Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela

South African giant, and arguably the worlds most powerful moral voice turns 88 today.

Sadly, for his own country, and the world, Mandela hung up his spurs in 2004 called it a
day.

At home he has been treated like a difficult and bothersome old man who should go
away," said Mark Gevisser, author of an upcoming biography of President Mbeki.

"It's possible he threw up his hands and concluded his moment had come and gone."

According to reports, increasing frailty and a desire to spend more time with family
has also sapped his appetite for political engagement.

In the past year he has ducked meetings with visiting dignitaries, including the new
Bolivian president, Evo Morales, and declined to comment directly or indirectly on
turmoil inside his beloved African National Congress.

After a private party at the Nelson Mandela Foundation yesterday, Mandela plans to
mark his birthday today with family at home in Johannesburg.

Later in the week he is to attend a party at his children's fund. In a special message to
children yesterday Mandela stressed the importance of education and urged the wealthy to
help poor children.

But on political issues he remained silent. There is no consensus on why he has gone
quiet and an ANC spokesman declined to comment.

The real shame, given the torment he endured for much of his life, and the powerful
example he showed the world after the downfall of apartheid, is that his voice is still
needed.

In South Africa, many supporters believe his not engaging politically is having a
negative impact on the ANC's ability to resolve its own internal crises.

That might be so, and equally so with world leaders who might have once listened to his
message.
I guess, in his shoes, I would be getting a happy birthday wherever I could, and than is
not in the disappointments of our times, t home or abroad.

Happy birthday anyway to Nelson Mandela.