The truth is that every great man 's shoes are as unique to him as his finger prints. If you're trying to fill any shoes then you're trying to
loose your identity and miss your destiny. When the late Mandela died
people were asking, ''who will take the place of Mandela?'', ''who will
fill his shoes?'' But such thinking and idea don't always sit well with
me. I listened with keen interest as respected public analysts were
being interviewed and asked to offer their opinions on the life and time
of the late Nelson Mandela Vis-à-vis
''the place he left'' as far as Africa leadership was concerned. Many
were saying ''there can't be another Mandela.'' They were saying that
there can't be another leader like the late Nelson Mandela and at the
same time admonishing that African leaders should aspire to be another
Mandela or be like Mandela. Such wisdom coming from respected public
figures and analysts worried me. But those of them who had advised
that African leaders should emulate Mandela's virtues or be challenged by his
achievements, sounded better to me
Did Mandela try to or fill another person's shoes? Did Martin Luther King Jr. filled someone else's shoes? Did Winston Churchill or Mother Teresa? Well, positions can be filled, but personalities can't be filled by another personalities. When personalities are gone, their works perpetuate them. When Thabo Mbeki took over the position of the President from the late Nelson Mandela, he remained Thabo Mbeki and Mandela remained Mandela. Nor was it the position of the President of South Africa that made Nelson Mandela the Mandela the whole world know.
Did Mandela try to or fill another person's shoes? Did Martin Luther King Jr. filled someone else's shoes? Did Winston Churchill or Mother Teresa? Well, positions can be filled, but personalities can't be filled by another personalities. When personalities are gone, their works perpetuate them. When Thabo Mbeki took over the position of the President from the late Nelson Mandela, he remained Thabo Mbeki and Mandela remained Mandela. Nor was it the position of the President of South Africa that made Nelson Mandela the Mandela the whole world know.
It's said that money amplifies the character of its possessor. So does
position. Position will serve to provide the platform and the
opportunity for leadership. You don't become a leader with position.
Your leadership capacity only get you exposed by the position you are
opportune to have. In the same way that a person doesn't become a good
man just by having money. Money only reveals the true character of the man. There were
many individuals with better influence, money and even political
connections in Calcutta, India, in the days of Mother Teresa. But non
had the heart and the will that she had. There were many with influence
and affluence than the late Nelson Mandela during apartheid South Africa,
but not the drive and audacity of Mandela. Non was concerned about
posterity like Dr. Martins Luther King Jr. in his days as to stick out
his neck like he did.
Personalities can be imitated or emulated but not replaced. Every one's got his/her own mission. Everyone's got his/her own race to run. Wearing or filling another man's shoes is a grave impediment to the race. Mandela was a child of his time. Mother Teresa was a child of her time, so was Martin Luther King Jr., and so are you and I. Everyone's shoes are meant for the race peculiar and particular to him/her. Don't look for shoes to fill. Go get yours.
Personalities can be imitated or emulated but not replaced. Every one's got his/her own mission. Everyone's got his/her own race to run. Wearing or filling another man's shoes is a grave impediment to the race. Mandela was a child of his time. Mother Teresa was a child of her time, so was Martin Luther King Jr., and so are you and I. Everyone's shoes are meant for the race peculiar and particular to him/her. Don't look for shoes to fill. Go get yours.
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