Nelson Mandela On Castro, Che, the Cuban, Revolution and the US

On Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and the Cuban Revolution

* Che Guevara's feats in our continent were of such magnitude that no prison or censorhip could hide them from us. Che's life is an inspiration for every human being who loves freedom.We always honor his memory.
* I went to Cuba in July 1991, and I drove through the streets with Fidel Castro. There were a great deal of cheers. And I also waved back believing that these cheers were for me. Fidel was very humble; he smiled but he never said a word. But when I reached the square where I had to make some remarks to the crowd, then I realized that these cheers were not meant for me, they were meant for Fidel Castro. Because everybody forgot about me, and was really aroused by Fidel Castro. Then I realized that here was a man of the masses.
* Long live the Cuban Revolution. Long live comrade Fidel Castro... Cuban internationalists have done so much for African independence, freedom, and justice. We admire the sacrifices of the Cuban people in maintaining their independence and sovereignty in the face of a vicious imperialist campaign designed to destroy the advances of the Cuban revolution. We too want to control our destiny... There can be no surrender. It is a case of freedom or death. The Cuban revolution has been a source of inspiration to all freedom-loving people.


On the United States of America

* Both Bush as well as Tony Blair are undermining an idea (the United Nations), Is this because the Secretary General of the United Nations (Ghanaian Kofi Annan) is now a black man? They never did that when Secretaries General were white.
* One power with a president who has no foresight, who cannot think properly, is now wanting to plunge the world into a holocaust.
* If there is a country that has committed unspeakable atrocities in the world, it is the United States of America.

 

I think this is a great messagae of solidarity from one of the most inspirational figures of the 20th century.

 

You just called mandela an asshole? That's ridiculous, and how can that statement be why racism is aorund. Actually i have to say i agree that the UN has been a laughing stock for a long time but to call a man of his achievments an asshole is just disrespectful.

 

Yeh, but what mandela has achieved is admirable. And i think that there is deffinatley still elements of racism out there int he western world.

 

I agree that this was an error. I disagree with mandela on this.

 

I reacted to that in particular, too. However, Mandela is an old revolutionary (he was born in 1918), and when he was at his best, racism existed everywhere. Racism existed in South Africa, it existed in China (Japanese discriminating chinese people), it existed in Europe, in Australia, and in the US. The older generations has gone through a lot of racism. Imagine being beaten up by a "superior" race, being discriminated every day in your life. I think the older generations are in general very sensitive to such issues, and their "racist radar" might pick up things that younger generations might not normally do.

Also, it might be some truth to it. Annan is from a third world country.

 

Yeh, but the UN has been abused by the us for a long time.

 

For instance when the UN resfused to sanction the war in Iraq the us went in anyway. The us continues to back israel even though it is in breach of several un resolutions.

 

Actually i think france and germany were just reacting to their own publics refusal to go to war.

 

I think they were just protecting the interest of the French and German capitalist class (the rich) in France and Germany.

I think you are both right. The capitalist class (who are in control of hte state) protects themselves by protesting the war. But they are also protecting themselves from the workers. By pretending to "follow the voice of the masses", their position as the ruling class will be even more secure.

 

He's a great man, but it was wrong to play the race card. i don't like bush as the next person, but annan would have waited until saddam gassed all of the kurds and shias until he took action.

 

I disagree, if we're gonna remove tha dictator why not remove the saudi family and all the other dictators, even the ones the US likes! Like fox for instance.

 

So what?

That doesn't justify the rule in Saudi Arabia.

Anyways (although this is off-topic), there was an election not long ago in Saudi Arabia, but only men could vote.

 

these elections are for assemblies and local government with no real power at all. Saudi as mentioned by communism, is ruled tyranically by a totally corrupt family.