ENGLISH SPEECH | NELSON MANDELA

 Ladies and Gentlemen.

This may alright be our last official visit to the us before retiring from office next year. There couldn't been a more moving start to the visit than one including being honored during this manner by one of the great educational institutions of this nation and of the earth. I do know that through this award you are not such tons recognize zing an individual achievement, but are rather paying tribute to the struggles and achievements of the South African people

I humbly accept the award therein spirit, while at the same time wishing you to know that we aren't unaware of nor unmoved by the great compliment you pay us by conferring this degree at a specially convened Convocation.

Along side those freedom- and justice-loving citizens of the earth, we do at the same time, however, note that at the highest of this century --a century which humanity entered with such high hopes for progress --the planet remains beset by great disparities between the rich and thus the poor, both within countries and between different parts of the earth.

If in individual life we ​​?? all may reach that a neighborhood of the long walk where the prospect is granted to retire to some rest and tranquility, for humanity the walk to freedom and equality seems, alas, still to be long gone ahead. This august institution gains its standing and reputation also from the way during which it's conducted, and continues to conduct, itself as a world presence.

Wherever men and ladies of learning and thought gather, its name and work are known. It embodies that spirit of universality which marks. Great universities. To hitch the ranks of its alumni, is to be reminded of the oneness of our global world. simplest single challenge facing our globalized world is to combat and eradicate its disparities. 

While altogether parts of the earth progress is being made in entrenching democratic kinds of governance, we constantly need to remind ourselves that the freedoms which democracy brings will remain empty shells if they are not amid real and tangible improvements within the learning lives of the various ordinary citizens of those countries.

Where men and ladies and kids go burdened with hunger, suffering from preventable diseases, languishing in ignorance and illiteracy, or finding themselves bereft of decent shelter, mention democracy and freedom that does not recognize these material aspects, can ring hollow and erode confidence Exactly in those values ​​?? we seek to plug.

Thus our universal obligation towards the building of a world during which there shall be greater equality amongst nations and amongst citizens of nations. The disparity between the developed and developing world, between North and South, reflects itself also within the sphere of educational and intellectual resources. When in Africa we speak and dream of, and work for, a rebirth of that continent as a full participant within the affairs of the earth within subsequent century, we are deeply conscious of how dependent that's on the mobilization and strengthening of the continents resources of learning.

The current world financial crisis also starkly reminds us that a lot of of the concepts that guided our sense of how the planet and its affairs are best ordered, have suddenly been shown to be wanting. the world economics. system. The precepts of the economic theorists who could so confidently prescribe to all or any, now appear to possess drawn much of their apparent intellectual validation from having been unchallenged. By the day-to-day operations of a system that operated within the interests of the powerful.

Not only does this crisis involve fundamental rethinking and reconceptualization on the a part of the theorists of the North. It more particularly and urgently emphasizes the necessity for thinkers and intellectuals of the developing world to sharpen their skills and analyzes, and for a real partnership between those of the North and therefore the South in helping shape a world order that answers to

the shared and customary needs of all peoples, and not just the riches.

This university already has had an extended partnership of learning and teaching with the South African people.

There are many names that one could mention of persons now holding office in government or in institutions of civil society who hung out at Harvard or benefited from programmed conducted jointly With this institution. For that, our fledgling democracy faced with enormous tasks of reconstruction and development owes your institution an excellent debt of gratitude.

As South Africans play their role in helping to conceptualize and provides content to the African Renaissance, we still draw upon the intellectual skills nurtured and honed here.

The United States of America and democratic South Africa have in the course of these last four years built a relationship of mutual respect and co-operation, each country respecting the sovereignty of the other while co-operating as partners.

As part of this relationship the scholars who had the benefit of studying here, returned better equipped to deal with the local challenges and problems as Africans. It is therefore a source of great encouragement and inspiration for us to learn about the Emerging Africa research project housed That it will be doing. Its objective of undertaking an appraisal of Africa 92s economic, social and political history, as well as the problems facing the continent, is timely and to be greatly welcomed.

This in collaboration with African research institutions and scholars, will serve to strengthen and build African intellectual capacity to take charge of its

reconstruction and regeneration.

I am confident that it will also strengthen and build your own understanding of African reality and your capacity to analyzes that reality as part of our shared world. Mister President, we accept this great honors bestowed upon us today as a symbol of how South Africa and The United States, Africa and the West, the developing and the developed world, are reaching out and joining hands as partners in building a world order that equally benefits all the nations and people of the world.

For three hundred years this great institution has served We are confident that this institution of its nation with distinction. We enter the new millennium in the hope that the rich fruits of learning, science and technological progress will in this coming century truly be shared by all in this global village in which we live. Which we are now a proud member will play a leading role in achieving that.

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