Reply #112: Let me explain.

[tabatha]

Your accusations reflect the simplistic black and white view you have of the world.

I am a great supporter of Mandela. I think he is one of the wisest men on the planet.
I am also a fan of Desmond Tutu - who has on occasion criticized Nelson Mandela.
Tutu pressured Mandela to marry his wife because he thought not being married set a bad example.

I am not a great fan of Winnie Mandela, and not a fan of necklacing.

I understand that humans are not perfect.
I understand that the actions of a few (necklacing) do not reflect on the majority of people.
You like to paint everyone with the actions of a few.

I cannot tell you how many arguments I have had with my Mother who related all of the crime that occurred after 1994 to me - and there were plenty affecting my family. A nephew was shot dead, a niece was shot in the stomach, a friend was shot and is paralyzed for life, my sister was held up with a gun in her stomach. Cars were stolen, break-ins happened, etc, etc.

My mother is like you - condemned all of the blacks by the actions of a few just as you are condemning all of the Libyans by the actions of a few.

My sister is not like that - and wept at the World Cup last year at the growing unity in South Africa - and yes it was her son who was shot dead and her daughter who was shot in the stomach and barely survived.

The acquaintance who was shot and is paralyzed, has not thought of leaving South Africa - she even worked in Nelson Mandela's office for disabled persons. You could probably find her if you looked hard enough.

You, on the other hand, see evil everywhere you want to see it - like my mother. My mother's and my conversations got so heated with my defending the new South Africa despite the rape and the crime, that we just avoided the topic. And I have put my money where my mouth is, in support.

The Libyans are an awesome people, who like most populations, have bad eggs.