nelson mandela

Badged01 · Dec 8, 2013

odawire said:
in the case of SA I would say they were clearly justified in their actions.

Racism, sexism etc ... all have no place in this world (IMHO) but I still dont agree with violence being an acceptable solution -- although ultimately once politics fails thats whats happens!

But in doing so we have to accept things for example like cruelty to animals being wrong. It then becomes fair game for activists to kill/blow up people being cruel or simply employed in industrys testing on animals. Once we open the can of worms of accepting violence we can hardly call foul when we dont like whats happening elsewhere .... but hang on isnt that we have, a difference between say 'freedom fighters' and 'terrorists'? One is doing good killing innocent people and the other is doing bad killing innocent people?!?!

odawire · Dec 8, 2013

Badged01 said:
Racism, sexism etc ... all have no place in this world (IMHO) but I still dont agree with violence being an acceptable solution -- although ultimately once politics fails thats whats happens!

But in doing so we have to accept things for example like cruelty to animals being wrong. It then becomes fair game for activists to kill/blow up people being cruel or simply employed in industrys testing on animals. Once we open the can of worms of accepting violence we can hardly call foul when we dont like whats happening elsewhere .... but hang on isnt that we have, a difference between say 'freedom fighters' and 'terrorists'? One is doing good killing innocent people and the other is doing bad killing innocent people?!?!

Yea, I do agree with what your saying but remember, the violence was never accepted he spent 27 years in prison for it! I just felt I had to say something when people were trying to argue he was a bad person. The comparison to him as a terrorist is a fair comparison, but we need to remember he wasn't fighting for some weird religious ideals, he just wanted equality..

moospark · Dec 8, 2013

odawire said:
Yea, I do agree with what your saying but remember, the violence was never accepted he spent 27 years in prison for it! I just felt I had to say something when people were trying to argue he was a bad person. The comparison to him as a terrorist is a fair comparison, but we need to remember he wasn't fighting for some weird religious ideals, he just wanted equality..

Top point taking religion out of the equation.

High Tower · Dec 8, 2013

Really interesting debate!, I applaud you guys for keeping it civil!.

Just a few points,

The ANC campaign of gorilla warfare did not start until after Mandela was imprisoned and hidden from the public,

Mandela was not imprisoned for terrorism he was imprisoned on charges of treason for standing against the regime!

Mandela should be remembered for forgiving his captors, embracing the government a and preaching reconciliation, without Mandela when you end apartheid, you end up with civil unrest, just like Mugabe and Zimbabwe.

As for him advising the IRA, I have never heard such tripe, he preached reconciliation and put pressure on the government, which resulted in the Good Friday agreement.