Nelson Mandela

[britchick]

Sad news.Nelson Mandela died tonight.
May he rest in peace.What an amazing man.

britchickx

[Jeff G]

He is dearly loved and respected . We have lost one of the greatest men that has ever lived .

[OneTampa]

Great Man and Champion for Equality including LGBT rights:

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/nelson-mandela-race-gay-and-human-rights-hero-dies051213

[tednlou2]

Amazing man.  I can't imagine spending 27 years in an 8x8 cell.  He went from an enemy of the state to head of state.  That's remarkable.

I need to do some reading on his HIV/AIDS record.  I've heard some negative remarks, but I'm embarrassed I haven't followed the history more.  So, I don't know what is fact and what is not. 

[BT65]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-10529266

[mecch]

As for HIV/AIDS, the Nelson Mandela Presidency from 1994 to 1999 was a colossal intellectual and moral failure. The science was SOLID.  He turned this failure around in retirement but the fact remains.  Also, I often think, as a leftist, of the same criticisms we apply to the christian hypocrites on the right in the USA, for instance on Gay rights. I feel it took deaths by AIDS in Mandela's family for him to come around and really motivate. OK, theres the argument that maybe it just took the culture to which he belongs quite a long time too.  But if he was no dummy, he had blood on his hands.  Like all the religiously motivated moralists who have so much death to answer for, since this epidemic began.  I have no patience for this shit.   
This silence, stigma, outright discrimination, wanton disrespect for human rights, shitty science (err.. absence of science!) and revolting religion-based moral judgement, continues to this day, in many African countries and in many countries around the world, and its deplorable.

[Miss Philicia]

Actually the new constitution Mandela negotiated for South Africa during his presidency included protections/rights for everyone, including gay people.

But like any larger-than-life historical figure you will find contradictions that you might not particularly like.

[britchick]

The Daily Mail(Uk newspaper) has some really good articles about Nelson Mandela, his life story  and the obstacles that he overcame is truly inspirational.

britchickx

[mecch]

Heres an interesting article that shows another take on the history on HIV/AIDS in South Africa.  Clinton and Big Pharma are the bad guys in this analysis:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/06/rachel-maddow-bill-clinton-mandela_n_4401074.html

[mikeyb39]

Fine man he is/was.

[buginme2]

Frontline has written a pretty interesting story regarding "Nelson Mandela's Mixed Legacy on HIV/AIDS."

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/biographies/nelson-mandelas-mixed-legacy-on-hivaids/

[BT65]

I guess the fact that Mandela united a country that was a powder keg isn't good enough for some people.   

If I would have spent all that time in prison, solitary etc., I doubt I would have emerged as gallant and forgiving as he did.

[Miss Philicia]

Dick Cheney isn't attending the funeral because in 1986 he voted in Congress that Mandela was a terrorist.

[mecch]

Aren't there arrest warrants, or the threat of warrants, for W. and Dick in many countries in the world?

[Ann]

Aren't there arrest warrants, or the threat of warrants, for W. and Dick in many countries in the world?

If there aren't, there should be.

[mecch]

Bush cancelled a visit to the Geneva UN a few years ago when activists were pressuring Geneva authorities to issue an arrest warrant, and arrest him, if he showed up.

[buginme2]

I just watched the 60 minutes special on Nelson Mandela.  What an amazing man.