Reply #43: Mandela is a close second behind JohnPaul II for me

[FARAFIELD]

His election was not an accident, he was shrewder than any figure since roosevelt. I was only 16 at the time of his election, but when the soviets told him not to go back to Poland after his election and he did anyway. ANd 1/2 a million came out in the rain to see him (google the visit). It was clear that it was the beginning of the end. Of course he supported solidarity movement and Poland Fell and the rest is history. Very inspiring as a Catholic to see someone with some spine go up against the bad guys, and even though I dont politically agree with some of his (my churches stands) he stood up and took action at a time that the only thing our prez was doing was making more nukes. Morally Mandella is just below him in my lifetime, JPII didnt have the additional problem of having to make a political system work. The right wingers tend to say that "talking" makes us look weak, but JPII and Madella thats about all they did, and seemed to work out great.