Nelson Mandela has died....

[max_tranmere]

What can you say, apart from Rest In Peace to one of the greatest people who has ever lived.

[Cuntybollocks]

He was a bloody terrorist.

[bernard72]

who ??

[derrick76]

To you.

[Essex Lad]

That's twice now I have discovered people have died via this website ? first Mrs Thatcher now Mandela.

Would tend to agree with Cuntybollocks's appraisal.

[derrick76]

Then you must have loved the system that oppressive, dehumanising system. Can't remember what it's called. Something to do with grovelling Blacks and living large Whites.

[Essex Lad]

derrick76 wrote:

> Then you must have loved the system that oppressive,
> dehumanising system. Can't remember what it's called. Something
> to do with grovelling Blacks and living large Whites.

Yes, I was all in favour of that organisation who used to put car tyres full of burning petrol around people's necks.

And that bloke who ran it who never apologised for it...

And his second ex-wife who was the figurehead in his absence who used her "football team" to murder opponents...

[frankthring]

Its unlikely others on this forum ever met him. I did. In rather funny
circumstances. I stumbled into him and trod on his foot !! He was sweet about
it.
It was in Foyles Bookshop, supposedly the world`s largest, on a rainy day
about six years ago. I came in off the street, my glasses steamed and wet
and began browsing the Africana section. I kinda judged there was someone
kneeling down on the floor to my left but was too engrossed to take much
notice - and then I blundered in my best Inspector Clouseau-way into him. It
was a shock when this unmistakable man with his distinctive voice got up from
the floor. I blurted out something about what a wonderful section there was on
South Africa. He said something nice back....then a big hand on my shoulder.
It was clearly a security man from the embassy. Then I noticed a curious semi-
circle watching us - the department manager, the store`s ceo, some SA embassy
officials. Why they had let me get so close only heaven knows.
I have also been to South Africa 4 times, the last just 8 months ago. A true
statesman who could have gone the way of Mugabe, Banda and scores of
other African "statesman" , Mandela did all he could to create harmony in his
multi-cultural and very wonderful country. He did this amazingly without bitterness
too. RIP.

[max_tranmere]

Interesting comments above. I guess it was a case of "by peace if I can by war if I must" for the ANC. It was the Sharpeville Massacre, where many black people were shot dead by State forces, which turned the ANC into a militant outfit. That took place in 1960, or thereabouts, I think. He did a lot to stop South Africa falling apart after Apartheid ended, famously saying: 'I want no revenge, take your weapons and throw them in the sea'. He also said he didn't want white domination, nor did he want black domination. He also said something along the lines of how there were no blacks, no whites, just South Africans.

The Americans always had an odd view of him, as far as I remember he was banned from Washington for a time after he was released from jail as they viewed him as a terrorist - this is something I recall from the time, if I'm wrong correct me, but I seem to recall that. The Americans, and this bit of info is fact, tried to help have him killed sometime back in the 60's or 70's by planning to assist the South African authorities in having him escape from jail - the plan was to make it easy for him to escape and the authorities were going to turn a blind-eye as he slipped out of the prison - then the plan was to have him shot dead when he was later captured. The escape never occurred for some reason.

I first heard of Nelson Mandela back in the 1980's when 'The Special AKA', who were a famous band back then, released a song called "Free Nelson Mandela". I remember reading in Smash Hits magazine, the teen pop weekly back then, an article entitled "Who Is Nelson Mandela?". Most people hadn't heard of him and this magazine set out to explain, following that record becoming a hit. I remember watching his release live on TV in 1989, it was on a Sunday afternoon if I remember rightly.

I guess he gave people hope who were in bad situations around the world, he did a lot for his country, and he also showed that you don't have to be bitter and angry if you've had bad done to you - you can forgive. His organisation may have done some bad things, but one person's terrorist is another person's freedom fighter - as the saying goes. Militant action is viewed as justified if one has a political aim and they are having gross injustice done to them and those around them - that is generally the view people across the world hold. He will never be forgotten. I imagine his funeral will be one of the biggest TV events ever, and just about everyone who is anyone across the world will attend.

[derrick76]

And all in favour of the empire in which you grew up in, which was built on very on worse, 'innit'.

Only the USA had the power to resist and defeat. The Maroons of Jamaica and the Zulus of South Africa only had a brief respite.

Enjoying to rewards upon which your nation was built, aren't ya?

Still joining the USA in hunting for Arab money...errmmm...I mean oil in hopes of making a $?-come back?