Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Earnest Henly

I just finished watching the movie 'Invictus.' It's about newly elected president of South Africa Nelson Mandela and his efforts to build a bridge between the racial segregation at that time. He enlists the national rugby team, the Springboks, to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup. I found this movie very inspiring. Aswell as the fact that New Zealand's All Blacks was featured in this film, I also loved how it spotlighted heavy subjects like racism, politics, freedom, forgiveness and acceptance without being offensive. Nelson Mandela has become an absolute inspiration to me for daring to bring peace into a country suffering from an arpatheid, for being imprisoned without fault for 30 years and still come out wanting to forgive.

I will finish with the words from New Zealand hardcore band Saving Grace: 'Where has integrity gone? Where has acceptance gone? Is individuality not beautiful?'

Listen to: Invictus Theme Song - 9000 Days