Nelson Mandela is not as great as people make him up to be

Thanks, Emmo, for your thoughtful argument. Winnie Mandela denies ever making the statements Pro quoted: http://www.guardian.co.uk... Further, Ms. Mandela states: "I will in the coming days deal with what I see as an inexplicable attempt to undermine the unity of my family, the legacy of Nelson Mandela and the high regard with which the name Mandela is held here and across the globe." I think Con can safely argue that Pro's quote has been invalidated. ***** Pro contends that Nelson Mandela is less than courageous, less than outstanding in achievement, less than noble in quality. The most important legacy of Nelson Mandela is that he led 50 million people out from Apartheid and into a state of democracy and constitutional equality. In many ways, this benchmark surpasses that of the American Founding Fathers who achieved democracy for a much less populous and more homogeneous state. Unlike Mandela, the Founding Fathers only achieved American Democracy after 7 years of bitter war. Unlike Mandela, the Founding Fathers left women, and Native Americans, and particularly African Americans out of the franchise. 60% of the American population had no rights defined by the US Constitution in 1787, resulting in decades of struggle and war. If Mandela can not be counted a hero, than Pro must also discount the heroism of the American Founders, a statement I cannot countenance. Pro argues that Mandela did not achieve this miracle of equality and peace singlehandedly, but that he is nevertheless credited with the lion's share. I think this is a fair point. There were many great men and women who sacrificed much and often all to achieve the end of Apartheid. But among all those famous names, only Mandela spoke for every faction and spoke to every faction. Even within the hostile white majority, Mandela was viewed as the one indispensable man. As early as 1987, the South African govt. spoke of the end of Apartheid, but until Mandela was free, no South African considered Apartheid over. The instant of his freedom was the day South Africa changed. Like Gandhi in India, peace, justice, equality were all contained within the symbol of a single man. Can Pro deny that it takes nobility to rise to such a burden? Courage to take on the mantle of such high expectation at the age of 80, when most men are ready to rest? What other living man has been burdened with such responsibility, that he bore with such confidence and dignity? Pro argues that Mandela acted out of intelligence and foresight, out of pragmatic consideration rather than some more ethical consideration. I agree, but I consider intelligence and foresight essential qualities for great men. Many of the world's great leaders have been unethical, but I know of none that were stupid or shallow. And pragmatism? Abraham Lincoln once wrote: "If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that." Lincoln was a pragmatist. It is not that he was unethical, or unmoved by the plight of slavery. Lincoln understood that as President he had one job and that was to preserve the union. If that meant sacrificing his own beliefs to the greater good, so be it. This is the mark of a true leader. A leader's first responsibility is to the people and the personal, the family, the tribe, the love of legacy all come second to that responsibly. Lincoln would have admired Mandela, who gave up his bitterness for 27 years of prison, who sacrificed his family, who disappointed his tribe and his even his party, the ANC, in the pursuit of a single nation, black and white, Zulu and Xhosa. Sure, it was the smart thing to do, politically. Yes, he could foresee the damage South Africa would sustain if he moved South Africa towards Socialism, and subjected his own Socialist beliefs for the better of the state. Yes, he saw the white flight from Zimbabwe and chose not to hold the White minority accountable for generations of slavery and subjugation, but that cost him dearly in the opinion of his oldest, closest revolutionary friends. A hero makes these sacrifices when called upon, with courage and conviction. Pro's least persuasive argument is that Mandela was convicted of treason, and that traitors may not be heroes. I know of few heroic men who were not traitors in someone's eyes. Jesus Christ was found guilty of treason, and crucifixion was the form of execution Rome reserved for traitors. Socrates was found guilty of sedition and ordered to commit suicide. Joan of Arc was burned for heresy. Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Washington all had bounties on their heads sponsored by the King of England. Gandhi was a convicted terrorist. When Emerson visited Thoreau in jail for refusing to pay tax to a government making war in Mexico, he asked, "Henry, what are you doing in there?" Thoreau replied, "Waldo, the question is what are you doing out there?" When the law is wrong, the wrong side of the law is the right place to be. The Declaration of Independence states, "when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security." Although Mandela was born into Xhosa royalty, a supremely armed white minority of 10% refused to Mandela and all black people the most basic rights: they could not vote, they could not own businesses, they could not own property. Even George III permitted the colonists to own property and conduct business. What then would the Founding Fathers have instructed Mandela? The Declaration states that it was not just Mandela's right, but also his duty to throw off that government, by violent insurrection, if necessary. Con concludes that when defining the qualities of a heroic public figure, the American Founding Fathers represent one excellent benchmark. Since it can be shown that Nelson Mandela shares many of the same achievements as those great men, and in some respects surpasses them, then it can fairly said Nelson Mandela, more than any living public figure, may stand beside the Founders in the places where heroes are remembered.