Why is Nelson Mandela so celebrated?

Question

I know he won the Noble peace prize. Others have as well. I know he has spent years in Jail in South Africa. Many freedome fighters are jailed and some go on to become members of a new government. This has happend in the UK with ex members of the IRA. They are not celebrated. The ANC of which he was a member,were a terrorist organization, now called freedome fighters, who did what terrorist inevitably do, kill and maim innocent people who were more often black than white. He didn't single handedly bring liberaion to South Africa, that was a long drawn out process where many people, organisations and countries were involved.

Answer 1

he was imprisoned for beliving he was equal to a white man and he didn't let himself become bitter. he was a freedom fighter and all people who wish freedom and fight for it are not terrorist. because if you look at what you wrote and apply it to this country we would be labeled terrorist from our very coming to this country.

Answer 2

i think u r forgettin the fact that he was the first president of a democratic south africa. he played an extremely vital role in fighting for freedom in SA. south africans like myself r grateful for what he has done unlike some people such as yourself who doesnt appreciate what he has done

Answer 3

The fact that he got put away for something he believed in and even after getting out of jail he took it well, he didn't feel anger. he is a symbol of greatness. He is a model human being

Rob

Answer 4

dunno...he's was a terrorist!

pakm, who are you the thought police?

Answer 5

He was not alone, as you say.   But he was the major inspiration to many.      Now Mbeki needs to start living up to Mandela's standards and deal with Mugabe and his thugs.

Answer 6

He was the symbol of the resistance. I think it is wrong to question his relevance, integrity or important at this point.

Answer 7

The liberal left always pander to black people, even if they are pimps and murderers.

And people tend to spend long terms in jail when they disobey the laws of the country / regime they have chosen to live in !

Answer 8

I bought the single, yet never received my Free Nelson Mandela.

:(

Answer 9

During the time of apartheid he did stand up for his people. Unfortunately I don't believe he has uttered a word against Mugabe regarding his desecration of Zimbabwe.

As a world statesman a few words of disgust would go a long way.

Answer 10

Because he' s black of course

Answer 11

It's fair comment, but you've got your facts wrong.

The IRA was totally illegitimate because it chose to ignore the democratic process. At any time, the people of Northern Ireland could have demanded to become part of the Republic of Ireland, but they did not, so the IRA tried to murder its way to that goal.

In South Africa, there was no democratic process. The ANC resorted to violent actions because there simply was no other mechanism for them. Mandela makes a plea for this sort of action in his writings and makes it plain that he sees "violence" as the attacking of infrastructure, facilities, buildings, property, etc. rather than murdering people.

Having said all this, I think there are plenty of other people in the world who deserve just as much praise as Mandela but who don't get the publicity he does.