Mandela vs. Gandhi
Two Great Men: One Changed World
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Mohandas Gandhi. Both Nelson Mandela and Mohandas Gandhi lived by that quote. Nelson Mandela forever changed South Africa, dismantling apartheid, while Mohandas Gandhi changed the world when he fought for freedom of British rule in India. Mohandas Gandhi and Nelson Mandela had many similarities; in fact, Gandhi inspired Mandela. Mandela and Gandhi mostly used peaceful methods to achieve their goals, but Mandela used semi-violent approaches. He bombed bridges (to decrease trade) and sabotaged the election results. Those actions resulted in Mandela sentenced to a life sentence in prison, but fortunately, he was released after serving twenty-seven years. Mandela then joined his releaser, President F. W. de Klerk in work to peacefully dismantle the apartheid in South Africa. Gandhi used peaceful methods throughout his career. He fasted, which means to stop eating until one’s aim is achieved. Fasting helped Gandhi because he was so respected in his community; if he was harmed the British government might have an uprising on their hands. Gandhi also hosted salt marches, in which a large group of people would plunge into the sea and gather salt. This hurt the British government because the Indian people usually relied on them for salt. These public events usually ended in some kind of nonviolent protest. Mandela as well as Gandhi started out as lawyers, and then became an active political leader. Both Mandela and Gandhi were very passionate about their life’s work; in fact, in April 1964 Mandela gave a speech in which he stated, “During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Mohandas Gandhi. Both Nelson Mandela and Mohandas Gandhi lived by that quote. Nelson Mandela forever changed South Africa, dismantling apartheid, while Mohandas Gandhi changed the world when he fought for freedom of British rule in India. Mohandas Gandhi and Nelson Mandela had many similarities; in fact, Gandhi inspired Mandela. Mandela and Gandhi mostly used peaceful methods to achieve their goals, but Mandela used semi-violent approaches. He bombed bridges (to decrease trade) and sabotaged the election results. Those actions resulted in Mandela sentenced to a life sentence in prison, but fortunately, he was released after serving twenty-seven years. Mandela then joined his releaser, President F. W. de Klerk in work to peacefully dismantle the apartheid in South Africa. Gandhi used peaceful methods throughout his career. He fasted, which means to stop eating until one’s aim is achieved. Fasting helped Gandhi because he was so respected in his community; if he was harmed the British government might have an uprising on their hands. Gandhi also hosted salt marches, in which a large group of people would plunge into the sea and gather salt. This hurt the British government because the Indian people usually relied on them for salt. These public events usually ended in some kind of nonviolent protest. Mandela as well as Gandhi started out as lawyers, and then became an active political leader. Both Mandela and Gandhi were very passionate about their life’s work; in fact, in April 1964 Mandela gave a speech in which he stated, “During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to