Nelson Mandela.

[anneasquith]

readmitted to hospital, sounds a bit more serious this time,

[mikey4444]

I guess that we all must prepare ourselves for the worst. He has looked terribly frail for quite a long time now. Lovely man.

[boxtops]

Yes, he's been in all night, they reported it on last night's news.

[tonyav]

http://news.uk.msn.com/world/s-africa-hopes-for-mandela-recovery

[Gromit]

Things have taken a turn for the worse. They are moving him to a bed next to Prince Phillip.

[Brenden]

He is 95 years of age - that in my book is a good innings.

[Mattk]

Both Mandela and Prince Philip are in their 90's and none of us live forever.
I get tired by the media 'vultures' who circle persistently when these stories break.

[bazwillrun]

"I guess that we all must prepare ourselves for the worst."

an ex terrorist, i couldnt care less about him

There's people in the same and or worse condition in hospitals all over the world, why are people worried about him specifically.

I'm more worried by the fact all the leftie councils will use his eventual passing as another excuse to start naming buildings and roads after him, theyll probably campaing for a national holiday to remember him.
quite pathetic really, especially as he has nothing whatsoever to do with this country

[sandyRoe]

One mans 'terrorist' is anothers freedom fighter. The people who imposed the real terror, apartheid, on South Africa labelled Mandela a terrorist and their allies were happy to go along with that.
I think history will judge him an exemplary figure.

[Gromit]

Mandell an De Klerk both did a good job of transitioning this former part of the British Empire from a failed state, into a modern democracy. Anyone failing to see why historically that is significant, and worthy of commemoration, has a blinkered view of the world.

[mikey4444]

baz...what a dreadful thing to say...shame on you.

[Sqad]

baz.........we have here a charismatic figure who said all the wrong things before going to jail and has said all the right things since his release.

i don't think that he was ever a "terrorist" but only that he would not condemn violence.

A grand old man and the grandfather of South Africa.

I could never stand his wife...Winnie....a real trouble maker and do you remember Stompe Maketzi (?sp) and his Manchester united going who terrorised the black communities.........never did understand that.

[ichkeria]

"an ex terrorist, i couldnt care less about him "

You obviously care enough to spatter your bile over everyone else.
Shame on you.

Wishing him, and Prince Phillip, all the best.

And all others I know who are in hospital ...

[mushroom25]

//..but only that he would not condemn violence....//

"Umkhonto we Sizwe", a sort of paramilitary wing of the ANC, was formed by Mandela and others, and conducted a sort of armed disobedience campaign in the early 60s. Mandela was arrested by police investigating - he admitted sabotage at the resulting trial, possibly in an attempt to get the movement's message heard in open court. But it got him sentenced to life imprisonment, despite much international pressure to the contrary.

[sandyRoe]

I think change didn't come to South Africa until after the fall of the Soviet empire. Up to then had the West been backing the apartheid regime as a bulwark against the red menace?

[modeller]

He contributed towards the end of apartheit and the peaceful transition afterwards but he totally failed on the world stage afterwards.
He failed to condemn terrorism and supported African dictators e.g. He supported Mugabe when Zimbabwe was being brought to its knees, even when thousands of Africans were being killed by Mugabe's supporters , Mandela kept silent.

[mushroom25]

the changes in SA were concurrent with the changes in eastern Europe - the unpicking of the Berlin wall may well have been the event that precipitated Mandela's release; but the writing had been on the wall for much of 1989, and De Klerk knew apartheid was unsustainable.

[maggiebee]

Baz, there's a Nelson Mandela Square in Glasgow. Proud of it.

[Brenden]

Nelson Mandela house in Hackney since 1980's.

[Snafu03]

Mandela is famous for being 'nice'. That is all. He was involved with a terrorist organisation for which he (rightfully) served time for. After his release his job as RSA PM involved in dishing out jobs for the boys. Unless you have witnessed the demise in RSA politics, utilities, socio/economic and crime figures then continue to keep your head in the sand.