De Klerk spoke of Peace in his acceptance speech.
“An absence of conflict in many repressive societies”
Is not peace, but fear, ignorance, and a lack of power.
Peace requires real justice and consent in democracy’s hour.
Neither will stagnation create genuine peacetime;
It requires negotiation and compromise. It’s a “state of mind.”
Mandela also stressed the need for democracy,
Respect for human rights, freedom from poverty,
And the need to “stand in the path of tyranny
And injustice, without seeking selfish gain.”
Both men embraced their roles, to reclaim
Conciliation through careful agreements
And an end to “threats, compulsion and violence.”
And now? The nation suffers from both malice and incompetence.
