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Nelson Mandela, 1918–2013

Nelson Mandela

I join the world in mourning the death of President Nelson Mandela, and send out prayers to his family and the rest of South Africa in this time of profound grief. He was an example of courage in his fight for racial equality under the old apartheid system of extreme segregation. Even after giving up 27 years of his life to imprisonment, he showed the world a humble and wise leader who practiced a transcendent forgiveness through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It was always assumed that the transfer of power in South Africa could only be accomplished with war and bloodshed. But Madiba's desire for peace and harmony erased any bitterness and rancor and his "long walk to freedom" from his tiny cell at Robben Island to the presidency of the Republic of South Africa seemed divinely inspired. May his spirit soar.

Chaz Ebert

Chaz is the CEO of several Ebert enterprises, including the President of The Ebert Company Ltd, and of Ebert Digital LLC, Publisher of RogerEbert.com, President of Ebert Productions and Chairman of the Board of The Roger and Chaz Ebert Foundation, and Co-Founder and Producer of Ebertfest, the film festival now in its 24th year.

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