Nelson Mandela

There has been a surprising lack of consolidation on LT for members to pay their respects to this great man. I am told there is a thread on the South African section of LT but so far I've been unable to find that. Today a thread has opened in Let's Talk Religion and while I would like to give credit to Johnthefireman for starting that one it seems to me that on this subject at least, it should be a case of 'let's not talk religion'. That is why I hope others will agree that it is appropriate for we 'heathens' to pay our respects to Madiba without dragging any god or gods into the equation.

I cannot think of anyone else in my lifetime who can truly be said to have changed the world for the better. His humanity and love for mankind were an example to everyone who was privileged to have shared that world with him and will remain so to many generations to come. I hope others will join me here in expressing thier feelings for this truly incredible human being who has left our world a better place than he found it.

I think maybe this was the thread referred to? http://www.librarything.com/topic/161872

I haven't really said anything about it, anywhere, because I have no words. What do you say when someone larger than life is gone? :(

Neslon Mandela = Mahatma Gandhi

Both were freedom fighters'

Have you read his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom by Neslon Mandela?

He was the greatest icon of freedom, and the struggle was his life. May his legacy keep the people of South Africa together as one identity ?

#2 Thank you for the link PolymathicMonkey - i hunted for ages. Even so, I'm surprised to see how small the response has been even there: I thought LT would be flooded with messages.

#3 "Have you read his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom by Neslon Mandela?"

Of course. :)

I'm often on "all topics" so I knew I'd seen it :)

I'd venture a guess that there are others like me. Many who care about this great loss, but don't know what to say about it. It's easier with someone who isn't so significant, "I'll miss their writing, they were very talented!" and the like, is simple and truthful. There's not much simple to say about Mandela. "He was great, he will be missed" just doesn't seem to cut it, you know?

Also I think that group is pretty quiet, so I'm not very surprised about a small response there.

Charlie Rose interviews Nelson Mandela - Video 55 mins 1993

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics

Search: Charlie Rose interviews Nelson Mandela