DaveMM Loc: Port Elizabeth, South Africa

As far as South Africans are concerned, the original post is true in all material respects. However, the reason that most South Africans, of all race groups, respect Mandela so much is what he did when the country had its first fully democratically elected government. Many feared that there would be a bloodbath but it is widely felt that Mandela's approach of reconciliation and working together was an extraordinary thing and has ensured his place as such a highly respected leader.

If you had asked me in the 1980s about Mandela, I would have been totally ante him and the ANC, calling them murdering terrorists. Now I have tremendous respect for him (but not the current ANC politicians, and particularly not for Winnie Mandela).

Yes, South Africa has many problems, yes crime is high, yes there are dark forces resulting in thousands of murders, but the fact that SA is a reasonably stable and prosperous nation today is largely thanks to Mandela. Look at the alternative in Zimbabwe where Mad Bob has ruined the country that was the 'breadbasket of Africa' so that it is bankrupt and starving. I lived in it when it was Rhodesia for many years and am in despair about the state of the country.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

What of Mandala's complicity in ordering "bombings" which killed and wounded innocent people? What of the thousands upon thousands of innocent black South Africans killed on order of Mandela, his wife and the ANC? :|

JBTaylor Loc: In hiding again

No comment on Nelson but Winnie's thuggery has been common knowledge for years and years to anyone paying attention to international news.

richard-sports Loc: New York City

Is that fantasyland history class info?
Do you have sources for this post or is this just another delusional UHH racist statement?

richard-sports Loc: New York City

I am white, Jewish (oops, here come the anti-semites now), agnostic and liberal.
Tough shi- on those here on UHH who do not like that combination.
Come on racists, cut me up now.
The bile and bitterness on this site, oh my goodness.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

Had you simply asked for sources I may have provided them, but in that you decided to spice your question with personal attacks (which is your style) I will simply tell you to research and read about the time involved. Nice talking to you. 8-)

JBTaylor Loc: In hiding again

Are you a psychic or a bigot??? I will presume bigot since I don't believe in psychics.

Your accusations of racism are so predictable as the answer to everything everywhere that they have no meaning.

JBTaylor Loc: In hiding again

Is richard-sports is even capable of posting without including a personal attack? All I have ever seen from him are content-free emotional outbursts. I have doubts that he could have a calm rational discussion of facts.

yhtomit Loc: Port Land. Oregon

Mandela was a pacifist conservative when he came out of prison.
When he became president he fought for fiscal responsibility,to calm race relations.He also fought the redistribution of wealth sought by the liberal left of that country.I found it disturbing that our president held him in high regard and said he was a guiding light.I don't think he knew the man or his politics.I wish we had elected a Mandela instead of a Obama.

imntrt1 Loc: St. Louis

I recall reading about much of the above, but as far as him becoming violent....He was basically a pacifist, advocating peaceful solutions to his nation's problems.....However after years of seeing no progress he turned to violence to get his message across....after a while he decided that violence was not the solution and changed his philosophy back to peaceful solutions. As far as black marks on records, virtually no one can escape public scrutiny without something unfavorable surfacing, at least in someone's mind.

fhadfield

Add to all that, he was a communist.

ozdude Loc: Brisbane Australia

Last time I looked the Republic of South Africa was not a Communist state.

fhadfield

Neither is the USA but we have on in the White House.

tschmath Loc: Los Angeles

You are absolutely right. In this country we don't have to prove one is innocent, we have to prove one is guilty. So the burden of proof is on the accuser, in this case the OP. I don't have to prove the allegations false, he has to prove them true. Thank you for proving my point and agreeing with me.

ozdude Loc: Brisbane Australia

That is a ridiculous statement. Not going to reply to anymore crap being shelved out on this post. :thumbdown: