Nelson Mandela has passed away

[Cyril]

South African president and anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela has passed away at his home in Johannesburg after a long battle ...

More http://mg.co.za/article/2013-12-05-nelson-mandela-dies

[J.A.W.]

A great man.

[Leeway]

A wonderful man with an amazing and profound life history. Greatness like his is a rare thing.

[king ubu]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck11eDiwxL4#t=306

Sclavis-Texier-Romano - Standing Ovation (For Nelson Mandela)

[Guy Berger]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck11eDiwxL4#t=306

Sclavis-Texier-Romano - Standing Ovation (For Nelson Mandela)

I was just listening to this specific clip as well... amazing music, amazing man.

[paul secor]

It's hard for me to imagine someone going through what he did and coming out of it the way he did.

He imagined all of that and then lived it.

[jeffcrom]

A great man.

The three words that first came to my mind.

[Chuck Nessa]

He endured and triumphed beyond any expectations. The greatest human in my experience.

[Hardbopjazz]

A true great person of the Earth. He endured a lot. RIP Mr. Mandela.

The movie about his life is coming out soon.

Anyone recall what rock band did the tune in the early 80s "Free Nelson Mandela"?

[Indestructible!]

Anyone recall what rock band did the tune in the early 80s "Free Nelson Mandela"?

Are you thinking of the Special AKA?

RIP, Mr. Mandela.

[CJ Shearn]

RIP to an astonishing human being

[Clunky]

He endured and triumphed beyond any expectations. The greatest human in my experience.

Agreed , he was an amazing man. His dignity and commitment to equality and forgiveness was inspiring. Thank you.

[sidewinder]

Great dignity and common sense. RIP

[Hardbopjazz]

Anyone recall what rock band did the tune in the early 80s "Free Nelson Mandela"?

Are you thinking of the Special AKA?

RIP, Mr. Mandela.

That's the one.

[skeith]

Not unexpected, but very sad news.

[fasstrack]

It's hard for me to imagine someone going through what he did and coming out of it the way he did.

He imagined all of that and then lived it.

With no bitterness, only love and forgiveness.

[bertrand]

A truly inspiring man.

Bertrand.

[BeBop]

Until going to Johannesburg and, among other things, the Apartheid Museum, I didn't have a full appreciation. What he accomplished was world-changing.

[John L]

Seeing Mandela on his world tour following his release from prison was an extraordinarily moving experience. I had tears in my eyes the whole time.

RIP. The world needs a few more Nelson Mandelas.

[page]

Nelson Mandela and I share a favourite poet. This is from one poem he read partly out loud in 1994 when they had the first democratically elected parliament and he called her Afrikaner ànd Afrikaan.

"The child is not dead.

The child lifts his fists against his mother
who shouts Afrika!"
..........
"The child is the dark shadow of the soldiers

on guard with rifles Saracens and batons;

the child is present at all assemblies and law-givings

the child peers through the windows of houses
and into the hearts of mothers."

"This child who just wanted to play in the sun at Nyanga is everywhere.

The child grown to a man treks through all Africa.

The child grown into a giant journeys through the whole world.

Without a pass."

from "Die Kind" - "The child is not dead" by Ingrid Jonker

RIP Nelson Mandela

Here you can listen to him reading part of the poem. ( I chose to post some he read and some of what he left out) Edited December 6, 2013 by page

[Mike Schwartz]

That man left a mark!!

[BruceH]

After what he went through, to not fall prey to bitterness and revenge; well, it's remarkable to say the least. RIP

[JSngry]

A friend sent this:

I've no doubt that the man had to have had a lot of bitterness/rage/etc impulses. Who wouldn't? But the true mark of character imo is not what impulses we have, but how we process them, and when the impulse to pass along hurt and hatred and damage is resisted and ultimately denied, that's one less link in the chain of human degradation and one more link in the chain of human dignity.

Nelson Mandela created enough of the latter links to be a whole chain unto himself. His was a spirit of constructive survival, not destructive succumbing.

Life's odds certainly seem to be against the progress of dignity, but sometimes the odds get beat, and then we have something to inspire. RIP, sir, and here's hoping that your spirit lives on, again against the odds.