patrick.net

For me, the many things I admired about President Mandela included his gentle sense of humor and modesty. He said, “I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.” He also said, "Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” He inspired and led a nation in truth and reconciliation, helping to lift millions from poverty.

@curious2 My comment was liked by a user who's pretty far right, but he or she may have found it genuinely funny, even if they did appreciate the sarcasm. I wouldn't sweat the dislikes - the secret is not giving a damn.

I was going to comment earlier, but like Obama I was late getting around to it, because my speech writers were out to lunch when the news broke, then my damn teleprompter broke. It's a shame too, because they wrote some cool shit that talked about how great I am, and I was gonna mention Mandela too. Honest injun!

HydroCabron says

I wouldn't sweat the dislikes....

For the most part, I don't, but to see them on this thread surprised me. I have never deleted comments before either, but in this one thread I did. I don't understand the mentality. When former Prime Minister Thatcher died, I found something nice to say about her, and someone else objected to that. As it happens, PM Thatcher had sided with the apartheid government against Nelson Mandela, but when he became President he visited her at 10 Downing Street and she welcomed him.

@Mark D - that user hasn't commented in nearly a month. I suspect it was a user whose comment I have since deleted, who claims to live in Beverly Hills but whose comment history indicates he lives in Reno. Losers hate, pretenders hate, and he's both. Still, today is not about him, even this thread is not about him. This thread is about remembering a great man who transformed a nation and inspired millions around the world.

Maya Angelou: We Lift Our Tearful Voices to Say 'Thank You'

President Obama: Nelson Mandela "Freed Not Just the Prisoner, But the Jailer As Well"

That video of the sign interpreter was from Jay Leno, and Chris Matthews reported on the story.

curious2 says

Nelson Mandela, the first black president of South Africa credited with ending apartheid there, died Thursday in South Africa. He was 95 years old. Mandela was revered worldwide for leading the anti-apartheid movement and not letting his nearly three decades in prison shake his determination. South African President Jacob Zuma said in an address Thursday, "Our nation has lost its greatest son."

Bradley Manning is the Nelson Mandela of the United States. He's a political prisoner because he revealed the truth to the world. Obama is a hypocrite every time he speaks of Mandela.

Bitcoins arent the future? says

Though my odd sense of humor does find various distasteful comments to be funny, when they are obviously not serious

The jokes about the sign interpreter were funny, and the late President Mandela never claimed to be perfect. I can't understand though how some people managed to hate such a profoundly decent and good man. He proved his leadership and strength of character with the truth and reconciliation process, and demonstrated that the better side had prevailed.