Mandela statue in Trafalgar Sq.

[bazwillrun]

Can anybody tell me why a satue of Mandela is proposed for Trafalgar Sq ?. I have no interest whatsoever in him, whats wrong with having a statue of a famous Englishman(am i allowed to say English anymore)?.

[mikewith]

South Africa House - the South African Embassy - is on the east side of Trafalgar Square, and was therefore the physical manifestation in this country of the evil regime of apartheid... just as, today, it is the physical manifestation of the dream of a rainbow nation that Mandela has done so much to make possible. It was also the site of lengthy demonstrations against apartheid and against Mandela's imprisonment.

I'm really not trying to tell you what to think, but I can't believe that anyone who thinks about this would have "no interest whatsoever in him."

As for the statue: Isn't it the sign of a mature, confident society that we can consider celebrating the life and contribution of a good man such as this even though he isn't from these shores?

In a quest for Englishness, I suggest you also change the name of the square. Cape Trafalgar is in southern Spain.

(Incidentally, I think you'll find there's already one or two statues of famous Englishmen in Trafalgar Square - Lord Nelson, Charles I, George IV, Havelock and Napier. I suggest there are several Englishmen even more famous than Havelock and Napier - David Beckham, for example, or Chris Bisson.

[rinkytink]

"In a quest for Englishness, I suggest you also change the name of the square. Cape Trafalgar is in southern Spain."
mikewith - surely you are well aware that the square is to commemorate Nelson's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, and not to commemorate the geographical place itself.
I'm all for the celebration of Englishness - whatever that may be - let's have a statue of an Englishman !

[woodpam]

There are many reasons why he deserves a place in addition to those above. A memorial to the Englishman Cecil Rhodes is sited above Capetown, in South Africa. Rhodes was instrumental in ensuring that the Commonwealth (think about the word) benefited from South Africa's gold and diamond natural resources. The country has been systematically stripped of these resources whilst the indigenous population was subject to an appalling standard of living and inhuman slave-like treatment under apartheid laws. The workers in the diamond mines were paid starvation wages, but not allowed to strike, police brutality was legendary. Nelson Mandela's great achievement (when it was clear he would have to be released) is that the country hasn't gone the way of other African nations. He forgave the people that had done the great wrongs to him and his country and established a relative harmony that protects both white South Africans and the monument of Cecil Rhodes.Compared to the situation in Zimbabwe this is nothing short of miraculous. Trafalgar Square is a place for statues of men who fought great battles for many reasons. Mandela fought his for peace and justice and for this he deserves his place.

[5029]

Perhaps there'll be a statue of Gerry Adams there next.

[mikewith]

5029 - I'm intrigued. Would you care to expand on why you seem to be comparing Nelson Mandela with Gerry Adams in an apparantly negative way?

[brawburd]

Mandela - dignity, respect, honour, self-sacrifice, integrity, fallibility........ Adams?

[paulz]

adams & mandella aren't they both former terrorists ? One man's terrorist another man's freedom fighter?

[5029]

exactly Paulz. what Mandela did in his country is the same as Adams, some people over here believe Mandela to be a hero, some see him as a terrorist. Adams has the same reputation