Letter from Nelson Mandela

Letter from Nelson Mandela

Dear FIFA 2010 Participants, Officials and Supporters

This letter goes out to all of you. To stop one of the biggest injustices in the world at this current point of time and for a long time now also. This letter is to address stop the broad injustice of racism. For too long has this injustice invaded our schools, our work places our society and our sporting events. For this prestigious tournament to be held right here in this nation of South Africa I believe it is a perfect place to promote this message. Our nation in itself houses to many different types of citizens. Not just white or black. And it would be an absolute shame for a pity act of racism to destroy this magnificent tournament we have the pleasure of hosting. Who is to say if injustice can happen here in this nation, at this tournament it won’t continue to other parts of the world and different sporting events

All it takes is for one in considerate person to ruin such a great event. I just ask you all to think. What if you were in the position of the other fellow human being? Would you like what you are doing to them to happen to you, in the case of racism. I would like to assume the answer is no. So I ask, what gives you the right to put yourself above them and ruin their experience here either watching or playing the game itself. You have no right to do so in fact. All human beings are Gods children, made to live side by side equally. This means no one is better then you and you are not better than anyone else.