The is a tendency to regard Nelson Mandela as a hero. In the past he was regarded as a example mostly by the majority an dthe voters of the ANC and especially in the townships.
I have noticed that leaders is churches uses him a an example for frogiveness, which has it own problems as he has never said that the that the armed struggle was wrong I cannot find any reference to it. The armed struggle was always justified as a just cause.
You cannot call acts of terrorism as just. When Mandela and his buddies run out of options they tried peace. The peaceful approach was a last option. Only then did he look at not being vengeful. The IFP was not part of the election to legitimise the election especially in Natal it was agreed by Mandela and de Klerk to agree ti international meditation but neither leaders of the two biggest political parties at the time had any intention to honor the agreement. I remember saying they are lying. I was tolf how can I say i said that deal was done to include the IFP so that the election can go ahead.
I know examples we use are not always perfect for me this is my personal view that one cannot use a person who is a not a unifying person. Publicly there is no record that he has said that using voilence was wrong. He is not a person that can be used as an example for forgiveness. Embracing peace from a violent past yes but not for foorgiveness. I had many discussions at the time the arrrogance the the ANC that they had forced change. What is often forgotten was the prayer meetings across the country that was held so that a war did not break out. He was given the death penalty it was later commutted to a life sentence. What we do know he was convicted for his violent acts of terrorism
It was not Mandela who saved the country but by the grace of God that the transition was peaceful. I cannot see him as an example for forgiveness, maybe I was too close to battle both from a military and political viewpoint. More than twenty years on my views has not changed on Mandela and no I am not reading his book which I view as propaganda.
Am open to have my views changed on him. I am not reading his book.
