received the Nobel Peace Prize (1984) for his
work to non-violently replace an apartheid system
of oppressive government with a multi-racial, just
system with governance that covered all of it citizenry
"I come from a beautiful land,
richly endowed by God with
wonderful natural resources,
wide expanses, rolling
mountains, singing birds,
bright shining stars out of
blue skies, with radiant
sunshine, golden sunshine.
There is enough of the good
things that come from God's
bounty; there is enough for
everyone. But apartheid has
confirmed some in their
selfishness, causing them to
grasp greedily a disproportionate
share, the lion's share, because
of their power. . .There is no
peace in Southern Africa. There
is no peace because there is no
justice. There can be no real peace
and security until there be first
justice enjoyed by all inhabitants
of that beautiful land. The Bible
knows nothing about peace without
justice, for that would be crying,
'Peace, Peace, where there is no Peace'.
God's Shalom peace involves
inevitably righteousness,
justice,
wholeness,
fullness of life,
participation in decision making,
goodness,
laughter,
joy,
compassion,
sharing,
and reconciliation."
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