Words of wisdom from Mandela
7. On the U.S. war with Iraq:
If there is a country that has committed unspeakable atrocities in the world, it is the United States of America. They dont care for human beings.
Via
cbsnews.com
Probably said over anger and definitely over-kill, but not entirely wrong by any stretch of the imagination. The handling of the war on Iraq was essentially dishonest on multiple counts, and thus we saw Cheney refusing to testify when issued a subpoena by Congress to explain the supposed intelligence that got us into that war. That refusal would have been impeachable, but there were only months left in his term as V.P.
6. On Israel:
Israel should withdraw from all the areas which it won from the Arabs in 1967, and in particular Israel should withdraw completely from the Golan Heights, from south Lebanon and from the West Bank.
Via
jweekly.com
I certainly do not agree with him here.
5. On the U.S. war with Iraq:
All that (Mr. Bush) wants is Iraqi oil.
Via
cbsnews.com
Seriously, does anyone here really think that oil wasn't our main motive for going in?
4. Mandela on Castro and the Cuban revolution:
From its earliest days, the Cuban Revolution has also been a source of
inspiration to all freedom-loving people. We admire the sacrifices of the Cuban people in maintaining their independence and sovereignty in the face of the vicious imperialist-orquestrated campaign to destroy the impressive gain made in the Cuban Revolution.
Long live the Cuban Revolution. Long live comrade Fidel Castro.
Via
lanic.utexas.edu
I'm old enough to remember what life was like in Cuba under Batista, and Castro may well have been the lesser of the two evils, as terrible as that was.
3. Mandela on Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, his longtime supporter:
It is our duty to give support to the brother leader
especially in regards to the sanctions which are not hitting just him, they are hitting the ordinary masses of the people
our African brothers and sisters.
Via
finalcall.com
I don't agree at all with him here.
2. On the U.S. preparing to invade Iraq in a 2002 interview with Newsweek:
If you look at those matters, you will come to the conclusion that the attitude of the United States of America is a threat to world peace.
Via
newsweek.com
Overstated, but certainly not entirely wrong. Even our European allies highly disliked and didn't trust Bush, and for very good reason.
1. On a Palestinian state:
The UN took a strong stand against apartheid; and over the years, an international consensus was built, which helped to bring an end to this iniquitous system. But we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.
Via
cbsnews.com
I agree with this in general, but the devil's in the details as I have long been in favor of a two-state solution.
OK, obviously you and I don't like some of his beliefs and some of his statements, but let me ask you a question: should I consider you to be some sort of enemy or one who is evil because you don't agree with me on everything? I have long felt that Bush (W) was a terrible president overall, but I never demonized him, nor do I think it was fair for some others to demonize him.
OK, so you didn't like Mandela maybe as much as I did, and that's fine, but I do believe in giving credit where credit's due, and what Mandela pulled off in South Africa even defied many of the experts. He mellowed with age, which also often happens with some of the rest of us.