RIP Nelson Mandela
#1
[Image: 1425775_10152439169363312_1339732187_n.jpg]
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#2
How long has that guy been dying? It seems like forever. Not saying that's a benefit, mind you.
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#3
Tribute to Nelson Mandela By Muhammad Ali

Mandela. One name. One man. One mission: Saving a nation from itself.

Few men in the history of mankind have had more impact on a nation and inspired the world.

Mandela.

He led his country from the viciousness of apartheid to the glory of a multiracial democracy, peacefully.

Has an individual ever given more to a nation and a cause? Only those who have sacrificed their very lives.

Mr. Mandela could have easily spent those 26 years of incarceration abroad, protesting the evil from afar, safe from repercussions. Not him. If his people suffered, he would suffer with them.

I know something about protest. I know well the feelings and questions that run through the mind of those who stand against a system, braving everything for a cause. It is never easy. The personal price is high, but the greatest of people persevere for the greater good. Modern South Africa is built on the back of Mr. Mandela's sacrifice. It still amazes me, even to this day, that a man could give up two and half decades of his life, emerge from prison and forgive his imprisoners.

The Zulu word ndugu best describes him: my humanity is through you. Mr. Mandela was able, despite all the evil done to him, to see the humanity of those who punished him. He was able to look into their souls and see something worth redeeming. This is a lesson that should be learned by the world: There is humanity, even in the worst of us. If only the leaders of nations would embrace his method, there would be peace throughout the world. He proved there is always a way to reconcile differences.

As Mr. Mandela walked to freedom, I thought about him in that cell, brave and proud and unbroken, fueled only by the power of his beliefs for all those years. His iron resolve was a beacon for that nation, and on that great day, South Africans followed that powerful, inspirational light out of bondage.

Later, I was amazed to discover that Mr. Mandela used to listen to my fights when he was imprisoned on Robben Island. That humbling revelation moved me to tears. There he was, a king in exile, being lifted up by my ring exploits. Had I known he was listening to Ali-Frazier I, I probably would've beaten Joe that night. I was always the greatest when I was fighting for something.

Mr. Mandela is considered a chief of his tribe; his family name is Mandiba. But he represents a much larger tribe. He is the chief of the tribe of courage, and decency for all of mankind. There is not a more significant, important, profound world leader of this century.

A hundred years from now, they will speak his name, and somewhere a child will be imbued with his spirit and use that inspiration to achieve greatness. This is his legacy, a path of light for generations to come. Can there be anything greater to leave behind?

For good reasons, Mr. Mandela is also called Tata, father. He is indeed the father of his nation. But because he has lived his life in service to others, been a warrior for freedom, an avatar of personal sacrifice, he is also the father of nations -- Tata to the world.

I salute this greatest of men and feel honored and blessed to have lived through the time of Mandela.
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#4
No way Muhammad Ali wrote that.

Regardless, Mandela was one of the greatest people of our time. Maybe the greatest. We all owe him a debt and our thanks.
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#5
(12-05-2013, 03:42 PM)MarkM Wrote: No way Muhammad Ali wrote that.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/muhammad-a...40781.html

http://uptownmagazine.com/2013/11/stars-...n-mandela/
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#6
Well sure, his name is on it. But the guy's brain has been jello for years.
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#7
(12-05-2013, 03:45 PM)MarkM Wrote: Well sure, his name is on it. But the guy's brain has been jello for years.

Not true. His body may not work, but his mind does.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/...owell.html

[Image: article-2518281-0067371800000258-688_634x407.jpg]

Quote:The Greatest had something profoundly moving to say last week about The Noblest.
Muhammad Ali had to put it in writing, since the most voluble voice in sport has been virtually silenced by Parkinson’s, but his tribute to Nelson Mandela comes as a poignant reminder that his kaleidoscopic mind is still in brilliant working order despite the shackles of his disease.
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#8
(12-05-2013, 03:45 PM)MarkM Wrote: Well sure, his name is on it. But the guy's brain has been jello for years.

No matter the author, and I believe Ali was the author the sentiments expressed are felt by a great many people around the world.

I for one consider Nelson Mandela one of the greatest men of the last century if not recorded history.
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#9
I concede the point for Nelson.

We don't witness greatness often. He was a great man.
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#10
“It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.” --Nelson Mandela
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#11
“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.” --Nelson Mandela
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#12
[Image: nelson-mandela-communist.jpg?w=640]
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#13
http://ajmacdonaldjr.wordpress.com/2013/...-the-myth/
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#14
"48 Hours" Presents: Nelson Mandela: Father of a Nation
If you missed it, you can watch it here: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/48-hours-p...-a-nation/
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#15
(12-07-2013, 10:34 PM)orygunluvr Wrote: http://ajmacdonaldjr.wordpress.com/2013/...-the-myth/
You guys think your psychotic obsession and abhorrence with communists or socialists is always an upstanding and morally superior stance. In the case of Nelson Mandela and South Africa, the oppressors were the white capitalist and racist minority and the freedom fighters were the ones temporarily aligned with the communists. Get over it.

The reason that it is often hard for the US to normalize relations with many countries is the far rights obsession with anything that ever "touched" something communist. Its not Leprosy OL, and its not contagious. Oh why bother, you folks are still obsessed with Jane Fonda.
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#16
[Image: h649A31F6]
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#17
(12-08-2013, 08:44 AM)tornado Wrote: [Image: h649A31F6]




Hey Einstein, do you realize that the ANC condemned the practice of necklacing torture even during the struggle for equality? I know facts mean little to you Tea Party nuts cases, but don't you have a hard time reconciling your support of the Bush administration's practice of waterboarding and other forms of torture and then accusing others of carrying out torture? Idiot!
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#18
(12-08-2013, 07:24 AM)cletus1 Wrote:
(12-07-2013, 10:34 PM)orygunluvr Wrote: http://ajmacdonaldjr.wordpress.com/2013/...-the-myth/
You guys think your psychotic obsession and abhorrence with communists or socialists is always an upstanding and morally superior stance. In the case of Nelson Mandela and South Africa, the oppressors were the white capitalist and racist minority and the freedom fighters were the ones temporarily aligned with the communists. Get over it.

The reason that it is often hard for the US to normalize relations with many countries is the far rights obsession with anything that ever "touched" something communist. Its not Leprosy OL, and its not contagious. Oh why bother, you folks are still obsessed with Jane Fonda.

I had no comment clete because I really don't care, just putting a little perspective into the mix. But by your standards all terrorists are freedom fighters then.
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#19
(12-08-2013, 09:33 AM)cletus1 Wrote:
(12-08-2013, 08:44 AM)tornado Wrote: [Image: h649A31F6]

Hey Mark, do you know that Tornado claims to have an IQ of 190? No kidding, this idiot thinks he is an Einstein. He is actually just a bigoted little twerp as you can probably tell from his posts.


Hey Einstein, do you realize that the ANC condemned the practice of necklacing torture even during the struggle for equality? I know facts mean little to you Tea Party nuts cases, but don't you have a hard time reconciling your support of the Bush administration's practice of waterboarding and other forms of torture and then accusing others of carrying out torture? Idiot!

The ANC condemned in words only, but practiced it frequently.
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#20
(12-08-2013, 09:34 AM)orygunluvr Wrote:
(12-08-2013, 07:24 AM)cletus1 Wrote:
(12-07-2013, 10:34 PM)orygunluvr Wrote: http://ajmacdonaldjr.wordpress.com/2013/...-the-myth/
You guys think your psychotic obsession and abhorrence with communists or socialists is always an upstanding and morally superior stance. In the case of Nelson Mandela and South Africa, the oppressors were the white capitalist and racist minority and the freedom fighters were the ones temporarily aligned with the communists. Get over it.

The reason that it is often hard for the US to normalize relations with many countries is the far rights obsession with anything that ever "touched" something communist. Its not Leprosy OL, and its not contagious. Oh why bother, you folks are still obsessed with Jane Fonda.

I had no comment clete because I really don't care, just putting a little perspective into the mix. But by your standards all terrorists are freedom fighters then.

Fighters of an invading force are considered a freedom-fighters, while the invading forces are rightly considered terrorists even if the invading force is the hubris filled ''Holy American Empire''.

And at this point in history, and I am sorry to burst anyone's bubble but the US is the most distrusted, violent, warmongering nation on earth.

If there are any questions regarding the above statements please refer to the Military/Industrial/Security/Financial/Congressional complex and follow the money.
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