Modern Vespa

Sleep well gentle hero!

A true giant in our small world, RIP

More sad than his passing at 95, is the circumstance from which he became known.

27 years prison!

For just a thought!

27 years, because of the color of his skin, and because of politics and ignorance. This is sad.

Our world is not good, bless those that dare to try to change it for the better.

May you finally rest in peace!

Thanks for all you did, Madiba!

R.I.P.

As someone whose family history was rooted in KKK practices here in the U.S. - and who finally broke from my past and now teaches Peace and Conflict Studies at a major university - I have always looked up to him as one of my heroes.

There are ALWAYS ways of resolving conflict without physical violence - even if it means paying the kind of price that Nelson did.

May his life inspire others to continue the non-violent revolution we need to engage in to eliminate poverty and ignorance; greed and hatred - from our planet.

Desi B.

What an amazing man. Many people thought apartheid could only end with a bloody race war.

Yet it didn't happen, and that is thanks to Nelson Mandela.

@Desi B, I agree. Wars and hatred don't work, no one really wins.

"...he now belongs to the ages..."

Lets keep political debate out of this topic - yes I know some mention of politics is inescapable when discussing Nelson Mandela. A mention is fine - a debate is not.

Back to the subject.

RIP Mr Mandela, you were a lion of a man.

RIP Nelson Mandela

I was lucky enough to work on his 90th birthday celebration party in London.

I grew up in ZA and a few weeks before the elections in 1994 my mom was visiting her family in Austria. When the violence started she told my dad over the phone to stock up on non perishable food for "when it gets worse." When my mom got back just before the elections she was furious that he had only bought 4 cans of corn (or something else that came in cans.)

We still had those cans years later...

A common man who became a great man because he did the right and honorable thing. A man who knew he did not succeed by himself, but still was a cynosure for peace and positive change.

May we all step up in his place.

+1

He was a great man and a symbol of a generation. "Free Nelson Mandela", we used to sing.

I was in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1993, when he had already been freed and the nation was preparing for the first elections and a majority government was on its way. I was so full of hope at the time.

Sadly, the Apartheid proved to be like the Berlin wall -- toppled on the outside. Now it's invisible, deeply rooted in hearts and minds. The black population is only marginally better off now. They still live in poverty and the country is as violent as ever, maybe more so. Mandela could only do this much. The rest should free themselves from a vicious circle of corruption and violence.

RIP Mr Mandela

A great man - May his example inspire us all to do better.

A life well-lived.

Always interesting what people can do when presented with obstacles. And he had them in spades. There's a lot of latent greatness out there....not everyone takes it....Mandela did.

RIP Nelson.

One of the worlds great leaders.

Rest in peace, Mandela.

Rest in Peace

Goodnight Madiba
What a man
RIP

Special AKA (The Specials) 1984. Brilliant beats, brilliant lyrics - so simple, so moving.

R.I.P. great man.

Listened to this in the car 30 seconds ago. Utterly joyful! I must have got some dust in my eye whilst driving!

If they could have isolated his "forgiveness" gene he could have donated to politicians the world over.

I'll miss his smile!

A true statesman, an icon, a hero.

i misheard last night .... thought the nissan main dealer had gone

Sleep well Mr. Mandela.

You will be missed.

I think I've had a brainwave.

We should take the Admiral Nelson off his column, and replace him with a statue of Mr Mandela.

Just for a year, perhaps.

Good idea or stupid idea?

Bad idea

He rests along side Gandhi. 2 men who had enough balls for the rest of us pussies that grin and bear the masterslave system were born into

My reaction, although I knew he wouldn't be with us forever, was "oh shit"
Another hero gone.
May he never be forgotten.

I think Nelson Mandela is the only non British citizen to have a statute in Parliament Square, which is pretty good really, given that he was once regarded as a terrorist by some British politicians.

As for Nelson's column, its a pigeon poo magnet - not much of an honour. And really, the lasting monument is what he did for South Africa.

RIP he is now part of the "ages". May his legacy always live on. Such an interesting man. He was no saint, by his own words but was able to overcome his own shortcomings for the good of all. Would of liked to have met him. You will be missed. KHAO very true. One man can only do so much. He led by example. That's what people need to take away from him. Then things may get better.

As a black american, he taught me that regardless of what little discrimination I may have faced in my life, it is nothing compared to what he had to endure so I can't use racism as a crutch.

An example for us all. A role model for generations to come.

Ummmm..........what?!

Read a book, love.

Lived in SA for 10 years "Love". More blood than you can imagine "love".

Well then post it. Don't just go... what?

what we have here is a failure to communicate.

You literally wrote that there was no bloody race war in South Africa, sorry love, I was in shock for a moment.

Well then I guess I'm just wrong and ignorant. Literally.