This touched my soul today...

Nicky, my precious, if I were stoned I'd just think about it even more intensely than I already am.

I suspect that would drive people crazy.

On seconds thoughts, perhaps that's a good idea. Pass that spliff, my friend.

Hi Jac! He freed a whole nation! Now he is missed by so many..

Unfortunately most debates consist mostly of people trying to convince or even force people to see it their way. My way is the only valid way...is it not?

So sad that none of the people who came after him had even remotely the leadership skills or insight that he had.

Hi Jac

It would be hard to find another leader like him...

You twizzle a fine tweezle there, twazzle.

" A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination." Nelson Mandela


He has maybe freed a whole world, if only we could each bring ourselves to live by his example and wisdom.

What a man.

@Zeurich... That green thumb is so making me laugh. I don't know why, it's just tickled me. Thanks for dropping by and putting a smile on my face.

@Mikemo... Hiya matey. Yes, inspirational. How did he do that? Was it his compassion, his love, his strength, his humour? It's almost like some kind of alchemy where he could turn these human traits into gold.


Or is that passion? Passion in our beliefs. Isn't there something good about that?

I like that when people are logical with that passion and back up their arguments. It can be a rich and fertile ground.


But we could all try, just a little bit.

@ Nicky...

Cheers, mate.

In what way do you think this quote is being used, Z?

Yes passion combined with logical arguments is mostly a winner unless it is wasted on arrogant, superficial and uninformed people.

But doesn't argument inform us and therefore make us less superficial, ekself?

Yes, but we need to bottle it, Mike!

We need to flood the market with it!

:giggle:

No, Mike.

I just want to see more compassion and my heart aches for more humanity in the world.

I would like to see a change in the way people are viewed and in the way we view ourselves.

But doesn't argument inform us and therefore make us less superficial, ekself?

Jac...yes if the world was filled with only reasonable people. In Hillbilly land things are a bit different.

There were lots of unreasonable people in power in South Africa and look where it took Nelson Mandela, ekself.

We can learn from unreasonable people and be inspired by them too, if we search and find a way that's true to our own hearts and minds.

It might not be an easy journey, or one without mistakes, but surely we can do it if we put our minds to it?

Jac, Nelson Mandela also used to say that when we have reached the peak of a mountain we will see even more peaks to be reached.
It is our duty to contnue his great work. And there is still so much work to be done for more humanity.

Terrific blog which means a great hug for Mandela's soul!

jac....yes especially when your president tell you an ANC membership card is your key to heaven. Wonder if Jesus knows he was declared redundant by our president.

Was actually referring to the people in our small community not the country as a whole when I called the place I exist in Hillbilly land.

Calleis...

"After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb." Nelson Mandela

I think maybe for me this blog is about sitting at the top of one of those hills and surveying the view before the next climb begins. Sometimes it's good to rest, contemplate our last journey and begin to get a feel for the next one.

Thank you for reminding me of that quote. It worked just right for me, just then.

And yes, in small ways, bit by bit, we can work at what we each have to offer humanity.

I didn't know Nelson Mandela had said that.

"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart." Nelson Mandela

If one were to be cynical, one might say that was manipulative. On the other hand, if the principals of the ANC were not so far from the teachings of Jesus, might it have been a way of changing the hatred and war into goodness and forgiveness?

" If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness." Nelson Mandela


I don't feel comfortable with that expression whether applied to one group, or another.

Nice try Boban, but I'm not going to discuss my buns with you.

Oooh iotaoo, please explain.

I'm all ears.

Iotaoo, Mandela was an uncomparable hero who caused the inhumane apartheid to get abandoned..

Calleis, as great a man as Mandela was, there were others involved in the ending of Apartheid as well. He didn't do it alone.

That's a good point Unlaoised and it seems a bit unfair not to recognise the contributions and sacrifices of so many.

Feel free to post what you like here, if you like, to further our knowledge and acknowledge the heroes and heroines of the time.

I should read more biographies. I know Mr. Mandela's life followed many turns. He seemed to always learn from his experience... becoming a bit smarter when faced with the next challenge.

Hi Jac! - I like this quote... a debate where perspective is shared and if each is willing (and able) to learn the other's perspective, the weight given to points of difference will diminish. A worthy trait for anyone to develop.

A few names that come to mind...

Helen Suzman
Walter Sisulu
Steve Biko
Chris Hani
Joe Slovo
Chief Albert Luthuli
FW De Klerk
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Oliver Tambo
Denis Goldberg
Robert Sobukwe
Ruth First

A group called the Black Sash - originally a white women's resistance movement.

There were so many anti Apartheid activists, not all well-known names either. So many killed and/or exiled during those years when the ANC was a banned organisation. So yes, Mandela led but he was not alone in his quest.

@unlaoised, thanks for mentioning the other activists and heroes who helped Nelson Mandela to free the country! But Mandela was a sort of a figurehead, and the special thing about him was that when he was released from prison and became President he went a way with compromises between the several parties and brought along peace between all the nations. He was also given the Nobel Peace Prize for his work.