Nelson Mandela

Re 159

Quite right and no one ever mentions India and its skin tone and religeous divides.

It is probably not an oversimplification to suggest that black South Africa is not a great deal different from most of the other nations in Africa, where often tribal “apartheid” is no different from black/white apartheid. The word literally means separateness, so is applicable to any tribes, races or ethnic classifications.

…why are there so many indigenous Black S.Africans still living in poverty…..without the basic needs of life?

Because you can’t vote yourself rich?

Apartheid was wrong but it wasn’t so very different a system than those that still operate in dozens of countries that Britain happily trades with and where many British people even holiday; apartheid’s ‘problem’ was that the divide was so black and white (pun intended, sorry). Apartheid is gone but there is still corruption and still divisions based on race, tribe, religion and probably language, culture and land ownership; it is all too easy to think that apartheid was the only problem South Africa had.

Also, and I think this has to be said, just because apartheid has been overthrown it doesn’t mean that a ‘black government’ in South Africa isn’t capable of the sort of utter incompetence that seems to plague other governments from time to time; look at the case of the sign-language ‘interpreter’…

…didn’t anybody think to check? It was only the most publicised funeral South Africa will ever have! :rolleyes:

Hi All,
first off before we start RIP Mr Mandela, at the risk of seeming controversial and no offence meant, but why is this still headline news ? Mr Mandela has passed now please can we move on till his funeral, it really stinks of hypocrisy all this out pouring of grief from those who allegedly new him. The three idiot heads of state who rather selfishly took a selfy was very disrespectful in my opinion and if they where true friends they would have done it away from the cameras ?
I would also like to point out that the stadium was not as full as they where bragging about so where are all the loyal supporters ? let alone his opposition heads speaking through gritted teeth so to speak while a so called sign language speaker making a mockery of the whole event, it just seemed that everybody decided all of a sudden he was their best friend and he was a true hero, sure he did a lot of good when released from prison but don’t forget the trouble he was involved in, although not personally taking lives giving the orders allegedly.
I like so many others remember Mr Mandela as a man of our time and nothing but good ever being shown or reported in the papers, I also being ignorant until very recently about his past and the troubles in S.Africa but I can see the positive side that his release and his attitude to forgiveness as infectious as it was to all was a turning point but you have to ask though, if he had a lasting effect why are there so many indigenous Black S.Africans still living in poverty ridden shanty towns without the basic needs of life ?

Geoff.

Re 144

And everyone – yes, that many – takes the #iss out of derekf

What does the ‘f’ stand for? Some of the more irreverant communicators will invent something !

Doesn’t look like anyone has joined you on your rib-tickling japes at the expense of someone’s initials. Oh dear.

What about freedom of speech?

If what somebody says is ‘wrong’ you should be able to prove it, or at least argue it…

…if you can’t…..maybe they are right!

What. You mean like a discussion forum, where those whose opinions differ join in adult and respectful exchanges? Nah. Never happen.

The thing to do is not to put yourself in the firing line. Unfortunately some can’t help it. .

It’s called an OPINION. I appreciate that you are not particularly receptive to those with opinions that differ from your own but that does not give you carte blanche to insult them. You’re very fortunate it’s a largely unmoderated forum. Members do seem to get away with more than I would have expected more from a forum associated with a respected publisher.
If you can’t get your point across without abusing others then you’ve lost the argument. Well and truly.

It’s irreverent actually 🙂

What about freedom of speech?

If what somebody says is ‘wrong’ you should be able to prove it, or at least argue it…

…if you can’t…..maybe they are right! 😉

RE 152

The thing to do is not to put yourself in the firing line. Unfortunately some can’t help it.

And everyone – yes, that many – takes the #iss out of derekf

I don’t!!:D

C’mon guys, I know the best way to get a response around here is to say something controversial…

…but this is getting ridiculous! What’s the point in insulting somebody just to get a ‘rise’? :rolleyes:

Think: WATER – DUCK – BACK! 😉

Re 144

And everyone – yes, that many – takes the #iss out of derekf

What does the ‘f’ stand for? Some of the more irreverant communicators will invent something !

“Paul178 makes a funnny comment that no-one finds funny.” Well my mates at Combat 18 like them! (BTW Try installing a spell check as well or at least reading through you post before replying). or should it be .) or just for you (.):D

Brilliant!:D I’ve never seen it before!! Hearing excerpts of his speech it would be good if Obama acted as much as he talked!!

Picking up on Mrs Obama’s body language…

Not just me then!

I could not help but think of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOtymdhKYCc

“I am the greatest good you are ever going to get!” 😀

One thing I did notice from the BBC coverage (no criticism, I was just watching the BBC) was that President Obama was there; yet he did not attend the recent funeral of Margaret Thatcher.

Irrespective of what you thought of Margaret Thatcher, Britain has been the closest ally of the United States since the Second World War and we have taken more than a bit of criticism (and terrorism) for our support of United States foreign policy (even if it was our foreign policy too).

Barack Obama was not even president before Nelson Mandela retired from politics and the foreign policy of the United States was (probably) to oppose the ANC for most of its existence because of its links to the former Soviet Union (unless my limited knowledge of African politics lets me down).

Am I comparing Nelson Mandela to Margaret Thatcher? No, but now that I think of it…

…it could be worse, he has already been compared to Himmler! 😉

Picking up on Mrs Obama’s body language there’s another wonderfully po-faced Mrs O glancing at Mr O as he chats animatedly with the Danish PM. And then when he returns to his seat following his speech, she is in his seat next to the Danish PM looking steely whilst he, in her seat, leans pensively forward. Ah the lies the camera tells!!:rolleyes:

I think that is the nicest thing that anybody has ever said about me on this forum…

…for balance I have also been called a ‘troll’ and a ‘**** stirrer’ in the last two weeks!

It must be Christmas! 🙂

Another excellent Key thread but it degenerates as they all tend to do.

charliehunt uses it an excuse for his BBC-bashing – (no bonus EU mention as well? if not, why not) to boost his rather excessive post count.
Lincoln_7 uses it to have a go MP’s expenses, (or pretty much anything else that he thinks of….thread-related or not).
ZRX61 uses the thread to have a go at Barack Obama.
MoggyC has a go at everyone – and is ignored…..
John Green makes some cryptic comment that no-one, least of all himself I suspect, understands.
Paul178 makes a funny comment that no-one finds funny.
Creaking Door makes his usual incisive, fair and balanced comments – and is ignored for doing so.

and everyone’s sense of humour will fail – all at once…..

Good stuff – it’s why I keep coming back. :highly_amused:

Oh. Can someone quote this post in their reply so Lincoln_7 and charliehunt can see it? Thanks. 🙂

Freeze Nelson Mandela!

Just switched on the early morning news to discover no escape from the lying in state with the BBC showing the same coverage on its two terrestrial channels!!:(

Would they be doing that if it were Angela Merkel? :rolleyes: