The Right Wing’s Campaign To Discredit And Undermine Mandela, In One Timeline

The world is celebrating Nelson Mandela as a selfless visionary who led his country out of the grips of apartheid into democracy and freedom. But some of the very people lavishing praise on South Africa’s first black president worked tirelessly to undermine his cause and portray the African National Congress he lead as pawns of the Soviet Union.

In fact, American conservatives have long been willing to overlook South Africa’s racist apartheid government in service of fighting communism abroad. Below is a short history, and some explanation, of how conservatives approached Mandela with the hostility they did:

My favorite entry, from National Review online:

“[Mandela's] vicious anti-Americanism and support for Saddam Hussein should come as no surprise, given his long-standing dedication to Communism and praise for terrorists. The world finally saw that his wife Winnie, rather than being a saintly freedom-fighter, was a murderous thug.”

What a party.

Keep fighting the good fight, cons. We know it looks bad right now with that "Kenyan socialist" in office. But Jesus should be along any moment now to punish them commies once and for all. As long as you just don't stop believin.

What did Mandela think about PEAK EARL, tho.

Mandela was an amazing person, I don't know how someone wouldn't just be completely messed up after 27 years in prison. To be fair though Winnie did have poor taste in necklaces and was quite the piece of work.

Some of the folks who are out to discredit Mandela are misguided. Often detractors will accuse Mandela of terrorism.


It was Dick Cheney who, while serving as Wyoming’s Republican congressman back in 1986, found it simply beyond his capacity to distinguish between a freedom fighter committed to ending South Africa’s brutal system of apartheid—one of the most evil political systems ever to scar the planet—and a terrorist.

You see, in the mind of Dick Cheney, Nelson Mandela, and those whom he led in the African National Congress, were, indeed, terrorists.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickunga...a-a-terrorist/

Some liberals criticize Mandela as well, at the same time some Republicans supported Mandela in the 80s. this is why IMO, the word "terrorism" should be redefined.

Well he was a designated official terrorist in the eyes of usa#1. They wouldn't lie to us or manipulate the terror list for political purposes would they?

They sent WBush to represent at the funeral so that makes up for it.

If 43 does an oil painting of Mandela Jiggs is gonna lose his ****.

trigger warnings!!!!

can anyone more aware of the topic give a brief non-pc explanation why he was seen as a terrorist? i read he was part of a group targeting and killing whites, how much was he actually involved? but then i read he did avoid a bloodbath after apartheid ended and held the country together till the hiv denialist lunatic took over , right?

current president of south africa. first the aids guy then this. ok....



edit: also he has 20 kids................................. estimated.... lol this just sells itself

i guess ordering public bombings and killing innocent people makes you a terrorist, go figure!

One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. If the ANC had been fighting a communist regime, the US government would have been shipping them billions and some stinger missiles.

I object to this whole thread. Every time I see it I wonder what the Red Wedding has to do with Mandela, and who the heck is he anyway? Only to realize it's talking about a real person.

Shame Jiggs McCaseyson !!1!!!1!111!!

Terrorism is definitely relative. If someone bombed the Republican National Convention, many people throughout the world would not consider that terrorism. It would simply be a measure to correct wrongs and reverse the troubling trends and agendas propagated by Republicans, especially when you realize the death and misery they cause through their government policies and financial support. Most Americans would call it terrorism without realizing they are living in a country that has inflicted terror throughout the world, fighting in wars for over 95% of the US's existence.

Obviously Mandela is an incredibly spiritual and inspirational man, especially for the majority of the world who continue to live in poverty. One of my favorite reggae songs always reminds me of him:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_pUGQM62b0

Peak Mandelllllllaaaaaaaaaaa!

Jesus there is some ignorant **** spewed on this board sometimes. Let me rephrase that... if what PH1 says is true, those people would be ignorant asshats.

"One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."
-Albert Einstein

My understanding was before U2 made our citizens boycott South Africa and love Mandela our government didn't like him because he was fighting a government we liked. Also, before our government liked him he had friends that we didn't like, but once we liked him that all went away until he died.

Many people throughout the world think those gathered for the Republican National Convention are ignorant asshats as well. More importantly those at the RNC are wealthy influential asshats who have propagated war and terror throughout the world to achieve their financial agendas.

There are thousands of people throughout the world who have lost innocent family members thanks to the US involvement in wars. I do not think it is a stretch that innocent people who have lost family members to collateral damage would not want to attack those most responsible for creating the hostility in the first place. Republican war mongers are the most cowardly of men, pushing for defense growth, public and private, then relying on poor middle American kids to go fight their wars. Down with global oppressors.

Admittedly this view is held by a small minority of people and extremist. And any propagation of violence is detrimental to humankind, except in the most extreme of circumstances(self defense). But I do believe Americans have a false perception of their global worth and contributions as well as their worldwide reputation. Both violent extremes, the terrorist and those at the RNC are ignorant asshats.

That isn't the question at hand. I objected to the post that mentioned blowing them up wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. And not all the delegates were asshats either.

As a matter of fact, the last 2 nominees, picked by those "asshats" were objectively non right wing radicals clearly of the middle. But that's another story all together.

It must be nice going through life seeing everyone as wearing either black hats or white hats. My experience in life tells me most people where hats of varying shades of gray




I'm not sure what your sterotyped vision of how "Americans" perceive their global self worth. However, I'm fairly certain I could successfully argue the contrary pov, but this isn't the time nor the place for it.

People--especially idealists--operate better if they can pigeonhole, name call, and bastardize.

Does that mean you're an idealist?

You have confused egoists with idealists. While pidgeonholing and bastardizing people.

Some of us are both egoists and idealists.

We rule.