Boy, the 1990s certainly seem like they’re going to be a dream decade, don’t they?

What with the Berlin Wall coming down, all this talk of German unification, Noriega in custody, Gorbachev and all his reforms, an Eastern European strive for democracy and even a McDonalds in Moscow, it seems like there is a lot to look forward to over the next ten years.

And now, you can add a new event to the list. The South African government has taken the first steps toward dismantling Apartheid.

Last Friday, in an historic speech, South African President F.W. de Klerk outlined his plans for a new society and vowed to end 30 years of racial inequality in his country.

Specifically, de Klerk repealed a 30-year-old ban on the African National Congress, a black nationalist organization.

Also, de Klerk promised to release from prison Nelson Mandela, leader of the black liberation movement, who was imprisoned in 1963 for conspiracy to start a revolution. Mandela said last week he would not leave prison unless the South African government restored the status of the African National Congress.

De Klerk has impressed many people with what he has done already, but not everyone is convinced. That will come in time, if he keeps moving forward.