Nelson Mandela has died

[VivienneJ]

And who will decide exactly which bits of land each group gets to live in for their separate nations?

What you suggest sounds suspiciously like the “Homelands” that were tried in South Africa. At one stage, for example, The Transkei was an “Independent Homeland” - you had to go through a border post to enter - I know, because I went through it. There were other independent homelands too. Do some research and you may see what an absolute farce and total disaster that was.

Also, what happens if it is decided that the part where my family has lived for generations is now to belong to the other group, how do I now feel when I am forced to move to what has now been decided is my area and have to leave my family homestead and burial place to go and live somewhere else.

Yes, the above happened too. Not proud of large chunks of my beloved homeland’s history, but also shudder when people try to make it sound as though there is nothing wrong with where you end up down the road that is labelled ‘separate development’. Dividing a land between different groups of people is vastly different from dividing a university between two different language groups.

 

[ukfan]

You can be respectful for the fact that somebody has died and still ask questions about their record. People question the record of people who died all the time.

Did I say you couldn’t? People do lots of things when a person dies.

You seem to say just that here.

In most cultures I am familiar with, people refrain from speaking ill of the dead if only because they are not here to defend themselves. Mandela never claimed to be perfect.

 

[pnewton]

Or something equally ridiculous: “Can one vote for a candidate who supports unrestricted abortion on demand if he promises to raise taxes and provide health insurance for all?”

This seems equally inscrutable to me, but then again, abortion and health insurance are not the thread topic.

 

[pnewton]

Something about Nelson Mandela makes it hard to stay on topic. I will join with the Holy Father on this:

IT WAS WITH SADNESS THAT I LEARNED OF THE DEATH OF FORMER PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA, AND I SEND PRAYERFUL CONDOLENCES TO ALL THE MANDELA FAMILY, TO THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA. IN COMMENDING THE SOUL OF THE DECEASED TO THE INFINITE MERCY OF ALMIGHTY GOD, I ASK THE LORD TO CONSOLE AND STRENGTHEN ALL WHO MOURN HIS LOSS. PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE STEADFAST COMMITMENT SHOWN BY NELSON MANDELA IN PROMOTING THE HUMAN DIGNITY OF ALL THE NATION’S CITIZENS AND IN FORGING A NEW SOUTH AFRICA BUILT ON THE FIRM FOUNDATIONS OF NON-VIOLENCE, RECONCILIATION AND TRUTH, I PRAY THAT THE LATE PRESIDENT’S EXAMPLE WILL INSPIRE GENERATIONS OF SOUTH AFRICANS TO PUT JUSTICE AND THE COMMON GOOD AT THE FOREFRONT OF THEIR POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS. WITH THESE SENTIMENTS, I INVOKE UPON ALL THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA DIVINE GIFTS OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

FRANCISCUS PP

​

 

[Holly3278]

Eternal rest grant unto him oh Lord and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.