What a loss for us all but completely understandable. It's impressive that Tutu has managed to fight for justice this long. He has never shied away from criticizing those who deserve criticism and he has consistently fought for equality for everyone. Rather than backing down from a fight because the issue was controversial (for others) Tutu has never shown fear. World leaders could learn a lot from him.
"Instead of growing old gracefully, at home with my family, reading and writing and praying and thinking, too much of my time has been spent at airports and in hotels," Tutu said. "The time has now come to slow down, to sip rooibos tea with my beloved wife in the afternoons, to watch cricket, to travel to visit my children and grandchildren, rather than to conferences and conventions and university campuses."
Tutu trained as a teacher, but his anger at the poor education offered to black children turned him towards the clergy. His position in the church afforded him a degree of protection from the authorities, which he used to great effect in criticising the apartheid system, to the annoyance of the white minority government.
He was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1984. Two years later he became archbishop of Cape Town, the first black man to hold the position. In 1994, when an all-race election was held, he coined the term "rainbow nation", and introduced Nelson Mandela as president which, he said today, was one of the greatest moments of his life. "I said to God, 'God, if I die now, I don't really mind.'"
