281: hope at ninety

If there is one person on this planet who epitomises hope it is Nelson Mandela. To keep hope alive, not just in his own heart but in that of so many others, during the many years of his imprisonment and beyond... an amazing achievement in itself, ultimately rewarded with freedom for the nation. Today, Mandela turned 90. The birthday celebrations began long ago, of course, and will continue for much longer, with his main party tomorrow. He used the opportunity today to make a speech calling upon the wealthier segments of South African society to do more to help the poorest. I've linked to the rather nice compilation of photos from Mandela's birthday celebrations (and a few older photos from last year) on South African news site Tonight. Happy Birthday, Madiba! Here's to many more years of hope and happiness. (Photo from AFP / Tonight.)