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11 months 15 days ago
- Posts: 6883
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There are two Nelson Mandela's, the man and the messiah.
Many of the people who have gotten in my face over Nelson are surprised when I remind them that Nelson Mandela as "Savior" was the creation of the South African government.
The list of names in the struggle against apartheid is miles long, some gave their lives in that struggle too. Nelson Mandela also became a target for government action, right along countless others, as South African authorities filled jails and prisons with people from all walks of life who would dare fight for equality.
By circumstance, Nelson Mandela became a convenient "catch-all" in a government campaign to break the ANC by destroying its leadership. Yet by singling out Nelson Mandela, South African authorities created a legend about him - a legend that grew the longer he stayed locked away.
By the 1990's world pressure and a change in government clearly revealed the end was near for apartheid.
The Nelson Mandela that emerged from Robben Island was a curious mix of the man and the legend. Now that we've reached the end of the year 2013, I hope many RJ users learn more about Nelson Mandela, the human being and let his international celebrity side take a well deserved rest.
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