Great song, Jay of Melbourne. Hadn't seen these guys before, thanks.

But I think the point GrahamY was leading us to, was whether the Mandela history is of significance to the "man he became".

We can all judge for ourselves the modern history part - the man was indeed very significant in giving black South Africa a valid voice, and was subsequently very even-handed when it came to laying - or sidestepping - blame for their history. One can only speculate how South Africa's present would have played out without his moderating influence at key junctures.

My own view is that he learned a great deal while in prison, and was able to employ the wisdom he acquired in fashioning a post-apartheid world. However fragile the political and social environment still may be, the alternatives could have been substantially worse.

Much, I guess, as Solzhenitsyn's eight years in a gulag influenced his views on Stalinism, and how freedom of thought could be the ultimate downfall of the Soviet system. Neither he nor Mandela had 20:20 vision on how the new systems could be perfected, but they both had a significant clue as to how improvements on the old could be brought about.

Another Communist Terrorist Leader Dies:
http://johngaltfla.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/SACP_POSTER.jpg

Good riddance to bad rubbish.
I'm sure the families of the white S.A farmers he caused the massacre of won't miss him!

Pericles,
I don't get angry often but this issue boils my blood and Lucky Dube is the real emblem of Mandela's legacy, a man who created such beauty and who honestly tried to unite people shot down in an everyday explosion of mindless African violence.
As Rawmustard and others will no doubt point out the butcher's bill of the "Rainbow Nation" totally eclipses the bad old days of White rule, if you've got a strong stomach follow this link and observe how monstrously cruel the so called "Farm Murders" are:
http://www.thetruthaboutsouthafrica.com/p/white-genocide-in-south-africa.html
White "Bleeding hearts" who approve of Mandela are also condoning Black terrorists wrapping a three month old White baby in newspaper and setting her alight in front of her parents, that's the truth of the matter.
And lest the cry of "Racist" be uttered those same bleeding hearts can google the name Annene Booysen because none are spared.
Mandela, Mbeki, Zuma and all are monsters, their followers are sadists and psychopaths, the only good Commie is a dead Commie, that's all there is to say.

usually a man can be judged by the children he produces.

in/his own..words
http://theconversation.com/mandela-spirit-of-rolihlahla-the-one-who-shook-the-tree-15490

Nelson Mandela’s African name../*Rolihlahla*\..means
the one..who shakes/the tree,..the one who unsettles/the status quo.

*/'..It was only when all else..had failed,
when..all channels..of peaceful protest..had been barred..to us,
that..the [DEMOCRATIC}..decision/was made..to embark on..violent forms of political struggle,..and to form Um-khonto we Siz*we.

We did so not/because we desired..such a course,
but solely/because the government..had left us/with no other choice.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela

/*Only free-men..can negotiate;
prisoners..cannot enter into contracts.*\
[un-informed/connect/no-meeting/of..mind]]

../*'Your freedom..and mine cannot be separated.*\..

*..equality before..the law',[..in so far..as \
it is..intended/to apply to us]..is meaningless..and misleading.

*..All the rights..and privileges..to which I have referred are monopolized..by whites,..and we enjoy none of them.

*.The white man/makes all the laws,..he drags us/
before his courts and accuses us,..and he sits in judgment over us\*..

[then/jails-us/separates..fathers..from/mothers/children..from society

..*in its proper meaning..equality before the law/..means..the right to participate..in../*the making*\..of the laws..*by which..one is governed,\*

../*.a constitution which guarantees..democratic rights
to all sections.of the population, t..he right to approach the court for..*protection..or..*relief..[in the case of/the violation of rights..*guaranteed in/the constitution]\*.,

*/These countless..human beings,..both inside and outside our country,..had the nobility of spirit..to stand..in the path of tyranny..and injustice,..\*

/*..without seeking selfish gain.*\..

[but..then..the same personality..TYPE*
became the NEW/*elite*]

../*They recognized that..an injury to one..is an injury..*to all
and therefore..ALL*..acted together..in defense*..of justice a..nd a common human decency.*\.

*..We trust/that you..will continue..to stand by us
as we tackle..the challenges/of building peace,..prosperity, non-sexism,..non-racialism and democracy.>>

[and/yes..a FEW..got..VERY/very..very..rich*
doing..the same..colonizations/oppression..globally..by figure-head]

*..The time..for/the healing..of the..wounds has come.

*..The moment..to bridge/the chasms..that divide/us..has come.

/*.The time.to build..is upon us.*\

*..We succeeded..to take/our..last steps,,into freedom
in conditions..of relative peace...We commit ourselves..to the construction..of a complete,..just..and lasting peace.*

/*Because..of their courage..and persistence
for many years,..we can,..her/today/together,..even set
the dates..when all humanity..will join..*together..to celebrate
but/one..of the outstanding..of..manifest/humane victories of our century.*\.

“Saint” Mandela? Not So Fast!
http://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/africa/item/15888-saint-mandela-not-so-fast

Thamsanqua Linda:
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/foreign-policy/item/15835-mayor-linda-versus-mandela
Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangosuthu_Buthelezi