RIP Nelson Mandela

[sammy13]

Such sad - sad news.
The world has lost a remarkable man.

[kailey]

I was very sad to hear this. A truly remarkable man. RIP Nelson Mandela

[fagin]

"No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." - Nelson Mandela

[4madcats]

Dec 5, 2013 22:53:11 GMT rich64 said:

Hero,Great,Inspirational are among a few words used far too easily these days (and probably always have been) .

Nelson Mandela has been a hero of both myself and others since first hearing the special AKA sing for his freedom and the dignity and leadership he has shown is a true inspiration to millions.

Goodnight Mr Mandela and God bless

I'd never heard of him till I heard that song & bought the single. It gave you all the info on his background & you could sign up to the ANC. I remember wearing the button badge to work trying to explain to folks what it meant, & I remember the joyous dancing of Desmond Tutu on the TV when it was announced Mandela was to be released.

RIP Nelson Mandela

[sammy13]

Dec 5, 2013 23:17:19 GMT fagin said:

"No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." - Nelson Mandela

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

Nelson Mandela

[jeffc]

RIP Nelson Mandela a great political man who is known for bringing DEMOCRACY to his country. We can learn a lot from this man. Our thoughts and sympathy to his family.

[sammy13]

Bono has released a statement that says it all -

'It was as if he was born to teach the age a lesson in humility, in humour and above all else in patience.

In the end, Nelson Mandela showed us how to love rather than hate, not because he had never surrendered to rage or violence, but because he learnt that love would do a better job. Mandela played with the highest stakes. He put his family, his country, his time, his life on the line, and he won most of these contests. Stubborn til the end for all the right reasons, it felt like he very nearly outstared his maker.

Today, finally, he blinked. And some of us cry, knowing our eyes were opened to so much because of him.'

[Deleted]

R.I.P Nelson Mandela. Your legacy and spirit will live on.

[sleepyduck]

A great, great man. RIP

[padiho]

Dec 5, 2013 22:27:02 GMT OneDay said:

Whilst I agree with everything that has been said so far, there is some interesting food for thought here. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years on Robben Island as a terrorist, having led a bombing campaign against government targets in 1961. The difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter often depends on which side of the fence you sit.

Since his release, there is no denying that he worked wonders for his people, his country and the world at large.

RIP

Couldn't agree more oneday

However since his release he has done remarkable work. I lived in Capetown as a child of 10-13, for the non white it was truly awful...even as a child I knew it wasn't right.

[OneDay]

Dec 6, 2013 8:42:32 GMT padiho said:

Dec 5, 2013 22:27:02 GMT OneDay said:

Whilst I agree with everything that has been said so far, there is some interesting food for thought here. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years on Robben Island as a terrorist, having led a bombing campaign against government targets in 1961. The difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter often depends on which side of the fence you sit.

Since his release, there is no denying that he worked wonders for his people, his country and the world at large.

RIP

Couldn't agree more oneday

However since his release he has done remarkable work. I lived in Capetown as a child of 10-13, for the non white it was truly awful...even as a child I knew it wasn't right.

Yes, I spent some time in South Africa during apartheid and nobody in their right mind could support that thinking. Mandela, Tutu (and let's nor forget de Klerk) achieved a truly massive change.

[Chrissie]

I only heard the news this morning & I'm chocked

RIP Nelson Mandela

[xs2man]

Dec 5, 2013 22:27:02 GMT OneDay said:

Whilst I agree with everything that has been said so far, there is some interesting food for thought here. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years on Robben Island as a terrorist, having led a bombing campaign against government targets in 1961. The difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter often depends on which side of the fence you sit.

Since his release, there is no denying that he worked wonders for his people, his country and the world at large.

RIP

I agree with this.  

He was a terrorist, albeit a reformed one.  He was implicit in bombing government targets.  The difference between him and the terrorists we see today is time.  Time in prison, time for their beliefs to become more widely held.  And time to chill out.

No doubt he has done great things since his release from prison, along with others, but lets not pretend he was the epitome of morals, ethics and decency.  There are many inspirational figures in world history that didn't resort to terrorism.  Regardless of whether the state were right or wrong.

[OneDay]

Dec 6, 2013 10:56:32 GMT xs2man said:

Dec 5, 2013 22:27:02 GMT OneDay said:

Whilst I agree with everything that has been said so far, there is some interesting food for thought here. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years on Robben Island as a terrorist, having led a bombing campaign against government targets in 1961. The difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter often depends on which side of the fence you sit.

Since his release, there is no denying that he worked wonders for his people, his country and the world at large.

RIP

I agree with this.  

He was a terrorist, albeit a reformed one.  He was implicit in bombing government targets.  The difference between him and the terrorists we see today is time.  Time in prison, time for their beliefs to become more widely held.  And time to chill out.

No doubt he has done great things since his release from prison, along with others, but lets not pretend he was the epitome of morals, ethics and decency.  There are many inspirational figures in world history that didn't resort to terrorism.  Regardless of whether the state were right or wrong.

And, interestingly, time of day. The bombings were conducted at night so as not to hurt people. That doesn't excuse it, but it is a huge difference from today's terrorists who aim to inflict maximum carnage

[fagin]

Dec 6, 2013 11:21:59 GMT OneDay said:

Dec 6, 2013 10:56:32 GMT xs2man said:

I agree with this.  

He was a terrorist, albeit a reformed one.  He was implicit in bombing government targets.  The difference between him and the terrorists we see today is time.  Time in prison, time for their beliefs to become more widely held.  And time to chill out.

No doubt he has done great things since his release from prison, along with others, but lets not pretend he was the epitome of morals, ethics and decency.  There are many inspirational figures in world history that didn't resort to terrorism.  Regardless of whether the state were right or wrong.

And, interestingly, time of day. The bombings were conducted at night so as not to hurt people. That doesn't excuse it, but it is a huge difference from today's terrorists who aim to inflict maximum carnage

And strategic targets, not public places. They saw themselves as an army.
I was brought up in SA and quite heavily involved in the late 70's/ early 80's, mainly with the End Conscription Campaign, enough to have to leave the country for a spell (although I didn't blow anything up, I did have some friends who got life for planning things - one was later a cabinet minister so times change.)
It was a strange world, but unless you lived through it you can't really comprehend. The education system was designed to produce well behaved workers (black naturally) and well behaved masters (somewhat paler).
Brainwashing some might call it.