Lon's Windows: Statement from the Doc

Okay, I am off to a great adventure--First stop the Netherlands. After a brief stop in Amsterdam I am on to Cape Town, South Africa where after a night's sleep to fend off the lag I will be on a ferry to visit Nelson Mandela's home for about 18 years, the prison on Robben Island. This must be the first place I visit because if it wasn't for Nelson Mandela I would not be going to Cape Town.

The view of Robben Island from Cape Town.

Mandela visiting his former cell on Robben Island.

These are the opening words of Nelson Mandela's famous "statement from the doc" at his trial on April 20, 1964.

I am Prepared to Die

I am the First Accused.

I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Arts and practised as an attorney in Johannesburg for a number of years in partnership with Oliver Tambo. I am a convicted prisoner serving five years for leaving the country without a permit and for inciting people to go on strike at the end of May 1961.

At the outset, I want to say that the suggestion made by the State in its opening that the struggle in South Africa is under the influence of foreigners or communists is wholly incorrect. I have done whatever I did, both as an individual and as a leader of my people, because of my experience in South Africa and my own proudly felt African background, and not because of what any outsider might have said.
In my youth in the Transkei I listened to the elders of my tribe telling stories of the old days. Amongst the tales they related to me were those of wars fought by our ancestors in defence of the fatherland. The names of Dingane and Bambata, Hintsa and Makana, Squngthi and Dalasile, Moshoeshoe and Sekhukhuni, were praised as the glory of the entire African nation. I hoped then that life might offer me the opportunity to serve my people and make my own humble contribution to their freedom struggle. This is what has motivated me in all that I have done in relation to the charges made against me in this case.
Having said this, I must deal immediately and at some length with the question of violence. Some of the things so far told to the Court are true and some are untrue. I do not, however, deny that I planned sabotage. I did not plan it in a spirit of recklessness, nor because I have any love of violence. I planned it as a result of a calm and sober assessment of the political situation that had arisen after many years of tyranny, exploitation, and oppression of my people by the Whites.
I admit immediately that I was one of the persons who helped to form Umkhonto we Sizwe, and that I played a prominent role in its affairs until I was arrested in August 1962.....

You can find the rest of Mandela's 29-page "statement from the doc" several places on line.

Here we are looking in on Obama before he was president pondering his future and the future of his county.

I don't think I will be able to see Cape Town from this prison room, but it is something I will look for Wednesday when I am there.

Here we see Nelson Mandela as a middle aged man mending his clothes with the possible hope for a court appearance. These simple things he did for himself. Hiding pages of his writing in the seams of clothes and in the bindings of books for all of us to get a glimpse of his strength and resilience.

And these are the wonderful critters who have been here on Robben Island since before humans came and hopefully will be here after we are gone. They are fondly known as Jackass Penguins. What a wonderful name. I will be delighted to see them.