tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post5661457383827116277..comments2023-12-30T17:31:11.883+00:00Comments on The Solitary Walker: Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)The Solitary Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11284354541952038339noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-90309849783519655352013-12-16T19:49:33.160+00:002013-12-16T19:49:33.160+00:00And thanks to you all for your comments… Sorry I h...And thanks to you all for your comments… Sorry I have not replied individually.The Solitary Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11284354541952038339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-72483502078170890552013-12-16T19:48:28.609+00:002013-12-16T19:48:28.609+00:00Thanks so much for your long, interesting and quit...Thanks so much for your long, interesting and quite wonderful comment, Cris M!<br /><br />We have a friend who went through the same horrors in Chile under Pinochet.<br /><br />Hugs to you too...The Solitary Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11284354541952038339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-61488464827400655922013-12-13T00:48:14.669+00:002013-12-13T00:48:14.669+00:00Mandela has been always in the list of my "mo...Mandela has been always in the list of my "models to follow".<br /> I was born in the 70ies, in the era of the military government in Argentina... dictatorial governments, missing persons in the militaries hands, even babies born in prision taken by the captors are my generation. Probably that is why I have been always interested in those men and women that were able to make a change in such a difficult context, to stand over the differences, to teach the practise of forgiveness and education as the tools for reconciliation.<br /><br />Odd enough, while walking the Camino, I met a pilgrim from South Africa, who immediately became one of kindest Camino teachers, he lived in the Apartheid era... and Mandela was present in many of our conversations!<br /><br />Thank you for your tribute!<br />Hugs,<br />Cris M<br /><br />PS: It is always interesting to read your posts and your friends' comments. I am learning a lot from this exchange. Thank you all!<br />Cris Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08444507758618168982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-2132873473337215632013-12-12T02:39:04.466+00:002013-12-12T02:39:04.466+00:00Thank you for this moving post. Thank you for this moving post. amhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212213177713917828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-58302022700670025942013-12-10T20:40:08.763+00:002013-12-10T20:40:08.763+00:00What incredible words Heaney quoted from Nelson Ma...What incredible words Heaney quoted from Nelson Mandela's book(which I have not yet read). The poem too. I did not know this was Mandela's favourite poem. Thank you for this post today. Such a beautiful and thoughtful tribute. xjanhttp://www.opportunitywithdanger.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-52193058426558738752013-12-10T13:51:46.967+00:002013-12-10T13:51:46.967+00:00President Obama read those last two lines from Inv...President Obama read those last two lines from Invictus in his tribute to Nelson Mandela today. I never knew where they came from so thank you for including the whole poem in your blog.<br /><br />You cite authors who have helped open our eyes, like Solzhenitsyn. For me,one of those authors was Alan Paton, who wrote Cry the Beloved Country. From the moment I read that book as a young girl in Philadelphia, my heart was open to the struggles in South Africa, which as I understand it,have yet to be totally resolved. May Mandiba's presence fro on high continue to open our eyes!Jake of Floridahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14460837412289201219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-47947378227753532102013-12-10T10:45:19.480+00:002013-12-10T10:45:19.480+00:00I had not read this statement of Heaney's. His...I had not read this statement of Heaney's. His life in Northern Ireland and poetic (and more, I think) attentions to the troubles there add a beautiful layer to your tribute of Mandela.<br /><br />Henley's poem never fails to give me chills. The last lines of Heaney's speech, quoting Mandela from his autobiography, and the last lines of Henley's poem, ring out that irrefutable mission that reconciliation is possible, that <i>the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed.</i> It is this that sets Mandela apart, I think. <br /><br />Thank you for sharing these two pieces together.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204074161539605133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-52876579208530552402013-12-10T02:21:50.150+00:002013-12-10T02:21:50.150+00:00Did you see the 2009 movie “Invictus” with Morgan...Did you see the 2009 movie “Invictus” with Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon about a rugby game to re-unite the black and white players, and the country? After the movie I copied the poem. <br />I also wrote something about Mandela on my blog today, but only as connected to music. Now that he is gone, they keep placing praise on him here in the US, but I remember when he became president of South Africa, the Republicans detested him – and the US Government considered him a terrorist until 2008 (he was on the list.) Dick Cheney still believes he was right when he voted against releasing him from jail. In this country, anyone who desires social justice for all – is suspect ….Vagabondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774109692564954568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-7088272074295041532013-12-09T20:30:44.726+00:002013-12-09T20:30:44.726+00:00Henley's poem was first read by me in high sch...Henley's poem was first read by me in high school, but it resonates far more deeply when I consider it through the lens of Nelson Mandela's experience. One of the great men of our time, and, for that matter, all time.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03959953035812596907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-5763146917443124952013-12-09T19:14:40.737+00:002013-12-09T19:14:40.737+00:00Very much like the idea of 'specific moral gra...Very much like the idea of 'specific moral gravity' being likened to a 'gold reserve'. Mandela has reminded us of ideals that can be made actual, practiced, lived.dritanjehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16025213970107184429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-7367790198940824312013-12-09T19:13:25.452+00:002013-12-09T19:13:25.452+00:00I always wondered where those last two lines came ...I always wondered where those last two lines came from Robert. As Dom and Gwil say - inspiring, like the man.The Weaver of Grasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-72859602954381147802013-12-09T17:54:27.484+00:002013-12-09T17:54:27.484+00:00One of my favorite poems too especially bearing in...One of my favorite poems too especially bearing in mind the hardships endured by the one who wrote it. Gwil Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03305768121713053837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8319797996494487653.post-80099997495800674772013-12-09T16:46:32.643+00:002013-12-09T16:46:32.643+00:00A terrific poem, that. It's instantly become a...A terrific poem, that. It's instantly become a favourite with me. I'm surprised it's not better known. It should be up there with all that Kipling stuff. I suppose it's Promethean tone has kept it out of 'improving' anthologies.Dominic Rivronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02618013365521035400noreply@blogger.com