brooklandsblue2.0 said:
I am personally astounded that the terrorist Mandela is lorded as some kind of hero to the hand wringing liberal sycophants I’m sick of seeing football teams ‘celebs’ banging on what an honour it was to meet him etc the man is as bad as the terrorist leaders of Al Queda, this is a man let us not forget who admits he ‘signed off’ the church street bombing in 1983 from his prison cell…..
true about his consent for church street. but it was part of a wider conflict. It was one of several bombings carried out by MK, 'spear of the nation', who targeted government and military targets. you could argue church street was a military target, 11 out of the 19 killed were military personnel, 2 more were the bombers themselves. still, 6 civilians were murdered.
the ANC claimed the attack was planned in response to a raid into lesotho by south african forces that killed 42 ANC supporters, including civillians.
I think of it as a wicked act of murder, but I don't forget the ANC were fighting for their lives, and the fight can be seen as a struggle for the most basic human rights for themselves and other coloureds and blacks.
of course you can read about 'spear of the nation', how they were formed (after many many years of oppression by the authorities), and how deeply mandela and the others thought about these issues. these accounts are part of a wider 'narrative' about the troubles in south africa.
it is fashionable in certain circles to call mandela a terrorist. it is a label that can be applied, but the ANC didn't turn to these tactics for years. it ignores the murderous oppression and denial of property and political freedom of the south african regime. it ignores what happened afterwards as well. mandela reunited a broken country. perhaps he was the only person who could do so, who could push through the policy of reconciliation that is a uniquely successful example of how to resolve such a bitter internal conflict. he left south africa united and free. that's why he is venerated.
crime is a huge problem in south africa, but the central areas are pretty safe. friends of mine have been going on holiday to jo'burg and cape town for decades. I am reliably informed they are spectacular and vibrant. it's not the third world. it's comparable to somewhere like rio. you follow the guidelines and you are safe. you go wandering or make a target of yourself and you are in trouble.
