Nelson Mandela

[Fred588]

For thosse who my not already know, Nelson Mandela has passed on. He is so well-revered that no further comment is needed.

[PM2K]

For thosse who my not already know, Nelson Mandela has passed on. He is so well-revered that no further comment is needed.

Amen.

[BSink42]

For thosse who my not already know, Nelson Mandela has passed on. He is so well-revered that no further comment is needed.

Amen.

[MadMax359]

i remember arguing with some friends about the duration of South Africa's apartheid system in the late 70s... my prediction was it would last another 50 years... happily, Mandela proved me wrong... and once he came into power, his focus was on reconciliation and finding common ground instead of retribution... how well that has gone is open to discussion, but it's an example i wish US politicians could follow

[Fred588]

i remember arguing with some friends about the duration of South Africa's apartheid system in the late 70s... my prediction was it would last another 50 years... happily, Mandela proved me wrong... and once he came into power, his focus was on reconciliation and finding common ground instead of retribution... how well that has gone is open to discussion, but it's an example i wish US politicians could follow

Reconciliation is pretty difficult to accomplish, I'm afraid. Its so much easier to feed anger than to put out the fire (to mix a metaphor just a little). Lincoln tried to do this but after his death much of the country went the other way and we are still paying for that. Wilson tried it after the War to End War, but did not get far. Roosevelt was pretty successful in building reconciliation with Germany and Japan. Its hard.

[Duncan Edwards]

i remember arguing with some friends about the duration of South Africa's apartheid system in the late 70s... my prediction was it would last another 50 years... happily, Mandela proved me wrong... and once he came into power, his focus was on reconciliation and finding common ground instead of retribution... how well that has gone is open to discussion, but it's an example i wish US politicians could follow

Reconciliation is pretty difficult to accomplish, I'm afraid. Its so much easier to feed anger than to put out the fire (to mix a metaphor just a little). Lincoln tried to do this but after his death much of the country went the other way and we are still paying for that. Wilson tried it after the War to End War, but did not get far. Roosevelt was pretty successful in building reconciliation with Germany and Japan. Its hard.

And that is the greatest measure of his success as a leader and a human being of great character. He recognized that South Africans needed each other and revenge was a wasted exercise that would only take away what he worked for. For all it's many problems the nation he founded is at least the best working democracy in Africa. George Washington wasn't able to fix all the problems of a young United States but he did set it on the road to a better future. Nelson Mandela will likewise be revered for having done the same for his people of every color.

[Fox78]

I'm a big fan of The Onion and their timely parody. ( theonion.com ) (a Chicago institution!)


I think they hit it right on the head with their latest updated headline:

"Nelson Mandela becomes first politician to be missed"

[mudmaiden]

What I find was so remarkable is that here was a man, adamantly opposing racist apartied in his country. Spend 27 years in jail with the corrupting government believing they were doing this for the good of society. When he gets out of jail, the movement begins to rid South Africa of apartied following Mandela's resolve and example. Aparatied is destroyed, Mandela himself becomes Presisent of South Africa and becomes an icon of peace, justice, integrity, decency to a whole generation of South Africans and an example to the entire world, not seen since Dr. King! In the Bible it says "your latter days will be better than your former" as with the case with Nelson Mandela. Rest in Peace and Victory Mr. Mandela!! - Ushindi!