The Watering Hole

As you well know by now, Madiba has passed on.

It's a sad day in South Africa, lot's of tears, but also a celebration.
If you've watched the news networks you'll see lots of singing and dancing, this is the way we do things here in SA.

It's interesting how ignorant some people are.
The mod at TGP closed a RIP thread...he called Madiba a "divisive" man.  :-?
Another idiot on another thread, on the Kemper forum, posted a video of Madiba apparently singing a song, "kill all whites".
It's scary to think that a bunch of fucking ignorant idiots like this live amongst us...what a waste of brains and oxygen.

President Obama said it best.

"He achieved more then could be expected of any man, and today he’s gone home. And we’ve lost one of the most influential and courageous and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this earth.”

Presidents Obama, Clinton and Bush will be arriving in SA next week...looking forward to seeing them.
If they visit Madiba's Houghton home (10 minutes away from me) I might take a drive out there and possibly shake hands with the Presidents.  8-)

Um, well, he DID make good after he got out of jail Lance and I think he did learn a lot about things including himself while he was in there.  However, it's not hard to understand that there will be some proponents on the "other side" since he did use to belong to the Communist Party and, while in ANC, he was part of the killing of about 200 people, mostly civilians, and wounding hundreds using the same types of bombs that give the IRA and the Taliban bad names.

If he had passed away at 70 instead of 95, I think his personal history would have been far different.  He's definitely proof that one can change, but people will always remember what they want to.

That said, I believe you'll notice that I already did start an RIP thread in the general area here.

CraigBert — Dec 07, 2013he was part of the killing of about 200 people, mostly civilians, and wounding hundreds using the same types of bombs that give the IRA and the Taliban bad names.

But, the Taliban have no reason to bomb anyone.
For what reason are the Taliban bombing/killing innocent Muslims who already have freedom?

Reading Mandelas entire speech at the Rivonia trial will take hours, I don't expect anyone to read it.  :)
He was dealing with a Nazi type government, 50 million blacks without the vote being ruled by 5 million whites, and a government who had zero interest in 'talking' or finding a solution.

In the speech he says, "During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities".

That's the invitation to negotiate and find a solution that he offered in 1964, that's exactly what happened when he was released in 1990.
I ask myself how the fuck was he so patient, can you imagine waiting 27 years to get back to the point you were at 27 years earlier?

I understand how he did it, it was explained to me a few years ago by Mac Maharaj...btw, there was a great documentary on CNN last night where Mac is the main guest.
Mac spent many years on Robben Island with Mandela.
My buddy was dating Mac's daughter.
He phoned me one day to tell me Mac wants his garden re done.
So I go see Mac at his house down the road from my place.
It was kind of a weird experience meeting him, amazing but weird.
We spent hours everyday in his home study/office talking whilst my staff were working on the garden...he showed me his collection of memorabilia, explained them all to me, it was awesome.

When he arrived at Robben Island and met Mandela for the first time he was amazed at how tall he was and how different he looked in comparison to the photos we all knew of him.
Also, he spoke a perfect Afrikaans, he had learnt the language of the enemy whilst in prison.
Keep in mind, the photos we had seen of Mandela were of when he was young, prior to going into prison...we had never seen any current photos of Mandela, the government never allowed any photos of him to be released.

Mandela insisted that all the political prisoners with him on the Island must learn to speak Afrikaans.
Mac and the other prisoners were shocked, why should they learn to speak Afrikaans the language of the enemy.
Mandela explained.
We must learn everything about them, first the language, then we must read every book about their culture and their history.
We must understand why they fear us, why they don't trust us.
The Robben Island political prisoners believed their lives were over, they'd die in prison, they just tried to survive day by day...they couldn't even imagine 'freedom' and democratic elections in South Africa.
But, Mandela said, I know with 100% certainty that one day we will be released and South Africa will be a democracy...that is why I'm telling you to learn to speak Afrikaans and study and read all their books, because one day when the time comes to start negotiating we'll know how to deal with them.
Keep in mind, when Mandela was inaugurated as President, all the worlds Presidents were sitting in the front row seats, but also sitting right in the front row was Mandelas Afrikaans warder, the warder who had looked after him in jail...Mandela invited him personally and made sure he was right up front.

After Mac explained that to me it made more sense, that's how Mandela lasted 27 years in jail.
He knew the day would come, he just didn't know when, he spent everyday planning for the day, by the time he was released he had basically studied the Afrikaaner enemy and knew exactly how to deal with them.

How many men have the genius to do that?  :)