Mandela critically ill

[janey68]

Not unexpected but nevertheless sad.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23024836

Well, it's obv you aren't an 'expert'. Yes, Mandela did set up the 'Spear of the Nation' which was the armed wing of the ANC. Unfortunately the brief googling you just have done are from really ill-informed and slanted sites which I am sure the Nationalist Party would like to promote? No, he wasn't 'saintly' and indeed even on release insisted the armed struggle needed to continue, until the govt. were going to recognise the practice of democracy.
No-one in SA erases the bombings from history, but it is now recognised that the black majority were not going to have any access to human treatment by means of discussion or negotiation.

I am so sad for him . I just hope he isn't going through anything or suffering, poor man. He was remarkable.

Which if you read my posts is exactly what I said Even. In my first post I have pointed out that the apartheid regime was abhorrent and I have said throughout that it is difficult to find information that is objective, rather than partisan but the fact remains that much of this period of South African history is largely unknown to most people in the UK now.

I lived in South Africa through some of the years of horrific brutality and have personally witnessed some of that violence. Maybe, if you are so well informed, you could link to more accurate sites so anyone interested in learning more could do so.

I absolutely detest the way the media circle like vultures over someone whose death is imminent. Sometimes there has been so much said about the person while we are all busy anticipating their death that there si barely anything to say upon it actually happening.

He's 94 for crying out loud, let him slip off when he's ready and let's talk about it then. And as for the fact that 'it has emerged that his ambulance broke down on the way to the hospital' being one of the LEAD stories on the news the other day - So??! Do we think the life of a very elderly man succumbing in the most normal way (organ failure/pneumonia) to his final days could have been averted if they'd used a different ambulance?

I remember this happening when George Best was on his deathbed as well. God, the poor man was having his eulogies read by various TV Rent-a-Gobs before he'd even drawn his last breath.

Amazing man - it's incredibly sad.

?There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.? - Nelson Mandela

It's sad, but then it is sad when anybody dies - it makes no difference if they are well known/famous/admired by many, it's a sad loss for their family and friends and that is what really matters.

A chance to find peace for Nelson Mandela himself but the world will be dimmer for losing him.

The peace and reconciliation alone was just an amazing way to try to heal a Nation.

I had the pleasure of holding a door open for him once, and got a lovely smile in return. Made my day. Hell, it made my year and, being an international superspy at the time, I ran into a fair few famous faces

Very sad that he's so ill, but I suppose it really is to be expected at his age (and the years in prison can't have been good for his health either)

This morning's update from BBC website.

It quotes a senior official saying that South Africans should not hold out "false hopes" and I think this suggests a final illness.

Why is it sad? Everyone has to die. He is very old.

I agree with expat here.

he is 94.

I don't like the way the media keep pouncing on him every time he goes to hospital, it almost comes across as being in denial about his age and state of health.

94 is a cracking age, especially after what he has been through and eventually achieved. None of us last forever.

I think it IS sad because so much of his life was wasted in prison for fighting a just cause. But agree that it is inevitable obviously, we all die someday.

Why is it off? He is no dying age 47, is he.

Also agree with expat.

I think it's time to let him go peacefully.

As expat said, he is 94, and considering he spent so much of his life in prison, I think it's quite miraculous he has gone on to live as long as he has.

Agree with expat.

Very sad to hear this... Hope you get better soon :))) or you are able to drift off to end the pain xx

I think what is really sad is how the current ANC is trying to milk this for everything they can.

It is sad for his family and others who love him. It is also sad as he represents so much for so many people. Personally, I am sad and don't want to face facts.

He has been a beacon of light and hope for me for over 35 years. I want him to go when he is ready but I will be probably weep buckets. As with any death of someone you admire, respect or love despite him being 94 I am not ready to let go, and probably never would be. He represents a personal journey for me when so much has changed both in SA and around he world.

I remember his release from prison,such an amazing moment. Sadly I read an article recently saying his family are divided and feuding,mainly over the monetary assets linked with the use of the Mandela name. I really hope he is not aware of this,and can die in the peace he so deserves.

I posted this on FB today and I'll post it again here:

This from Nelson Mandela's daughter:
"Other people want to lecture us on how we should behave, and what we should do. Really, it's our dad, it's the children's grandfather. We've never had him in our life for the better part of our years. This is in a sense quality and sacred time for us, and I would expect the world to really back off and leave us alone."

Exactly. Leave the little old man alone with his family. He may be the father of a nation, but he's someones real father and grandfather and they deserve to spend time alone with him without the morbid death watch.

Why is it sad? I think it's sad because he's dying, regardless of how old he is. He's a huge figure globally, but also someone's husband/father/grandfather. He's reached a remarkable age considering his time in prison and, yes, everyone has to go, but it's still a sad day IMO.

I pray he goes quickly to end his suffering.

Amazing human being
He's 94 94!...brilliant

I hope he is comfortable