The passing of Nelson Mandela has been announced (5 December 2013). http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25249520 Arguably, this is a significant event in world history and certainly in the history of South Africa.
As a young lad I remember when he was in prison he was described by some 'grown ups'as a 'terrorist'. On the news tonight he's described as a 'freedom fighter'. Then I remember this song by The Specials. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgcTvoWjZJU
One thing we can be truly certain of is that this is the only thing that will be on our tv and in our papers etc for the next 6 months+ Don
There is little doubt that the world wide media will go berserk in reminding all of us of how this man saved South Africa from the dreaded Apartheid situation and his leadership on and after that to become a GREAT man…that can be expected of the media to-day who will very carefully ignore the fact - as they ever knew of it - that this man was jailed for LIFE… as he was a terrorist of the worst kind and rightly jailed…and as he sat on Robbens Island in front of Cape Town…he was taken under the wings and educated in their fashion by none other than Moscow - who were largely involved in his freedom from that life time Jail sentence… I will be watching with great interest as the world does him great honour of this GREAT terrorist as Saddam Hussein was the real bad guy…cynic as I am... Cheers
good day ritsonvaljos.sm.yesterday.10:05pm.re:the passing of nelson mandela.he was the start of equality of races in S.A.may he rest in peace.regards bernard85
Tom, I don't even know where to start replying to your post. Yes he was declared a terriorist by the UN, but at the time that was the only way the Black people of South Africa could put pressure on the National Party to stop apartheid. Last night my wife and I had a great night out with a bunch of our friends. It was the full Rainbow Nation around the table with all the population groups being represented. In a few years time when somebody asks me where were you when Madiba died I can say I was sitting around a table with friends that would have not been possible 20 years ago without the work that Mandela did.
It all depends on which side of the fence you find yourself at the time. Just look at the Independent countries of the Commonwealth under the old British Colonial System, and the number of Public Enemy No1's that later became Heads of State or became Ministers. Nelson Mandela R.I.P. Tom
Kevin I note that you live in Cape Town and I can well understand your feelings as I have been there - true for a very short time - but I was NOT impressed by the attitude of many of the young in the downtown area as I was of the thinking that this could blow up at anytime - same feeling was apparent at George - Plettenberg - Port Elizabeth - Jo'burg and whilst we didn't sit down with the indigenous people we saw enough of many of them to be reminded of a communistic trend - which having seen the results of this trend by the Russians in Vienna particularly has given me pause plus the fact that in the past few years we here in Canada have accepted many many South African Dutch/British Doctors- indicating that all is not well in South Africa... Cheers
We have many problems in this country, and will take maybe a generation or two to get it better, but this isn't the point of this thread. South Africa has lost it's "Father". So it's time to mourn, appreciate what he did for us and move on.
An appropriate message to the PM at the time... "Are you so blind that you cannot see? Are you so deaf that you cannot hear? Are you so dumb that you cannot speak?" best
Kevin I know what the point of the thread is all about - but I question his legacy as you might not have two generations Cheers
He had great taste in shirts too. I hope that with the passing of this historic figure South Africa won't go the shirtless ways of neighbour Zimbabwe, or indeed most of the Continent.
Well, one man's freedom fighter is usually another man's terrorist. Where you put the dividing line depends on many factors. I think not having a vote would move that line for me.
Yes, a fine line between freedom fighter and terrorist. I always used to think ruefully of Menachem Begin after the tales my father told me of Begin's activities in Palestine post-war. Mandela was a great man, of that there is no doubt. I just fear that the pygmies (that is an assessment of moral and political stature, not a racial epithet) who follow in his wake now have no living conscience to act as a brake on their failings. It is also time for the media overkill to subside - it is as if every British broadcasting outlet wants to ensure that it made a 'special' - and more than one - to get in on it. Yesterday; extended news, extended Newsnight. Tonight, extended news, extended Newsnight, special programme. Even The One Show rolled out peripheral characters 'when I met Mandela'. I think I will go out for the day on 15th as the funeral will be worse. (That is a comment on current news values, not the funeral itself).
