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Today
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It
was Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu who first
coined the landmark phrase ‘Rainbow Nation’, to
describe the people of South Africa.
In
this, and in his ongoing calls to celebrate our
country’s linguistic, cultural and religious
diversity, the Archbishop typifies the appreciation
of diversity within society and our responsibility
to uphold it.
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By
graciously lending his name to this initiative,
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has given great
impetus to our endeavours, great power to our
resourcefulness and great energy to our campaign.
“Sometimes strident, often tender, never afraid and
seldom without humour, Desmond Tutu’s voice will
always be the voice of the voiceless.”
–
Nelson Mandela
Yesterday
Humble beginnings
Desmond Mpilo Tutu was born in Klerksdorp, South
Africa on 7 October 1931. His family, like many in
South Africa at that time, had very little money.
They lived in a small shack with no electricity or
sanitation and, although his father was a respected
teacher, the family was subjected to the same
material deprivation as those around them.
Inspiration
As a
child, Tutu met
Father Trevor Huddleston, a
prominent white priest. This man would have a great
influence on Tutu’s life and would inspire within
him a lifelong devotion to Christianity.
Political involvement
At
age 24, Tutu wrote to his country’s Prime Minister
about “a diabolical policy” of racial discrimination
against black people, and began to become more
involved politically. During this time, he also met
and married his beloved wife, Leah.
Education and exposure
In
the aftermath of the horrific
Sharpeville Massacre
in 1960, Tutu left South Africa for London, to study
theology at King's College and to work as an
assistant curate. While in London, he discovered a
new world; one in which there was widespread respect
for all people of every colour.
Tutu
then moved to Lesotho, where he became very involved
in the Anglican Church, and in 1975 he was elected
Dean of Johannesburg. Since this was a very public
position, Tutu’s speeches were heard all over the
world.
Calls for justice and freedom
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Tutu
wrote a poignant letter to the then Prime Minister,
BJ Vorster, in which he warned that without justice
and freedom for blacks, all South Africans faced a
terrible and bloody future; that people made
desperate by despair, injustice, and oppression
would use desperate means.
In
1979, as General Secretary of the
South African
Council of Churches, Tutu began calling for
sanctions against South Africa – at great personal
risk. He had become a popular world figure, but was
viewed by the South African government as dangerous.
His passport was withdrawn and he could not travel
freely. |
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The
Nobel Peace Prize
Tutu
was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on 15 October
1984, as a sign of support for individuals and
groups in South Africa who, with their concerns for
human dignity, fraternity and democracy, incited the
admiration of the world. But, while the world
rejoiced, the South African government remained
silent.
The
Archbishop of Cape Town
Desmond Tutu was elected Archbishop of Cape Town,
the highest position in the South African Anglican
Church, in April 1986. His enthronement was more
glorious than the
Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, but
the government would not allow all those invited to
enter the country.
And
then, a dream came true
Nonetheless, Tutu continued to believe that one day
all South Africans would be free. And his dream came
true on 9 May 1994, when the first democratically
constituted Parliament elected Nelson Rolihlahla
Mandela as president of the Republic of South
Africa.
It
was Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s privilege to introduce
the new President to the throngs of people gathered
on the Parade in Cape Town.
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