Why did Nelson Mandela say....

[whiffey]

This is the first statue of a black person in London ? (It won't be the last, not by a long chalk)

Why did he not say Freedom Fighter instead ? Why did he have to introduce skin colour ?

[Whickerman]

Was he right?

[johnlambert]

You could argue the Nelson was a freedom fighter, if he hadn't defeated the French and Spanish navies at Trafalgar (sp)? we would have endured years of foregin occupation

[jno]

possibly saying it in the interests of accuracy? Not a matter of concern to all those who begin threads in News, I've observed.

[johnlambert]

I meant Admiral Horatio Nelson, not Nelson Mandela

I'll get my coat

[jno]

ah yes, I was thinking he must have been quite a young man at Trafalgar, johnlambert. I think to be a freedom fighter you have to be fighting to overthrow the current regime, not a prospective future one.

[Ethel]

Oliver Cromwell's statue is in London. Some would say he was a freedom fighter - fighting to be free of the Crown.

There is also a statue of William Wilberforce in London - in Westminster Abbey - probably the greatest anti-slavery campaigner of his time. He may not have a freedom fighter in the current sense, but nevertheless that is exactly what he was . A very successful one too.

[sp1814]

Hang on....is that right??

Is his the first statue of a black man in London???

For God's sake....I didn't know that...and the right whingers was still grumbling about it being put up.

Shocking.

Really shocking.

I think I'll add my name to the calls for a permanent monument to Mary Seacole. It's a flipping outrage that there isn't.

Thank God for this thread...I wouldn't have even thought that the powers that be have been so blinkered.

[jno]

http://www.maryseacoleappeal.org.uk/help.htm

[whiffey]

Yes and thanks everybody, but why did Mandela have to mention that he is BLACK, and that this is the first BLACK statue in London ?

Is he a racist ? I mean for goodness' sake he is playing a Race Card.

[sp1814]

whiffey

Lordy....ask yourself this...why would Nelson Mandela be 'playing the race card'?

He is one of the most respected world leaders around. The man is a giant.

He has made several statements whilst over here relating to the need for more black role models, so it's perfectly right that he refers to his skin colour.

And yes - it should be pointed out that there are no other statues of black heroes in London.

Don't you agree that we need more black role models? Isn't a (note a) statue of a leading black hero a good thing.

Can you please explain why you've got a problem with it, because try as I might, I don't get your point.

[Ethel]

Don't forget whiffey that he was fighting against apartheid, which is very much an issue of skin colour. In his own country, In his lifetime he could not have even sat on a bus if a white man needed the seat

And now there is a statue of him in one of the greatest capital cities in the world.

[Whiskery Ron]

I think that it has been suggested , All human life started in Africa & spread out across the entire earth over a VERY long time this suggests to me that we are truly Brothers & Sisters. Can someone explain to me why the heck everybody seems to be fighting everybody else?.

[sp1814]

Ethel/Whiskery Ron

Couldn't put it better myself!

[Pippa68]

Yes... I agree sp :o)

[Doc Spock]

Sorry to put a dampener on this hero worship, but the man ain't no saint. I won/t even begin to discuss his Mrs.

http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~springbk/enemy.html

[jno]

nobody's said he's a saint and nobody's asked for a discussion of his former wife, though I've heard nothing against the present Mrs Mandela.

[Doc Spock]

You must remember the kidnappings and murders she was involved in.

[Doc Spock]

Winnie that is. Never mind it's all history. Must never forget there are allways 2 sides.

[Pippa68]

No, he wasn't a saint. One man in a large army..and despite the terrorism from the ANC I can see why he faught for the cause. He and others lived through an oppression that you and I can't even begin to imagine.

[Pippa68]

Strangely enough I was probably the only one in my crowd (way back in the early eighties) who was going on about him being a terrorist and the fact he deserved to be in prison. Back then I knew very little about Apartheid.

I was very naive and living in a world where things were black and white ~ no grey areas at all. I like to think that because I have grown up and see the bigger picture my views have changed for the better.