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From VOA Learning English, |
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this is In The News. |
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People around the world are remembering Nelson Mandela, |
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South Africa's first black president. |
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He died Thursday at the age of 95. |
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South African President Jacob Zuma said |
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the nation "has lost its greatest son, |
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and our people have lost a father." |
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Mandela had been in poor health for several years. |
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He was repeatedly treated in hospitals, |
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most recently for a lung infection. |
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He became infected with tuberculosis many years ago while in prison. |
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Nelson Mandela was the main leader |
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in efforts to end white minority rule in South Africa. |
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He spent 27 years in prison for his part in fighting apartheid |
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-- the nation's policy of discrimination against blacks. |
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Many world leaders, past and present, |
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are remembering Nelson Mandela. |
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Frederick W. de Klerk was South Africa's last apartheid leader. |
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He freed Mandela from prison in 1990. |
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Later, the two men won the Nobel Peace Prize. |
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Mr. de Klerk said people will remember Mandela |
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for the importance he placed on reconciliation |
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-- being able to reach a settlement between conflicting sides. |
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He said their relationship was, in his words, "often stormy," |
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but he said they were "always able to come together at critical moments." |
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South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu |
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was active in the struggle to end apartheid. |
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He also was a friend of Nelson Mandela. |
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He praised Mandela for his actions and statements |
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after he was released from prison. |
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Archbishop Tutu said instead of "calling for his pound of flesh, |
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he proclaimed the message of forgiveness and reconciliation." |
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In the United States, President Barack Obama |
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called Mandela an influential, |
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brave and profoundly good human being. |
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Mr. Obama said Mandela will be remembered |
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for leaving a free South Africa at peace. |
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"I am one of the countless millions who drew inspiration |
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from Nelson Mandela's life. |
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My very first political action |
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-- the first thing I ever did that involved an issue, |
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or a policy, or politics -- was a protest against apartheid. |
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I would study his words and his writings. |
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The day he was released from prison |
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gave me a sense of what human beings can do |
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when they're guided by their hopes and not by their fears." |
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President Obama said flags at the White House |
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and other government buildings will be lowered through Monday |
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in honor of Nelson Mandela. |
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Few foreign leaders are honored by the United States in this way. |
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Former presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton |
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and George W. Bush also praised Mandela |
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as a champion of freedom, human dignity and equality. |
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Another former president -- George H.W. Bush |
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-- called Mandela "a man of tremendous moral courage" |
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who changed the direction of history in his country. |
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In London, British Prime Minister David Cameron |
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called Mandela a true global hero. |
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In his words, a great light has gone out in the world. |
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Mandela, |
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"one of the most honorable figures of our time." |
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called him |
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"a symbol of freedom from colonialism and occupation." |
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He called Mr. Mandela's death "a great loss." |
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And that's In The News, from VOA Learning English. |
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I'm Christopher Cruise. |
