The Nelson Mandela story has quietly shifted from a gloomy ? if not morbid ? wait for the worst news out of his Pretoria hospital to what has nearly become a spirit of local and international cheering over his progress in recent weeks.
Tuesday, South African President Jacob Zuma issued a statement saying that Mr. Mandela is showing ?sustained improvement.? That comes after Mandela?s daughter spoke last week of her father possibly leaving intensive care, and even eventually going home from the hospital altogether, reports Christian Science Monitor.
There?s an authentic element of inspiration to this. Mandela is a lifelong fighter, and at 95 he is defying the confident expectations of his demise ? as he defied the system of apartheid and the attempts of his jailers, for 27 years, to defeat his spirit. He is again turning the story about him around.
Last week South Africans celebrated with a day of service as Mandela marked his birthday.
What a welcome change from late June, when some media erroneously reported that Mandela had died, and an Australian politician sent condolences to the Mandela family ? and every day various oleaginous commentaries seemed to eagerly roll out the red carpet for the imminent earthly departure of the first black president of formerly white-ruled South Africa.
What has replaced the often unseemly death watch now seems to be a more settled, sober, and calm appreciation of Mandela?s life and its significance.
Earlier this month, South African media in Johannesburg reported a surprising spike in sales of books about Mandela. Agence France-Presse said his autobiography in particular was getting new attention.
That work is largely based on his prison writings from Robben Island, in which he advocates developing the qualities of honesty, sincerity, and simplicity that are ?within easy reach of every soul.?
Yesterday the White House released photos of the Obama family visiting Mandela?s cell on Robben Island, taken from their recent visit to South Africa.
There is some feeling that an authentic appreciation of Mandela carries with it an important message of present day reconciliation.
