Steve Hayes
2013-12-09 18:15:04 UTC
What Would You Have Done? Nelson Mandela and American Conservatives
December 6, 2013
Newt Gingrich
Yesterday I issued a heartfelt and personal statement about the passing of
President Nelson Mandela. I said that his family and his country would be in
my prayers and Callista’s prayers.
I was surprised by the hostility and vehemence of some of the people who
reacted to me saying a kind word about a unique historic figure.
So let me say to those conservatives who don’t want to honor Nelson Mandela,
what would you have done?
Mandela was faced with a vicious apartheid regime that eliminated all rights
for blacks and gave them no hope for the future. This was a regime which used
secret police, prisons and military force to crush all efforts at seeking
freedom by blacks.
What would you have done faced with that crushing government?
What would you do here in America if you had that kind of oppression?
Some of the people who are most opposed to oppression from Washington attack
Mandela when he was opposed to oppression in his own country.
After years of preaching non-violence, using the political system, making his
case as a defendant in court, Mandela resorted to violence against a
government that was ruthless and violent in its suppression of free speech.
As Americans we celebrate the farmers at Lexington and Concord who used force
to oppose British tyranny. We praise George Washington for spending eight
years in the field fighting the British Army’s dictatorial assault on our
freedom.
Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty or give me death.”
Thomas Jefferson wrote and the Continental Congress adopted that “all men are
created equal, and they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Doesn’t this apply to Nelson Mandela and his people?
Some conservatives say, ah, but he was a communist.
Actually Mandela was raised in a Methodist school, was a devout Christian,
turned to communism in desperation only after South Africa was taken over by
an extraordinarily racist government determined to eliminate all rights for
blacks.
I would ask of his critics: where were some of these conservatives as allies
against tyranny? Where were the masses of conservatives opposing Apartheid? In
a desperate struggle against an overpowering government, you accept the allies
you have just as Washington was grateful for a French monarchy helping him
defeat the British.
Finally, if you had been imprisoned for 27 years, 18 of them in a cell eight
foot by seven foot, how do you think you would have emerged? Would you have
been angry? Would you have been bitter?
Nelson Mandela emerged from 27 years in prison as an astonishingly wise,
patient, and compassionate person.
He called for reconciliation among the races. He invited his prison guard to
sit in the front row at his inauguration as President. In effect he said to
the entire country, “If I can forgive the man who imprisoned me, surely you
can forgive your neighbors.”
Far from behaving like a communist, President Mandela reassured businesses
that they could invest in South Africa and grow in South Africa. He had
learned that jobs come from job creators.
I was very privileged to be able to meet with President Mandela and present
the Congressional Medal of Freedom. As much as any person in our lifetime he
had earned our respect and our recognition.
Before you criticize him, ask yourself, what would you have done in his
circumstances?
Here is my statement from yesterday on President Nelson Mandela:
President Nelson Mandela was one of the greatest leaders of our lifetime.
He emerged from 27 long years in prison with a wisdom, a compassion, and a
commitment to help other people that was astonishing. His life was a triumph
of the human spirit.
When he visited the Congress I was deeply impressed with the charisma and the
calmness with which he could dominate a room. It was as if the rest of us grew
smaller and he grew stronger and more dominant the longer the meeting
continued.
His thoughtful disciplined but friendly and warm personality made him a leader
who could define the right policies and the right behaviors.
Nelson Mandela was truly the father of an integrated, democratic South Africa.
He will be an inspiration for generations to come and an historic leader worth
studying for as long as people want to learn about greatness in serving
others.
Callista and I extend our condolences and our prayers to the Mandela family
and to the people of South Africa.
https://www.gingrichproductions.com/2013/12/what-would-you-have-done-nelson-mandela-and-american-conservatives/
December 6, 2013
Newt Gingrich
Yesterday I issued a heartfelt and personal statement about the passing of
President Nelson Mandela. I said that his family and his country would be in
my prayers and Callista’s prayers.
I was surprised by the hostility and vehemence of some of the people who
reacted to me saying a kind word about a unique historic figure.
So let me say to those conservatives who don’t want to honor Nelson Mandela,
what would you have done?
Mandela was faced with a vicious apartheid regime that eliminated all rights
for blacks and gave them no hope for the future. This was a regime which used
secret police, prisons and military force to crush all efforts at seeking
freedom by blacks.
What would you have done faced with that crushing government?
What would you do here in America if you had that kind of oppression?
Some of the people who are most opposed to oppression from Washington attack
Mandela when he was opposed to oppression in his own country.
After years of preaching non-violence, using the political system, making his
case as a defendant in court, Mandela resorted to violence against a
government that was ruthless and violent in its suppression of free speech.
As Americans we celebrate the farmers at Lexington and Concord who used force
to oppose British tyranny. We praise George Washington for spending eight
years in the field fighting the British Army’s dictatorial assault on our
freedom.
Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty or give me death.”
Thomas Jefferson wrote and the Continental Congress adopted that “all men are
created equal, and they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Doesn’t this apply to Nelson Mandela and his people?
Some conservatives say, ah, but he was a communist.
Actually Mandela was raised in a Methodist school, was a devout Christian,
turned to communism in desperation only after South Africa was taken over by
an extraordinarily racist government determined to eliminate all rights for
blacks.
I would ask of his critics: where were some of these conservatives as allies
against tyranny? Where were the masses of conservatives opposing Apartheid? In
a desperate struggle against an overpowering government, you accept the allies
you have just as Washington was grateful for a French monarchy helping him
defeat the British.
Finally, if you had been imprisoned for 27 years, 18 of them in a cell eight
foot by seven foot, how do you think you would have emerged? Would you have
been angry? Would you have been bitter?
Nelson Mandela emerged from 27 years in prison as an astonishingly wise,
patient, and compassionate person.
He called for reconciliation among the races. He invited his prison guard to
sit in the front row at his inauguration as President. In effect he said to
the entire country, “If I can forgive the man who imprisoned me, surely you
can forgive your neighbors.”
Far from behaving like a communist, President Mandela reassured businesses
that they could invest in South Africa and grow in South Africa. He had
learned that jobs come from job creators.
I was very privileged to be able to meet with President Mandela and present
the Congressional Medal of Freedom. As much as any person in our lifetime he
had earned our respect and our recognition.
Before you criticize him, ask yourself, what would you have done in his
circumstances?
Here is my statement from yesterday on President Nelson Mandela:
President Nelson Mandela was one of the greatest leaders of our lifetime.
He emerged from 27 long years in prison with a wisdom, a compassion, and a
commitment to help other people that was astonishing. His life was a triumph
of the human spirit.
When he visited the Congress I was deeply impressed with the charisma and the
calmness with which he could dominate a room. It was as if the rest of us grew
smaller and he grew stronger and more dominant the longer the meeting
continued.
His thoughtful disciplined but friendly and warm personality made him a leader
who could define the right policies and the right behaviors.
Nelson Mandela was truly the father of an integrated, democratic South Africa.
He will be an inspiration for generations to come and an historic leader worth
studying for as long as people want to learn about greatness in serving
others.
Callista and I extend our condolences and our prayers to the Mandela family
and to the people of South Africa.
https://www.gingrichproductions.com/2013/12/what-would-you-have-done-nelson-mandela-and-american-conservatives/
--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk