ST Alpha - "Well, he was; it's not like the ANC at that time were a bunch of choir boys." (Reading a Post)

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In response to "Several right wingers of the time thought Mandela a terrorist and were against sanctions to South Africa. Dick Cheney and Ronald Reagan, for example -- nm" by con_carne

Well, he was; it's not like the ANC at that time were a bunch of choir boys.

Posted by IrishStephen (aka Sceire) Dec 6 '13, 12:30

And he certainly was fond of communism and dictators. I don't think you can, or should, necessarily, ignore that, at the same time his peace through reconciliation, and the example he set after being released from prison was truly inspiring.

Responses:

My cursory reading of wikipedia (take that for what it's worth) says he advocated bombings when civilians weren't present. That's anti-terrorist to me - Max Dec 6, 12:43 3
- Whether that's true or not he was a member of a terrorist organization that did carry out bombings against civilians. - IrishStephen Dec 6, 13:01 2
  - By the same measure, do you consider all IRA members terrorists? - spamlet Dec 6, 13:11 1
    - Oh, It's something that I too personally struggle with. - IrishStephen Dec 6, 13:20
Most leaders have a mixed legacy at best, but when they pass away you focus on the good stuff. -- nm - Roger More Dec 6, 12:39 8
- heh I'm sure Thatcher's ghost would have appreciated that sentiment. -- nm - IrishStephen Dec 6, 12:51 1
  - I'm sure she would. But which American public figures had negative things to say about her at the time of her death? -- nm - Roger More Dec 6, 12:57
- Yeah, I am so not going to do this when... some people die -- nm - con_carne Dec 6, 12:43
- While this is true, I don't really agree with ignoring the bad stuff when leaders die. But these people are doing the same thing - ty97 Dec 6, 12:43 4
  - Personally, I think people have the rest of time to weigh someone's legacy. A couple of days or a week after someone's passing doesn't make much - Roger More Dec 6, 12:50 3
    - Taking to full (and admittedly silly example) conclusion, this would mean the headline "Respected Amateur Painter Adolf Hitler Mourned After Suicide" - ty97 Dec 6, 12:56 2
      - I'll leave that part to professional obituarists. But when a politician I disagree with dies, I won't say "good" or "serves him right for what he did" - Roger More Dec 6, 13:15
      - although that's a fantastic Onion esque headline. -- nm - Reagen Dec 6, 12:59
don't ignore it perhaps but also put it in context. It's not like his opponents wanted to engage in a tickle fight. -- nm - Mel Profit Dec 6, 12:36 3
- I want to engage in a tickle fight. -- nm - Diva Dec 6, 13:11
- True. - IrishStephen Dec 6, 12:48 1
  - Is it reviled today? I think those advocating violence in today's world are, but the IRA is power sharing in Northern Ireland - Roger More Dec 6, 13:06

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Well, he was; it's not like the ANC at that time were a bunch of choir boys.

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