Mandela's birthday message: Rich should help poor

[one...two...tree 2,762]

QUNU, South Africa (AP) — Nelson Mandela celebrated his 90th birthday Friday surrounded by grandchildren and relatives in the rural southeastern village he calls home. Yet the man who has become an icon for peace remained keenly troubled by the demoralizing poverty still faced by so many of his countrymen. Accompanied by his wife, Graca Machel, a smiling Mandela walked into his private lounge in the large home he built in Qunu, then sat in his favourite yellow armchair and addressed a small gathering of reporters.

His message was simple — the wealthy must do more.

"There are many people in South Africa who are rich and who can share those riches with those not so fortunate who have not been able to conquer poverty," Mandela said.

Mandela said he was fortunate to have reached 90, but in the countryside and in the towns "poverty has gripped our people."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-07...ay_N.htm?csp=34

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

So not only is he a terrorist, he's also a communist.

[jundp 191]

One of my number one favorite people. Ever.

I remember writing letters for Amnesty International and joining in a protest march in Baton Rouge for his release

[almaty 19]

i agree..a pinko

[alienlovechild 75]

It only took Mandela 18 years to denounce Mugabe hmmm?

a smiling Mandela walked into his private lounge in the large home he built in Qunu, then sat in his favourite yellow armchair and addressed a small gathering of reporters.

His message was simple — the wealthy must do more.

"There are many people in South Africa who are rich and who can share those riches with those not so fortunate who have not been able to conquer poverty," Mandela said.

Nobody got the irony of a 90 year-old guy living in a big house complaining about the wealthy doing more. Mandela must have won the Nobel Prize for hypocrisy.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The only person who is more of a scumbag than Mandela is the Dalai Lama.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It only took Mandela 18 years to denounce Mugabe hmmm?

a smiling Mandela walked into his private lounge in the large home he built in Qunu, then sat in his favourite yellow armchair and addressed a small gathering of reporters.

His message was simple — the wealthy must do more.

"There are many people in South Africa who are rich and who can share those riches with those not so fortunate who have not been able to conquer poverty," Mandela said.

Nobody got the irony of a 90 year-old guy living in a big house complaining about the wealthy doing more. Mandela must have won the Nobel Prize for hypocrisy.

LOL...tell me you're not being serious.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

From what I understand Mugabe was quite well regarded in Africa up until a few years ago (the late 90's in fact).

Besides if anyone's earned the right to live in a big house its Nelson Mandela. I guess only those experiencing crushing poverty can say that the rich owe them something - of course anyone poor who said that in the US would be accused of "entitlement mentality", while a rich person must automatically be labelled a hypocrite.

It seems that nothing falls beyond the remit of excessive cynicism. Cynicism which naturally assumes for example, that Mandela doesn't back up his word (with charity work, for example). Not a bet I'd want to make - but still... yeah he's a hypocrite. He must be. Whatever makes you sleep better at night

[almaty 19]

The only person who is more of a scumbag than Mandela is the Dalai Lama.

f##k them both

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Mandela can't say anything about rich people unless he's sleeping under the stars with the sheep

[alienlovechild 75]

From what I understand Mugabe was quite well regarded in Africa up until a few years ago (the late 90's in fact).

Most African goverments are ruled by thugs who by the golden rule "Thou shalt not criticize thy fellow dictator". You're right that Zimbabwe's economy has only started to collapse in late 90s but Mugabe never faced a free and fair election. So well regarded he couldn't face his own people's judgement.

Cynicism which naturally assumes for example, that Mandela doesn't back up his word (with charity work, for example). Not a bet I'd want to make - but still... yeah he's a hypocrite. He must be. Whatever makes you sleep better at night

How cynical of me to point out a grinning Mandela sitting in an easy chair in his big house and probably in safe neighborhood. Luckily he didn't have to face how he (and his successors) doomed millions of South Africans to death with AIDS when he could have acknowledged the epidemic and failed to deal with increasing crime. I'm sure you don't lose any sleep over those facts.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

One thing's for sure. If we do hold Mandela accountable for the state of his country, whether he can be fairly held accountable for all of it or not, then he certainly doesn't come out looking as good anymore.

Colonial history is full of similar figures, highly inspirational freedom fighters who sucked azz at governing. Governing is a whole other ball game.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Most African goverments are ruled by thugs who by the golden rule "Thou shalt not criticize thy fellow dictator". You're right that Zimbabwe's economy has only started to collapse in late 90s but Mugabe never faced a free and fair election. So well regarded he couldn't face his own people's judgement.

Given that the alternative was protracted civil war (the likes of which can be appreciated by looking at Sudan, for instance), a pretense of democracy was surely better than the alternative. You can't have everything overnight of course.

Cynicism which naturally assumes for example, that Mandela doesn't back up his word (with charity work, for example). Not a bet I'd want to make - but still... yeah he's a hypocrite. He must be. Whatever makes you sleep better at night

How cynical of me to point out a grinning Mandela sitting in an easy chair in his big house and probably in safe neighborhood. Luckily he didn't have to face how he (and his successors) doomed millions of South Africans to death with AIDS when he could have acknowledged the epidemic and failed to deal with increasing crime. I'm sure you don't lose any sleep over those facts.

What about it? The guy is 90 years old - what do you expect him to do? He spent a good portion of his adult life as a political prisoner and was in office for 5 years (during which time he was involved with transitioning the country to a semblance of representative democracy), nearly 10 years ago...

You think the problems he's highlighting in regard to Africa's rich/poor divide are somehow made-up or exaggerated to make him look good? Cynical is exactly what that is.

He's served his country, he's earned the right to speak - and when it comes to South Africa's problems he's surely an influential figure. What's wrong with that...? Who else is going to get the sort of press in that country that Mandela would?

Because he himself has a *bit* of money rich and talks about the affluent needing to help those poverty - that makes him a hypocrite? Again... what do you expect the man to do? Presumably before making any such public statement he should first sell off or give away all of his assets and go live in a barn.

You do know how much charity work the guy is involved with.... Don't you....?

Edited July 18, 2008 by Number 6

[alienlovechild 75]

Given that the alternative was protracted civil war (the likes of which can be appreciated by looking at Sudan, for instance), a pretense of democracy was surely better than the alternative. You can't have everything overnight of course.

Overnight? Mugabe had 20 years in power long after a civil war in Rhodesia and another 8 years to correct his disasterous economic policies? Every dictator's bootlicker claims things would be worse without the strong arm tactics of the despot. Mugabe is destroying his country on a scale that's bad even by African standards.

Cynicism which naturally assumes for example, that Mandela doesn't back up his word (with charity work, for example). Not a bet I'd want to make - but still... yeah he's a hypocrite. He must be. Whatever makes you sleep better at night

What about it? The guy is 90 years old - what do you expect him to do? He spent a good portion of his adult life as a political prisoner and was in office for 5 years (during which time he was involved with transitioning the country to a semblance of representative democracy), nearly 10 years ago...

He could done ANYTHING and did NOTHING. What would a public service announcement cost? How about spending for a few million condoms for country swimming in gold and diamonds? Oh, and 10 years ago was the time to confront the AIDS problem, it's a little late now that 30% of the population is HIV positive.

Because he himself has a *bit* of money rich and talks about the affluent needing to help those poverty - that makes him a hypocrite? Again... what do you expect the man to do? Presumably before making any such public statement he should first sell off or give away all of his assets and go live in a barn.

You do know how much charity work the guy is involved with.... Don't you....?

If he wants the wealthy to donate more that's ok. On the other hand, let's say I go on TV and advocate the government seize the wealth of rich New Yorkers, like yourself, 6. How does that cost me anything except some time? If he gave away his assets and lived a barn I would have more respect for the man. Ghandi, for example, lived in a humble ashram and expected his wealthy followers to live the simple life while at his place. I looked up a website on Mandela's charity work. website. http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/543-nelson-mandela. Didn't see how much he gave out of his own pocket. So, 6, I'm asking you to give more of your millions to the truly needy because I'm sort of like Mandela on a smaller scale.

Edited July 18, 2008 by alienlovechild

[Peikko 1,575]

Some people need to validate their own stinginess by proclaiming that only by being dirt poor can you ask people do donate to the dirt poor. That's pretty nuts logic - but, whatever...