What is freedom all about??

Freedom… What do you think of when you hear “freedom”? The freedom of speech? Ones free will? The freedom to do as you wish? The freedom or the right to vote? Like they say nowadays “nothing is ever free.” With freedom comes a price or consequence and for Rolihlahla Dalibhunga also well known as Nelson Mandela paid the price of his freedom when he was sentenced to life in prison in 1964 for treason. Nelson Mandela like others in his time was an activist against apartheid.
Spending almost three decades of his life imprisoned at Robben Island which is now a museum that hosts the largest photographic library. Nelson Mandela was released on the 18th of February 1990; a year later he was elected President of the ANC (African National Congress) who were South Africa’s governing party that defined themselves as the ‘disciplined force of the left’. In 1993 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in ending the apartheid epidemic. History was re-written when he was democratically elected as the first black President of South Africa in 1994 - 1999.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation is now commemorating human rights day on the 21st of March 2008. Nelson quotes “it is important that the legal system itself be made affordable, accessible and efficient. The most elegantly drafted Human Rights are worth nothing if only the wealthy can enforce them or if remedies are subject to inordinate delays.”

The movie Sarafina starring Whoopi Goldberg as Mary Masembuko (teacher) and Leleti Khumalo as Sarafina the student who decides to take on the governments restrictions and leads a group of students through a protest in Soweto. One of the greatest movies ever produced depicts the social struggles, political corruptions, territorial restraints and the unjust laws between the whites and the non-whites. The movie used music as a tool to express and highlight the constant struggles the South Africans experienced during the mid 1970’s.

Among others Oprah Winfrey also shares the same dreams as Nelson Mandela. Oprah opened in 2007 a Leadership Academy for Girls she wanted to provide an opportunity for young girls of her homeland as she quotes “when you change a girl’s life, it’s not just that life. You start to affect a family, a community, a nation…” Been inspired by a conversation with Nelson Mandela Oprah truly brought her dreams to life.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that ‘freedom’ in Western lifestyle or culture is normally taken for granted for example the simplest ability to vote. Majority of us kiwis haven’t registered to vote. I for one can say that I have yet to register. This simple act of voting that we have had available to us since I can remember is a sense of freedom with no restrictions or unlawful force such as that experienced in South Africa. The freedom of speech what we normally do in everyday life. Speak freely of our emotions, opinions, religions and certain cultural beliefs. New Zealand being a very multicultural country have many ethnic groups that have migrated here for many reasons; seeking a better future, escaping war or political conflicts, gain citizenships or simply to be with family. This we see as ones free will to make better of themselves, taking that opportunity to live and act freely. Like mentioned previously freedom sometimes comes a price. Many who flee there homelands are caught trying to smuggle there way in or deported to refugee camps. Maybe we can start right here by making little changes today for a better tomorrow.