In between the lines of the many outspoken messages on Mandela's departure, I sense a general nostalgic farewell to the 20th century and the political personalities that have had their mark in exceptional manners, right or wrong.
The world has seen many figures arising, either by universal suffrage or via more dubious forms of appointement, taking the stage to determine, not only in word, the courses of nations and mindsets.
There is a somewhat sad contrast with the people we see in public office but also in opposing streetwise forms, today.
We will never know how the leadership of people like Mao Tse-tung, Roosevelt, Lenin, Gandhi or Churchill would be upheld in an environment where a larger educated population is fairly instantly informed, but then again the burden of obligations that comes with any form of leadership goes hand in hand with the privileges the position inspires at a given point in time.
Perhaps our present politicians, those that preside and execute public mandates as well as those that impute them of all society's wrong doings are justifiably struggling with an inner identity crisis, searching for inspiration that cannot be found amongst a population that sees little cause in listening into patronizing or populistic lip service.
I have no doubt most of the world already is undergoing a 21st century version of renaissance and see purpose in party politicians stepping down to a more realistic level wherein they administer common goods free from the individual temptation to become some sort of centerpiece. The universe will decide whom demonstrates to be larger than life itself. It always has.
