Comments on: Be Nelson Mandela

By: Tim Muirhead

Tim Muirhead — Sun, 22 Dec 2013 23:39:10 +0000

Reading this at my slightly messy kitchen table, in a country who’s political debate is consistently reduced to petty squabbles about which party will make you richer, and who can be crueller to refugees, I had a moment of remembering that being human can be, if we take it on with passion, a profound and glorious challenge.

Thanks heaps for this. A little leg up to get back on the horse of emulation.

Tim. Australia

By: Reuben Tom Kee

Reuben Tom Kee — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 03:59:27 +0000

As a compliment to you work, if i may, here is…
My personal tribute to:

Madiba – Mandela
©2013 Reuben Tom Kee

Madiba, Madiba – you suffered hard and long
Proving you to be durable and strong
Many can be said to be more skilled than you
But not many are as forgiving and true

Mandela , Mandela – only good words we often hear of you
For accepting the fate thrust upon you
To lead your people to freedom from apartheid
Despite the 27 years that no one can hide

Madiba, Madiba – your penchant for compassion knew no bounds
Thankful that God gave you such virtue sound
But under that streak of goodness alas is the grumble
That a vast majority reap no benefit and may lead your country to a tumble

Mandela, Mandela – here’s hoping that those you left behind
Will tackle and solve that dilemma in due time
The Love you fought for, among children of all race and colour
Must continue to be priority on the roster

Madiba, Madiba – we shall have no fear
That the legacy you have left us to bear
Will resonate through future generations
Giving us hope to influence all nations

Madiba – Mandela – rest in heaven
Continue your dialogue – all is forgiven
Speak with your heavenly Father
Fight no more, this I know you’d rather!

Ottawa, Dec 08, 2013
©2013 Kee Reuben
Hill & Gully Publications
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hill-Gully-Publications/156748067865104

By: AF

AF — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 14:46:32 +0000

Deeply felt, clearly articulated, exceptional writing. The seeming contradictions of this man’s life have been raised time and again ; you’ve pieced them together into a meaningful synthesis.

By: Withywindle

Withywindle — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 18:39:13 +0000

T: I did not attempt to refute the argument. I said this was not the time or the occasion to make it. The Westboro Baptist Church has broad freedom to speak; I do not think it decorous for it to exercise its right at funerals. You tempt me to a polemic about Carr, but that is far afield. My own comments above I think are reasonably comprehensible; although if you cannot understand them, I suppose you cannot disagree with them. I gladly submit all my writings to the judgment of all readers; I share with you a distaste for the use of the phrase “in my opinion” to ignore all contrary argument–although a dollop of uncertainty to leaven one’s certitudes never hurts.

By: Martin @ Africa Safari tours

Martin @ Africa Safari tours — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 06:50:51 +0000

If only our African leaders and the others world over could read this. An insightful piece

By: T

Wed, 11 Dec 2013 04:34:24 +0000

Withywindle: Your opinions bring me back to the first chapter of E.H Carr’s ‘What is History?’. Carr selectively criticizes a section of historians who refute the very meaning of any event or happening and are comfortably ensconced in their own bubble of what makes a difference or what does not. First of all, the whole argument about how writing on the occasion of somebody’s death is not aesthetically (or maybe spiritually) accepted to you is a frail, dead duck. A writer should have the freedom to write on anything and any occasion(be it death, birth, anything!). “It would disfigure me to use the death of any man I loved as an occasion to speak with anger.” What does that even mean? How can you discard the merits of a piece of writing on the basis of such a lame argument? This is such a comfortable weapon you employ, find the most inconsequential point and refute the whole argument . and go ahead and use ‘in my opinion’ so that nobody else in the world can refute your point because you are such a free, independent thinker and nobody has the right to question your opinion. right?

By: Ernest Ezis

Ernest Ezis — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 03:23:28 +0000

Your brother sent me here. I am the first to confess that I am a hard-to-please curmudgeonly bastard accustomed to disappointment. But that’s not what I found here. This is an exceptional piece of writing with sound reasoning and wonderful sentiments. Where I might differ a bit is in the final call to activism; it’s wonderful to be sure of your values and have long term plans to live up to them, but they might not be right for everyone. I value tolerance much more highly than activism and think it’s probably the right answer most of the time — activism in unextraordinary circumstance and unexceptional minds is a rather frightening thing to me. But in the extraordinary circumstances I stand with you and I am happy for our Ghandis and Mandellas. Brilliant work. It was a pleasure to read.

By: Anna

Anna — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 21:03:17 +0000

This is wonderful. Thank you. Like many other commentators, I especially appreciate the last paragraph.

By: Mirza Ghalib

Mirza Ghalib — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 15:40:22 +0000

The anti-apartheid leader, Nelson Mandela is no more. Our heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family. May God wipe away their tears and gives solace to all. May his soul rest in peace.

By: In the provinces

In the provinces — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 19:49:29 +0000

Like the other two of the three greatest statesmen of the second half of the twentieth century, Deng Xiaoping and Willy Brandt, Mandela was a person with very strong and very radical ideals, who realized the need for compromise and pragmatism in attempting to implement these ideals.