To the Editor,
I was saddened by the death of Nelson Mandela, who sacrificed his life for freedom.
The media has outlined his journey through a life in which he met many obstacles but overcame them with courage, enthusiasm and tolerance.
As a woman of India, I was surprised to learn that this man had been to my country where he had encountered many examples of passive resistance from Gandhi and others. He used this knowledge to obtain freedom for his own countrymen.
Even so, I was astonished that upon his release from prison, he forgave his captors and instructed his followers to throw down their weapons. To me, Nelson Mandela was something of a saint; a truly good man with the strength to carry on.
I was proud that, in the end, Nelson Mandela was able to achieve freedom without violence.
Seva Dhaliwal,
Port Albern