Tribute to Nelson Mandela BBC1

A wonderful man who will be missed , but it was time for him to go as his life was getting more and more undignified, with illness and dementia.However, think what he had achieved in his life, amazing for those of us who remember the evils of apartheid.So many said that it couldn't be done, and he proved them all wrong.Moreover it was done with gentleness forgiveness and dignity, and proved to the whole world [those who needed it proving] that black people are every bit as good as white people and had a right to powershare in what was their own country.
Compare and contrast Nelson Mandela with the likes of Ian Paisley in Northern Ireland !!!! and he was a Christian minister.Hmmmmn.

'We can follow his example in our own lives by not holding grudges and being less selfish. I think he always saw the best in people.' Humbertbear well said.

He was a truly inspirational man who achieved so much and my heart bleeds when I think of how much more he could have achieved if he hadn't been locked away for over 20 years.

I don't think it should be forgotten that as well as have a loving warm personality, he was also a highly intelligent man who was denied his full potential by a wicked regime.

I am sure if I had been locked away for 20 years I would not have emerged with the forgiveness in my heart that he had.

A man who will be greatly missed - I hope his country can carry his legacy on and not go the way of some other African countries.

There are some more threads about Mandela, Humberbear.

One of the biggest factors, for me anyway, was his ability to forgive, to forgive even those who had been so horrendous to him. A bit like that POW Lomax, who forgave his Japanese tormentor.
Both men said to hold on to hatred meant the captors had won.
Would that more of us were like that.

I am surprised this hasn't been flooded with comments. I think the world has been diminished by his passing and that can't be applied to many people.
We can follow his example in our own lives by not holding grudges and being less selfish. I think he always saw the best in people. There was a very good article in The Times this morning that questioned whether South Africa can hold the Rainbow Nation together without the force of his character.