Mandela

[xHamzah]

RIP, a great inspiration.

[Webbo]

I blame foxesareblue. 

 

RIP such a great man.

[Leicester_Loyal]

RIP to all those innocent people he killed...

[Voll Blau]

RIP to all those innocent people he killed...

 

Funny how you only brought that up after his death...

[ousefox]

Hero. RIP

Spookily the new Mandela film premiered tonight. Impeccable timing.

Apparently it was announced during the end credits. Can't imagine how bizarre that would have been.

[Guest MattP]

First Brian Griffin now the bully from the Simpson's, shit week.

[ozleicester]

RIP.

 

On a side note, has anyone seen Paris Hilton's alleged tweet? haha 'RIP Mandela, Your 'I have a dream' speech was inspirational.'

 

 

Apparently fake

 

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/hilton-hoax-paris-becomes-victim-of-fake-online-tribute-to-nelson-mandela/story-fni0b7jl-1226776848397

[Mack]

RIP to all those innocent people he killed...

 

Whilst Mandela post prison release became a cuddly positive figurehead for equality unity in his younger days he lead and was aware of terrorist activity that murdered many innocent people.

I've mentioned this in Mandela threads on here before and got a battering as popular history seems to have paved over these parts of his life.

That said he did a lot of good for South Africa in the end and even though most Black South Africans are disillusioned by the lack pace in progress since the ANC came to power it's still a better place to live as a Black person now than it was before Mandela ran the country.

[Vacamion]

Newsflash: massively old person dies of old age.

Books of condolence? What's next? Is Elton going to write a song?

I'm all for recognising his significant achievements, but all this pre-prepared grief churned out by the news channels since the announcement of his death does my head in.

[z-layrex]

A murderer is dead.

[jonthefox]

Newsflash: massively old person dies of old age.

Books of condolence? What's next? Is Elton going to write a song?

I'm all for recognising his significant achievements, but all this pre-prepared grief churned out by the news channels since the announcement of his death does my head in.

 

 

A murderer is dead.

 

 

Shame.

[Webbo]

He was a terrorist but remember at the time blacks in SA weren't even allowed a vote. They Were brutalized and murdered by the police . Terrorism was their only outlet for change.

[Jimothy]

He was basically fighting against people that invaded his country and treated blacks as second class citizens. Not allowing them the vote, brutalising and murdering them. There was wrong committed by both sides, but I suppose at least you could say Mandela's was for the greater good. Once he left prison you can't question what he did and the influence he had on making South Africa a more tolerant place.

[Captain...]

We shouldn't gloss over the bad things he did, but they should be recognised within the context in which he did them. Today is the day to remember the good things he did, and not be all edgy posting controversial comments to get a reaction.

 

“I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.†
― Nelson Mandela

[goose2010]

shouldnt laugh but some people......

 

[Jimothy]

shouldnt laugh but some people......

 

Cue them responding to the ridicule with a bunch of tweets about people "biting" to their "joke".

[DennisNedry]

The mass public outpourings of grief always make me laugh, I couldn't give less of a **** quite frankly

[Jon the Hat]

The mass public outpourings of grief always make me laugh, I couldn't give less of a **** quite frankly

 

Grief?  No.  Sadness that one of the great statesmen of our time has died?  Yes.  The world is a better place for his efforts, and we should recognise that.  If you don't care then don't post.

[Danno]

Rip Trevor Nelson, radio 1 will be changed forever.

[Jimothy]

The mass public outpourings of grief always make me laugh, I couldn't give less of a **** quite frankly

What Jon the Hat said.

Plus it's a damn sight more understandable than all the Paul Walker shit I've seen over the last week.

[bovril]

Grief?  No.  Sadness that one of the great statesmen of our time has died?  Yes.  The world is a better place for his efforts, and we should recognise that.  If you don't care then don't post.

 

Well said.

[Captain...]

Grief?  No.  Sadness that one of the great statesmen of our time has died?  Yes.  The world is a better place for his efforts, and we should recognise that.  If you don't care then don't post.

 

Spot on, I don't think I've seen a single tear on BBC Breakfast, it is not about grief it is about marking the passing of someone who had a huge impact on the modern world.

[MooseBreath]

Bit overrated if you ask me. He basically failed badly and got thrown in jail. Only a global movement that was completely external and independent from his efforts brought him back into the frame. He became a poster boy for a new global racial consciousness, which is great and something we should celebrate of course, but to give Mandela all the credit is a bit much. He didn't really do anything, he was just the grandson of a king fighting to get his power back.

[Alf Bentley]

Grief?  No.  Sadness that one of the great statesmen of our time has died?  Yes.  The world is a better place for his efforts, and we should recognise that.  If you don't care then don't post.

 

Well said, Jon. It doesn't bear thinking about what state South Africa would be in if the ANC had been led by someone with the character of a Mugabe. Like all of us, Mandela made mistakes (and would've been the first to admit it), but to endure the oppression of apartheid, then 27 years imprisonment, and come out seeking reconciliation and a peaceful democratic transition does indeed make him that rare thing, a great statesman.

 

Was he a "terrorist", as some have said? Certainly, he became involved in violent guerrilla resistance in the late 50s/early 60s, but my understanding (I'm no expert) is that this was a last resort, as there was no democratic route (blacks had no vote) and non-violent resistance to apartheid laws was met with police violence (e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharpeville_massacre).

 

According to Wikipedia, he was never charged with terrorism or murder. Initially, the charges seem to have been for fomenting strikes and leaving the country without permission (under the pass laws that restricted movement by blacks within South Africa, never mind internationally). To these were added charges of sabotage (admitted) and conspiracy to overthrow the apartheid government (denied but convicted). If Mandela was a terrorist, presumably the French Resistance was, too?

 

Must go, things to do....Len Bright Combo reunion gig tonight; first since 1986, when Mandela was still in jail!

[Zingari]

Bit overrated if you ask me. He basically failed badly and got thrown in jail. Only a global movement that was completely external and independent from his efforts brought him back into the frame. He became a poster boy for a new global racial consciousness, which is great and something we should celebrate of course, but to give Mandela all the credit is a bit much. He didn't really do anything, he was just the grandson of a king fighting to get his power back.

Yes, there's probably more than a little truth  in that . 

In another age he may have rotted in jail just as another insignificant  terrorist .

Possibly he was a symbolic figurehead and was picked up by an eager media to lionise at that time. 

 

He played the role pretty well though if this was the case.