hagar Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25249520 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unstrung Harp Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 I know. So sad, even though he was very old. An inspirational man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeremonyNewOrder Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 RIP Mandela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malachite Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 (edited) One of the most influential, incredible people of our time. We need more Nelson Mandelas in this world. Edited December 5, 2013 by malachite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 I wonder who will be at his funeral. I wonder if Bishop Tutu will speak. I really like Bishop Tutu (I sound like I am five years old). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unstrung Harp Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 I wonder who will be at his funeral. I wonder if Bishop Tutu will speak. I really like Bishop Tutu (I sound like I am five years old). I'm a big fan of both Nelson Mandela and Bishop Tutu. Once, when my daughter was scared and upset about something she heard had happened in Africa, I pulled up a picture of Desmond Tutu and told her to think of him, smiling and beatific, as a force for good who was working against the bad stuff. I still pull up his picture sometimes when she's upset because I think he conveys pure joy and compassion in his photos. Both Mandela and Tutu are such extraordinarily good examples of leaders working for social justice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hagar Posted December 6, 2013 Author Share Posted December 6, 2013 I absolutely love Desmond Tutu. He is pretty amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiaB Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 (edited) Thank you for posting this - it's 6am here and I just woke up to the news. I guess this is where I come out on the boards as a South African. We knew this was coming, but we are still in shock and mourning. I had the privilege of seeing him at my master's graduation ceremony, because his wife was the Chancellor of my university. RIP Madiba - you've earned it. Oh, and I'm sure Archbishop Emeritus Tutu will feature at the state funeral in some form. eta In case anyone wants to read an obituary written by a South African journalist: Madiba: A symbol of the power of good Edited December 6, 2013 by miab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destro Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 (edited) He was deserving of the many prestigious awards he received and I believe he was a very courageous and good man. He definitely makes the A list of great people of the 20th century. However, he was also a socialist with Marxist beliefs. He was opposed to capitalism and the private ownership of land (just to name a couple). It seems strange, to me, that a man who was an advocate of democracy and democratic principals could be so against the very things that have made western civilization so prosperous. Edited December 6, 2013 by Destro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hagar Posted December 6, 2013 Author Share Posted December 6, 2013 Thank you for posting this - it's 6am here and I just woke up to the news. I guess this is where I come out on the boards as a South African. We knew this was coming, but we are still in shock and mourning. I had the privilege of seeing him at my master's graduation ceremony, because his wife was the Chancellor of my university. RIP Madiba - you've earned it. Oh, and I'm sure Archbishop Emeritus Tutu will feature at the state funeral in some form. eta In case anyone wants to read an obituary written by a South African journalist: Madiba: A symbol of the power of good Thank you for sharing that. Very informative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hagar Posted December 6, 2013 Author Share Posted December 6, 2013 However, he was also a socialist with Marxist beliefs. He was opposed to capitalism and the private ownership of land (just to name a couple). You say that like it's a bad thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiaB Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 (edited) He was deserving of the many prestigious awards he received and I believe he was a very courageous and good man. He definitely makes the A list of great people of the 20th century. However, he was also a socialist with Marxist beliefs. He was opposed to capitalism and the private ownership of land (just to name a couple). It seems strange, to me, that a man who was an advocate of democracy and democratic principals could be so against the very things that have made western civilization so prosperous I told myself earlier that I'd stop reading this thread at the first sign that it was going to become critical, so this is it. I don't have it in me to argue or justify my own politics or experiences, which is what I know I would wind up doing if I engaged with this comment. If there are any other South Africans on the boards, maybe they'll be happy to join in, but I'm not. Edited December 6, 2013 by miab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 However, he was also a socialist with Marxist beliefs. He was opposed to capitalism and the private ownership of land (just to name a couple). You say that like it's a bad thing. I know. And can you imagine a black man who grew up in a society where only whites could own private property having a problem with the concept? It's almost as if his life experience wasn't exactly the same as Destro's! Crazy. And South Africa is not part of Western Civilization. The Earth has two hemispheres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninetynine Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 (edited) Yes, there are two hemispheres. I hope there is room for different sets of beliefs. Holding one belief does not have to negate the other. Requiescat in pace, Nelson Mandela. Edited December 6, 2013 by ninetynine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
water Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 As said by my very wise hubby: We will not see the like of him again in our time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unstrung Harp Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 Thank you for posting this - it's 6am here and I just woke up to the news. I guess this is where I come out on the boards as a South African. We knew this was coming, but we are still in shock and mourning. I had the privilege of seeing him at my master's graduation ceremony, because his wife was the Chancellor of my university. RIP Madiba - you've earned it. Oh, and I'm sure Archbishop Emeritus Tutu will feature at the state funeral in some form. eta In case anyone wants to read an obituary written by a South African journalist: Madiba: A symbol of the power of good Thanks for posting the obit, miab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 Sad news indeed. But he was very sick, and I'm glad that he can finally rest. He was a giant among men. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
water Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 Sad news indeed. But he was very sick, and I'm glad that he can finally rest. He was a giant among men. Difficult to fathom Mandala was able to live to age 95 given the circumstances of his life, not the least of which was 27 years in jail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destro Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 I know. And can you imagine a black man who grew up in a society where only whites could own private property having a problem with the concept? It's almost as if his life experience wasn't exactly the same as Destro's! Crazy. I just giggled with embarrassment when I read this. Thanks for that perspective! Also; My original post wasn’t intended to be critical or insulting. I really have great respect for a man that could turn lemons into lemonade on the world stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parapluie Posted December 7, 2013 Share Posted December 7, 2013 I don't really have anything to say, I'm just really sad. I hope he's resting peacefully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinterRosie Posted December 7, 2013 Share Posted December 7, 2013 So, I've been numb and unable to cry for over a month. You know what made me cry? This. And it still does. I can't cry for me, but I can cry for him. He is one of the people that I find most inspiring both for his stance (knowing when to use violence vs reconciliation - I wish I knew) and for what he has accomplished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Posted December 7, 2013 Share Posted December 7, 2013 An inspirational man. He accomplished so much in his life. Especially when so much of it was spent behind bars. He had done some bad things, but most was good. He was an honourable, peaceful man that changed a lot, and he deserves respect. He was the first person to be made an honorary Canadian citizen! I also like "Mandela Day" (July 18). Donate 67 minutes doing something for others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Why 67? It's going to be something really obvious, and I'm going to be annoyed with myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hagar Posted December 13, 2013 Author Share Posted December 13, 2013 Why 67? It's going to be something really obvious, and I'm going to be annoyed with myself. http://www.southafrica.info/mandela/67minutes.htm#.UquSb_RDszQ Not too obvious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hagar Posted December 14, 2013 Author Share Posted December 14, 2013 Looks like Tutu won't be attending the funeral after all. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/13/anc-petty-excluding-desmond-tutu-mandela-funeral Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiaB Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 Looks like Tutu won't be attending the funeral after all. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/13/anc-petty-excluding-desmond-tutu-mandela-funeral No, here's the latest on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hagar Posted December 15, 2013 Author Share Posted December 15, 2013 Looks like Tutu won't be attending the funeral after all. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/13/anc-petty-excluding-desmond-tutu-mandela-funeral No, here's the latest on that. That's good to hear! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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