Was he a terrorist?
A Xhosa born to the Thembu royal family, Mandela attended Fort Hare University and the University of Witwatersrand, where he studied law. Living in Johannesburg, he became involved in anti-colonial politics, joining the ANC and becoming a founding member of its Youth League. After the Afrikaner nationalists of the National Party came to power in 1948 and began implementing the policy of apartheid, he rose to prominence in the ANC's 1952 Defiance Campaign, was elected President of the Transvaal ANC Branch and oversaw the 1955 Congress of the People. Working as a lawyer, he was repeatedly arrested for seditious activities and, with the ANC leadership, was prosecuted in the Treason Trial from 1956 to 1961 but was found not guilty. Although initially committed to non-violent protest, in association with the South African Communist Party he co-founded the militant Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) in 1961, leading a bombing campaign against government targets. In 1962 he was arrested, convicted of sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the government, and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rivonia Trial.
Might sound controversial but why wish for him to get well? he is a very old and sick man who is only being kept alive because of who he is, very much like Prince Phillip. If they were regular Joe's they'd have died in hospital. I lost my Gran in April, she was admitted to hospital with suspected pneumonia told it wasn't life threatening then died the next day with the doctors scratching their heads. She was 86 and very sick so I accepted it and dealt with it. Mandela will be getting medicines and procedures a normal person of his age wouldn't be afforded.
Its his time, he's had a good innings
Might sound controversial but why wish for him to get well? he is a very old and sick man who is only being kept alive because of who he is, very much like Prince Phillip. If they were regular Joe's they'd have died in hospital. I lost my Gran in April, she was admitted to hospital with suspected pneumonia told it wasn't life threatening then died the next day with the doctors scratching their heads. She was 86 and very sick so I accepted it and dealt with it. Mandela will be getting medicines and procedures a normal person of his age wouldn't be afforded.
Its his time, he's had a good innings
Might sound controversial but why wish for him to get well? he is a very old and sick man who is only being kept alive because of who he is, very much like Prince Phillip. If they were regular Joe's they'd have died in hospital. I lost my Gran in April, she was admitted to hospital with suspected pneumonia told it wasn't life threatening then died the next day with the doctors scratching their heads. She was 86 and very sick so I accepted it and dealt with it. Mandela will be getting medicines and procedures a normal person of his age wouldn't be afforded.
Its his time, he's had a good innings
Good post. Hard to say and read but spot on mate.
Can I just add that whatever you’re feeling towards Nelson Mandela, terrorist or freedom fighter (and I fit totally into the latter here) one thing that cannot be denied is that he is one of the iconic figures of the 20th and 21st centuries. Imprisoned by an evil regime hell bent in destroying the indigenous peoples of South Africa and denying them the right to work or live in decent homes and have access to medical facilities, he fought back and spent almost 30 years behind bars for his beliefs and most of it in the awful surroundings of Robben Island.
On his release he could easily have been a bitter vengeful new leader of South Africa but instead chose forgiveness and reconciliation as his path to glory.
I love and respect this man immensely and will mourn the passing of one of histories great men. A man I shall make sure I tell my daughter all about him and my grandchildren too. South Africa could have become a bloodbath but because of the dignity and grace of this man it didn’t. Sure there are problems but then it was never perfect to start with for the majority of its populace anyway.
God bless Nelson Mandela and may you suffer no more. Your place in history is assured and your legacy complete.

Good post. Hard to say and read but spot on mate.
Can I just add that whatever you’re feeling towards Nelson Mandela, terrorist or freedom fighter (and I fit totally into the latter here) one thing that cannot be denied is that he is one of the iconic figures of the 20th and 21st centuries. Imprisoned by an evil regime hell bent in destroying the indigenous peoples of South Africa and denying them the right to work or live in decent homes and have access to medical facilities, he fought back and spent almost 30 years behind bars for his beliefs and most of it in the awful surroundings of Robben Island.
On his release he could easily have been a bitter vengeful new leader of South Africa but instead chose forgiveness and reconciliation as his path to glory.
I love and respect this man immensely and will mourn the passing of one of histories great men. A man I shall make sure I tell my daughter all about him and my grandchildren too. South Africa could have become a bloodbath but because of the dignity and grace of this man it didn’t. Sure there are problems but then it was never perfect to start with for the majority of its populace anyway.
God bless Nelson Mandela and may you suffer no more. Your place in history is assured and your legacy complete.
For me, as a younger chap he is merely a figure from history who just happens to still be alive. Can't say I feel anything, good or bad.