I recently watched “INVICTUS” with Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. A very inspiring and true story, that if viewed from the philosophy of the seven heavens, has some intriguing insights.
In the story Morgan Freeman plays Mandela and Matt Damon plays Francois Pienaar, the captain of the national rugby team the Springboks. South Africa is at a crossroads. Mandela must find a way past the fear of the future by the white community and a black community still wounded deeply by apartheid. I believe, the story makes a striking point, that Mandela saw that if the Springboks could rally the support of the black community and possibly win then it could bring the whole country together in a moment of unity.   Mandela was trying to bring both sides from positions of unwillingness and denial. One way to help with the breakthrough was to create a community around the national rugby team. He requested and the team complied to travel to the poor black areas and teach them Rugby. The result was the loyalty of the black people, where before the Springboks were a symbol of the old regime, within a year they became the symbol of the nation. The whole nation rallied around the team having fun and caring about the outcome of the game.
At the end of the film Mandela watched the races party as one nation. I believe that he felt that this path would help lead towards the healing and forgiveness within the nation. And probably did as much as a Rugby Championship could do, create a moment of happiness, hope and maybe a glimpse into a brighter future. What makes it even more intriguing and what they didn’t point out in the film is the political timing of the win. The final of the Springboks vs. All Blacks was on June 24th, 1995, The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was assented (voted on?) on July 19th, 1995; less then a month after the win. Could the Springbok’s win influence the positive outcome of the future existence of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission? Where would South Africa be now without the Commission? Who knows? Something to think about…
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