I think the media you are watching are doing you a disservice and quite possibly the world media. They are portraying Nelson Mandela as some kind of grand-father to the country, and yes in the last 15 years he has grown into that role, but there was more to the man that.
He was not GREAT because he was a SAINT or a pacifist or forgiving. He was great, because he knew what needed to be done, and he did it at the right times.
When the peaceful resistance, the marching, the uprisings were not working, it was time for the armed resistance.
When the country was at the brink of civil war he reliased unity would be needed to ensure the country and people would be truly free.
He was great, because he could get people to see his view of the world, not by force, not by demanding but just by speaking to them.
He was not this cuddly teddy bear/saint that some here seem to think he was. When the time came, and he did what needed to be done, not for himself but for the people, for a cause and for freedom.
If anything it shows that you never obviously know the real story if you don't know all the details. Something that I always think and why I am so cynical and skeptical most of the time. There is always spin.
He was not GREAT because he was a SAINT or a pacifist or forgiving. He was great, because he knew what needed to be done, and he did it at the right times.
When the peaceful resistance, the marching, the uprisings were not working, it was time for the armed resistance.
When the country was at the brink of civil war he reliased unity would be needed to ensure the country and people would be truly free.
He was great, because he could get people to see his view of the world, not by force, not by demanding but just by speaking to them.
He was not this cuddly teddy bear/saint that some here seem to think he was. When the time came, and he did what needed to be done, not for himself but for the people, for a cause and for freedom.