Mandela, Most Known SA Name in China

　　Nelson Mandela has been in hospital since June 8, where he is being treated for a recurring¹ lung infection. Today, people from all walks of life in South Africa will gather in front of the hospital to pray for the former president's quick recovery and to celebrate his 95th birthday. Zhang Wan² has more.

 

　　A song named Glorious Years was written for former South African president Nelson Mandela by a popular Hong Kong band called Beyond in the 1980s. As one of the band's trademark³ songs, Glorious Years became popular very quickly after being released among Chinese youth, especially those born in the 1970s and 1980s.

 

　　Many Chinese say it's hard to tell exactly why they like the song so much, however, it always reminds them of the great man in South Africa- Nelson Mandela as well as his inspiring spirit.

 

　　Here is a young Chinese Wang Tonghua, who regards Mandela as an icon⁴.

 

　　"I first heard of the former South African president during my childhood. For me he is the person who has both won the Nobel Peace Price, and been in prison. However, nothing could every change his faith. I admire men like him, who are able to stick to their faith for many, many years. I regard him as the incarnation of peace. He has been fighting for anti-apartheid and improved living conditions in South Africa."

 

　　Mi Wenjuan, another young Chinese person says she regards Mandela as a warrior⁵ who had passed on his warrior's spirit not simply to South Africans, but also to people all around the world.

 

　　"What impresses me most about Mandela is his unconquerable warrior's spirit. I am deeply impressed by his words: "I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul". He has demonstrated the spirit of a warrior throughout his life that is sticking to one's faith and values."

 

　　Zhang Zhi, the department head of a magazine says he was deeply impressed by Mandela's smile, which seems very infectious.

 

　　"I think the smile on his face comes naturally from his heart. Certainly, from this smile we could also see lots of hardship behind it. During his more than two decades in prison, he experienced all kinds of unfair treatment. It seems that although prison may detain a person's body, it cannot detain one's heart and soul. His smile is the manifestation⁶ of the charm of his personality."

 

　　The name Mandela is believed the most well-known South African name in China. He is known to have made a great contribution to the establishment of relations between China and South Africa in 1998, and also one who cherished friendship with China.

 

　　Lu Miaogeng, former deputy director of Chinese research center in South Africa still remembers clearly the situation when he met Mandela on August 1993, at Mandela's office.

 

　　"When Mandela was speaking, he sounded strong and powerful. He said China has been supporting the South African people in their fight against apartheid since the 1950s, you have provided us all the aid that you can. Such friendship between South Africa and China is what we will continue to cherish."

 

　　Many young people in China say they have been greatly influenced by Mandela's personality and spirit. He is more than a politician, he is a great man. Here is Zhang Zhi again.

 

　　"He could always find beauty in a person. That's pretty similar to the thoughts of a poet in Chinese history, saying: there is no one person in the world who is not good. After Mandela became president, many black people urged him to crack down on white people. However, he said: what we have been fighting for is a democratic country, what we have been fighting against is apartheid and racial discrimination, therefore, we could not betray our effort. I think this is a typical example of returning good for evil."

 

　　Zhang says that so far there are hundreds of presidents all over the world, however, he sees few president who can affect the world as deeply as Mandela has.

 

　　For CRI, I am Zhang Wan.

1 recurring   

adj.往复的，再次发生的

参考例句：

• This kind of problem is recurring often. 这类问题经常发生。
• For our own country, it has been a time for recurring trial. 就我们国家而言，它经过了一个反复考验的时期。

2 wan   

(wide area network)广域网

参考例句：

• The shared connection can be an Ethernet,wireless LAN,or wireless WAN connection.提供共享的网络连接可以是以太网、无线局域网或无线广域网。

3 trademark   

n.商标；特征；vt.注册的…商标

参考例句：

• The trademark is registered on the book of the Patent Office.该商标已在专利局登记注册。
• The trademark of the pen was changed.这钢笔的商标改了。

4 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

5 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

6 manifestation   

n.表现形式；表明；现象

参考例句：

• Her smile is a manifestation of joy.她的微笑是她快乐的表现。
• What we call mass is only another manifestation of energy.我们称之为质量的东西只是能量的另一种表现形态。