"Mandela's life a lesson to tyrants"... |
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TG12345
Senior Member Male Joined: 16 December 2012 Status: Offline Points: 1146 |
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Posted: 06 December 2013 at 5:41pm |
... This true and insightful message was tweeted by none other than one
of the greatest champions of democracy and freedom in the middle east,
Syria's president Bashar Al Assad.
When he isn't busy gassing his own people and equipping extremists, in his fight against both "Islamic supremacists" and "Zionist imperialists", the kind man in the mustache likes to reflect about human rights in South Africa. Doubtlessly, he thinks Mandela was a great man, even if not as great as he imagines himself to be. He would like more time to reflect on forgiveness and reconciliation, but he needs to attend to the people in his torture chambers. Some things really can't wait. It is ironic that ever since Mandela died, the ranks of people expressing their support for him are filled partially by those who are doing everything opposite to what he did in the areas of peacebuilding, reconciliation, and justice. Putin, Erdogan, Assad, Netanyahu, Obama, Campbell, Harper and other thugs around the world took a brief respite from directing their murders, occupations and injustices, to pay tribute to a man who stood against everything they stand for. May all people around the world remember Nelson Mandela and be inspired to work for justice. May those who are perpetrating injustices, instead of hypocritically using his name, stop what they are doing and start using their power for good. Syria's Assad calls Mandela's life a lesson to tyrants - Middle East Israel News | Haaretz |
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Caringheart
Senior Member Joined: 02 March 2012 Status: Offline Points: 2991 |
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Interesting
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Let us seek Truth together
Blessed be God forever "I believe in Jesus as I believe in the sun... not because I see it, but because by it, I see everything else.: - C.S.Lewis |
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abuayisha
Senior Member Muslim Joined: 05 October 1999 Location: Los Angeles Status: Offline Points: 5105 |
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I think "thug" is a completely relative term, which calls for examining justifications and the moral calculus of individuals and state actors. Let us keep in mind that Mandela himself was on the terrorist watch list. In other words, "let him who is without sin, cast the first stone".
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Trinity
Starter. Joined: 07 December 2013 Location: Guernsey Status: Offline Points: 3 |
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Yes he was. It wasn't until the South African government under Declerq started negotiating with him about his release did he part from the violent/socialist ideology he had been known for prior to imprisonment. He does indeed deserve our respect for having the fidelity to his country's constitution that made him the statesman he was. |
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Caringheart
Senior Member Joined: 02 March 2012 Status: Offline Points: 2991 |
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Greetings abuayisha, I like your point. I have had a similar thought. It is good to remember that Mandela was no saint and not to make him into one... he had his faults... but he did very well to achieve good things for his country. I have been watching the stories about his life, and I would have to say that alot of the credit for what was accomplished goes to his wife Winnie. She kept his spirit alive in the public eye while he was imprisoned. She did not allow him, or his cause, to be forgotten. Salaam, Caringheart |
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Let us seek Truth together
Blessed be God forever "I believe in Jesus as I believe in the sun... not because I see it, but because by it, I see everything else.: - C.S.Lewis |
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TG12345
Senior Member Male Joined: 16 December 2012 Status: Offline Points: 1146 |
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I do not agree with violence, including the violence that Mandela perpetrated for a while- then renounced and stopped doing. The difference between Mandela and the people mentioned by name in my post is that unlike them, he was not occupying anyone's land and he was fighting for freedom for all his people, not his own political ambitions. |
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abuayisha
Senior Member Muslim Joined: 05 October 1999 Location: Los Angeles Status: Offline Points: 5105 |
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Are you suggesting that other than Mandela, all those you mentioned have not engaged in a principled' fight against some form of tyranny? You mentioned Mandela had renounced and stopped violence, but Mandela reached his goal, thus had no further need for "freedom fighting" as a means to an end it could certainly be argued.
Edited by abuayisha - 07 December 2013 at 4:41pm |
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TG12345
Senior Member Male Joined: 16 December 2012 Status: Offline Points: 1146 |
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Not only that, I am saying that all of the mentioned above are engaging in tyranny. Mandela occupied neither Palestinian or West Papuan or Afghan or Iraqi or Kurdish land. Comparing him to the bandits mentioned in my original thread would be a futile exercise in my opinion. |
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