandas Gandhi
• Jawaharlal Nehru
• Ho Chi Minh
• Gamal Abdul Nasser
• Kwame Nkrumah
• Jomo Kenyatta
• Nelson Mandela
I believe that Nelson Mandela is the most deserving of a peace prize among the listed nationalist leaders. Two reasons for my choice are his commitment to reconciliation and forgiveness, as well as his significant contributions to ending apartheid in South Africa.
Firstly, Mandela's commitment to reconciliation and forgiveness is evident in his approach to the end of apartheid. Despite spending 27 years in prison, Mandela emerged from captivity advocating for peace and unity among all South Africans. As he stated in his inaugural speech as President in 1994, "Let there be justice for all. Let there be peace for all. Let freedom reign" (Mandela, 1994). Mandela's willingness to forgive those who had oppressed him and his people is a testament to his belief in the power of reconciliation as a means to move forward in unity and harmony.
Secondly, Mandela's significant contributions to ending apartheid in South Africa demonstrate his dedication to achieving peace through nonviolent means. Through his leadership in the African National Congress and his role in negotiations with the apartheid government, Mandela played a crucial role in dismantling the unjust system of racial segregation. His commitment to nonviolence and diplomacy ultimately led to the historic election in 1994, which marked the end of apartheid and the beginning of a new era of democracy in South Africa.
In conclusion, Nelson Mandela's commitment to reconciliation and forgiveness, as well as his significant contributions to ending apartheid in South Africa, make him the most deserving of a peace prize among the nationalist leaders listed. His leadership and dedication to peace have not only inspired his own country but have also made a lasting impact on the world.