Nelson Mandela dead at 95
8:47am December 6, 2013

South African icon and former president Nelson Mandela has died aged 95 after a long illness.

South African president Jacob Zuma says Mandela died on Thursday night local time.
He says their nation has lost its greatest son and flags across the nation will be lowered to half mast.
Mandela has been receiving around the clock intensive care from military and other doctors since September, when he was discharged from a stay of almost three months in hospital for a lung infection.
In a televised address, Zuma said: "Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father.
"What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves."
"He is now resting," Zuma said.
Flags across the nation will be lowered to half mast, he said.
Mandela had been receiving around the clock intensive care from military and other doctors since September, when he was discharged from a nearly three month hospital stay for a lung infection.

Edited by batfink: 6/12/2013 09:08:36 AM


http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2013/12/06/08/47/nelson-mandela-dead-at-95

Edited by batfink: 6/12/2013 09:08:57 AM

R.I.P. At least his family and friends were with according to what I've read.

He's been very sick for a very long time. It was borderline inhumane to keep him alive as long as they did purely as some kind of trophy to South Africa. At least now his family have closure and can begin the grieving process.

Far from a perfect man, like all of us, but he fought against something worse than himself and helped to improve South Africa, to end a policy that has no place in a just world. Sad to hear that he has died but as afroman says it has been it has been coming for a long time and it is not a great surprise.

If anything, he's closest to perfect as we'll ever get.

The irony & hypocrisy of a dyed in the wool Tory starting this thread. Bet you agreed with Thatcher calling him a terrorist.

Really. Surely not, not even she can be that stupid, surely not.

Nah, it's fake.

go fuck yourself fucktard

https://twitter.com/whoismandela

This isn't!!

#-o #-o #-o #-o #-o :oops: :oops:

Oh man. That's woeful.

lovely cross section of today's youth......

Lord help, someone gather up that lot in a room and go all Martin Bryant on them, ta.

He is proof that the prison system works, as far as I know he hasn't re-offended once since his release

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Wow :lol:

This world, it pisses me off.




Really dude? Totally uncalled for.

Mandela is a legend. What he fought for and stood for is well known, I don't have to repeat it. HIs greatest achievement was after his release from prison. He never retaliated or looked for retribution, but instead went for reconciliation. He accepted all.

It was sad that Zimbabwe were not able to follow his practices and especially as we strong neighbours. Worse still for South, issues still persist and their leaders seem to be going the way of Zimbabwe slowly.

No, what's uncalled for is you taking it seriously :lol: :p

Come at me

R.I.P.

I know I seem to have this reputation as a whinger, but in this instance im not going to take this shit.

I enjoy a good laugh and am not one to get offended too easily, but lets be serious here. This kind of humour is not warranted. Grow up a bit.

100% agree...spot on=d> =d> =d>

I guess you won't like all the baby jokes i have :-"

Hahaha. That was quick.

No, you grow up and stop being such a whinger. Maybe instead of getting your panties up in a bunch you should practice what Mandela preached and turn the other cheek.

That's nice. Turn the other cheek and just let those who find fun in others deaths continue?

I seriously will never understand why people get offended at jokes. Sure I might not like some, but I'm not going to actually give a shit about it.

once again 100% agree....


i may have political persuasions that this forum may not agree with...that's fine, that's what make us all individuals and a great nation......but in a thread about an absolute legend passing away i think it's a bit rich that people start hiding behind humour.....

there is a time and place for everything, and this thread was started to respect & honour a fantastic human. someone each and every one of us can learn a lesson from and inspire us all to be better human beings regardless of our nationality,religion,political beliefs or socioeconomic standing........for those who don't get it...it's called respect....

pretty simple......it's not the right time or place to be joking.....

Exactly. Telling me to practice what Mandela preaches and turn the other cheek?

Did Mandela preach making fun about the deaths of others?

People say lighten up and have a good laugh, but that's an absolutely silly excuse. Yes I know that jokes about those who have passed on will not stop and comedians do it all the time, but there is seriously a time and place. Less than 24 hours after an absolute legend has passed away and a nation and millions more across the globe mourn is not the time. Especially when the joke is about such a sensitive topic.

Yeah, on the internet isn't the right time or place. :roll:

If you can't tell a joke on the internet then where can you?

Y'know what, Zim? People might actually take you seriously if you didn't whine about EVERYTHING. Oh, Obama's tribute wasn't good enough because of Palestine, no politician's tribute was good enough according to you. Maybe stop being a whining bitch and people will take your opinion more seriously.

Edited by afromanGT: 6/12/2013 07:26:24 PM

the fact that you have to turn the other cheek is an admission that you have been treated poorly

sorry mate...yes the internet is a place to have a joke...you and i trade barbs and arm wrestle continually......which is all good...it's in a POLITICAL THREAD......


this is a thread regarding a true legend and humanitarian......and to be honest if you think it's an appropriate place to start making cheap comments and disguising them as humour i feel sorry for you...............

coming from someone who whines about everything and thinks he is the only person that is right or has an opinion..... i would have to nominate that for the funniest post of the year.......

Why do we feel the need to tell a joke about a persons passing especially on sensitive issues?

I don't understand where this whinger tag came from. I don't whinge about everything. I make comments and statements like I have been since I joined this forum in 07 and all of a sudden this year I get called a whinger. Its like you guys just decided to pick on the next person you could find. I never said no politicians tribute was good enough for me. I thought that was the point of WGMG but apparently im wrong. I never come on here and speak in a tone of whinging or complaining, or arguing or fighting. Im always calm and collected. Ill admit, my Barca rant was too much and ive already acknowledged that.

You know, ive followed social media all day to see reactions and decided id come on here to say my piece later once ive read and viewed everything. Ive never liked Obama. I reiterated something about Obama and Palestine that many have alluded to. Palestine is just an example and it was the easiest one to pick. I know nothing will change having made that comment, but was that not the point of the WGMG thread? To say WGMG? The irony in people saying how much of a hero and idol he was and yet their own actions are the complete opposite?

Well if you weren't so busy getting offended over nothing and actually considered the nature of the comment and how it points out the flaw in Mandela being in prison in the first place maybe you wouldn't be coming across as such a whiney bitch.

And to have a go at Obama - a man who wouldn't have been anywhere NEAR the US presidency without Mandela's influence - and deride the value of his tribute based around something like Palestine (which comes across as a base shot as it was the first thing you could think of) makes you a dick too.

And based around what stance of Obama's on Palestine? On his unwillingness to start another geo-political conflict? Yeah, how very un-Mandela-like.

I think this pretty much sums it up



It was a fucking joke, I laughed at it, other people laughed at it, are you going to sit here and tell us that we lack respect? I can't speak for anyone else, but I know I sure as hell respect what Mandela has done for the world. That said, I also understand what a joke is.

Nothing? Nothing? To you maybe. Don't come here and tell me that Africa or Mandela is nothing.

Well I can only comment on the presidents we hear form and quite frankly we hear from Obama and co on pretty much every issue in the world. If Goodluck Jonathan came out and said something stupid about Mandela then I could comment on it, but he didn't. Obama may not be where he is without Mandelas influence, but what has he done in his presidency to benefit the world. Apart from winning the Nobel Peace Prize for nothing, what has he done? What from all that he has learnt about Mandela has he implemented and used to change the world for the better?

The big difference between Obama and Mandela. Obama is scared to do anything. Mandela was prepared to die for the cause.

My qualm is that this is a very sensitive issue for many and the timing is not the best. Like I said, I enjoy a joke as much as the next person, but learn when to joke and when not to.

I don't think Mandela fought for freedom so we could make light of peoples deaths.

Edited by zimbos_05: 6/12/2013 08:06:23 PM

Who here is making light of his death?

My parents were huge Anti-Apartheid activists back in the day. My dad was one of the leaders of the Anti-Apartheid Movement in Melbourne in the 80's, he attended conferences in Japan and the Philippines and he was there pelting black tennis balls at Pat Cash on centre court at the Australian Open. It's as sad a day for my family as I'm sure it is for yours, but really Zimbos, it was nothing more than a tasteless and probably poorly timed joke. In fact, I think the irony of it went over your head.

It's only sensitive for whining bitches :roll:

All fair and well that your family were part of the anti-apartheid protests, and im sure their efforts are very much appreciated. But for families that actually lived it, its a different story.

Edited by zimbos_05: 6/12/2013 09:01:04 PM

Rest in time

Zimbo's still stinging from Man U's loss earlier this week, ;)

What does suck is how a fate in this mortal coil is the same for Mandela and some guy called Zyzz

Since im depressing everyone, Bridget Bardot
http://imstars.aufeminin.com/stars/fan/brigitte-bardot/brigitte-bardot-photo.jpg

Becomes this ->
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gawker/2008/04/57157105.jpg

[/exits]

Mate, 2-1. BESAAAARRRTTT!!!!!!!!! :p

Nelson Mandela was a great man, a man who fought for what was right and won. His death leaves the world a poorer place, a world in much need of more men and women who like him can lead nations in the right direction. A sad day.

RIP Morgan Freeman.

Please just shut up. The more you talk the more wrong you get.

It was in poor taste, but you expect nothing less from those on the Internet. Mind you, we've seen FAR WORSE, on the Internet, by those much more faceless and even cowardly (In regards to the kind of obscene, racist etc remarks that are left on less-than-perfectly moderated comments sections of News Sites etc).

A some people, comedians (Though ironically, many ACTUAL comedians don't!), like to push those bounds of taste/timing (Which for many is their Raison d'être), the old 'is it 'too soon'' or what not and I'm sure, inevitably, Seinfeld and what not have had 'discussions' or even 'observational humour' in regards to that, too.

Back on topic - For whatever it's worth - Nelson Mandela, R.I.P.

Edited by gloryperth: 7/12/2013 07:20:00 AM

Prove me wrong. Come on Josh. You seem to know it all, so lets do this.

Obama has stood up to assassination threats and continued to make several attempts to change american society through introducing medicare and gun reforms only to be shut down by republicans every step of the way.

So tell me again how he's not prepared to die for the cause and how he's "scared to do anything".

I never said he is scared to do 'anything'. I said he is scared to push forward and go for it. In fact, its the difference between politicians of the modern age and politicians from before. Politicians before would take a bullet for what they stood for and they were the minority. Polticians today are the leaders and majority and they afraid. Everything must be 'diplomatic'

Oooohhh, health care. What a damn freaking soldier. Best be careful he doesn't get locked up in a prison and his wife get beaten up.

Comparing Obama to Mandela? Lets be serious.

Edited by zimbos_05: 7/12/2013 09:52:00 AM

Just...time to stop posting champ.

Edited by afromanGT: 7/12/2013 09:55:46 AM

So now you take every word literally. Ive clarified my statement. I stand by what I said.

Why cant you just accept that the joke was insensitive and not warranted? Why do we always feel the need to resort to such petty standards.

Edited by zimbos_05: 7/12/2013 10:01:09 AM

Mandela was a leader. Obama is an Goldman Sachs executive.

End of story.

This

And as aspiring journalist zimbos you should concerned with NDAA he personally signed off on to prison journalists who wont give up there source if required by the powers that be.

Fuck off Zim. You made a statement which was wrong. Then you moved the goalposts despite being quoted word for word to have said exactly what you denied. You sound like batfink.

There are many countries who have similar laws.


Fuck off Zim. You made a statement which was wrong. Then you moved the goalposts despite being quoted word for word to have said exactly what you denied. You sound like batfink.[/quote]

I later corrected and justified my statement. I moved no goalposts. I made my statement too general initially, later corrected it and now you carrying on like ive started world war 3.

You made a statement and after you'd been called out said "no, I didn't say that", then said "no, I didn't mean that I meant something else". That is the essence of moving the goalposts.

I never said 'I meant something else'. I acknowledged that I made a general statement initially, then justified and clarified it in the next post.

and you sound like a bitch on your rags.............

Good contribution. I can't wait for the next time you bitch about a 'personal attack'.

thanks...;) :-"

glad you enjoyed.......if you going to dish it out Joshy you got to be able to take it.....

You can't differentiate between a comment deriding your opinion and a personal attack. #-o You have never been on the receiving end of a personal attack which you haven't instigated. So why don't you take a pinch of your own advice for a change?

Edited by afromanGT: 7/12/2013 01:17:17 PM

whatever you say....you are right...you are always right.....:^o :^o :^o :-" :-"

Oh geez, I just went here to RIP to one of the absolutely greatest leaders in history. And then saw your little bittchfight...

Oh and what's Obama doing in this thread? His sole similarity to Mandela is his colour.

RIP to one of the most inspirational men of all time.

Mandela's last photoshoot.

Make sure you play the video at the top of the page. You really get the feel how he was one of those larger than life people who affect everyone around him in a great way.

One of the rare greats.

http://www.nelsonmandela.org/news/entry/remembering-nelson-mandela-remarks-by-president-barack-obama

Obama gives a hell of a speech