The day is used to emulate the example of Mandela. But given the fact that there is no one meaning of Mandela and Mandela as symbol of subject to abuse, what are implications of the popularization of the day today?
The answers to this question lie in our understanding of the symbolism of the day and the iconography of the man after whom it is named. The international day was actually inspired by Mandela's 90th birthday celebrations held throughout the world in 2008 that marked out the fact that he had dedicated 67 years of his life to selfless service to humanity. This was a culmination of several celebrations of the previous years, that got the world mood generally united in the recognition of the humanist phenomenon that Mandela was for the world facing huge challenges relating to the erosion of the values and ethics of humanness.
When this widespread feeling was taken up for discussion by states at the United Nations General Assembly the following year, there would be a universal acceptance of the idea of declaring an international day in honour of Mandela for humanistic values and "his dedication to the service of humanity". World leaders agreed to honour also Mandela's exemplary dedication "to the struggle for democracy internationally and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world". Therefore, the day was invented as a call to action. In particular, it was an invitation for peoples of the world to display their humanity by dedicating 67 minutes of their time oft he 18th July every year to some public good. This was seen as "a small gesture of solidarity with humanity and a step towards a global movement for good."
To make it easy for people, 67 suggestions of what could be done was provided jointly by the UN and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. These included reading for someone who can't; cleaning filthy facilities; offering donations; helping out at a shelter and other charity-type activities as well as more profound forms of actions like offering chats for terminally ill patients; making a new friends across cultures; getting medically checked and offering someone a job. The list has grown as we record the creativity displayed by humanists throughout the world.
There has been an explosion of charitable work in South Africa on this day and a mighty outpouring of goodwill and love. There has been a particular prominence given to humane actions done for the most vulnerable of our society: the disabled, orphaned, the very sick, the abused and the infants. People have turned up to pain and fix shelters, to sing and dance with the unfortunate of our society, to bring essential supplies and share a laugh with them in ways no other Day has caused them to.
The pilgrimage from suburbia and towns to townships, informal settlements and rural areas for the 67 minutes interventions (which are usually up to full day) have become a common sight. This has made the country look capable of caring enough to enable the defeat of poverty, marginalization and brutalization of others. It has assured one that we as a people can take care of others.
These activities can be dismissed as vain glory for bourgeoisie haunted by the shame of their material fetish in the sea of lack and poverty. It can be dismissed as inconsequential short lived display of humanity. It can be reduced into mere charity rather than causing real change in lives of people. It can be said that the day will loose meaning because of its commercialisation as corporations see opportunities offer the crumbs from their fat dinner table.
But a new ground has been broken and possibilities have been expanded all the same. It remains to be seen if these actions will change the actors and the targeted people as they should. It is to been if it would cause them to stand up and be counted on a continuous basis.
Even if the work done of the day is of such as nature that it is small consolidation for affluence, the important thing is the symbolism of the day. At the launch of the day at the UN General Assembly in 2008, the Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, said, "Nelson Mandela’s extraordinary compassion after 27 years in prison showed that human rights and equality are stronger than discrimination and hate."
The reminder about the values and principles Mandela and his generation lived by is an important element of the day. Its effect is to humanize the heart and mind of citizens so that their charity moves from being just about material assistance, but rehumanising society brutalised materialism, callousness and greed.
The challenge going forward is to offer opportunities for people to reflect on what they do on this day, so that there is a reconciliation between the moral ethic of giver and the giver's personality. It is also to ensure that the Mandela phenomenon is understand as a complex, diverse and educative representational power.
It should be used to speak out against actions of states and other powerful actors that are inconsistent with the values of humanness. It is thus a symbol by which we redefine our society and ourselves in from the margins to centres.
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