I noted this in another thread instead of starting one since another thread on Mandela existed. But it got closed, probably because it was in the middle of a derail.
But BBC TV is reporting that Nelson Mandela, who has been in the hospital for a couple of weeks now, has taken a critical turn for the worse in the past 24 hours and is sinking fast. Story here.
Yes; his health is getting headline treatment. The fact that we are monitoring his health so closely speaks to the regard in which he is held. A man of history.
Ugh, this made me feel physically ill to read. I know his health’s been teetering and that 94 year old men don’t typically have a lot more time left, but I still don’t want it to happen. 
I second MeanOldLady’s sentiments.
He is/was an admirable politician - and it seems that there are so few of those these days.
It’s sad, but dude is 94 and didn’t have the easiest of lives for a time there. He’s had a good run, I think. We’ll have a time of national mourning and that will be that.
Will also be good not to read any more idiotic stories about how the country’s going to implode on itself after he goes.
It’s sad, of course, but if it does turn out that this is the final curtain, no one can say that he hasn’t had a good run, or that he hasn’t accomplished great things.
Or that he won’t be remembered with a great deal of love.
If there ever was a candidate for cryogenics and cloning…
But yeah, great life, I wonder what his death will mean the interracial tension in South Africa.
I see a parallel in Czechoslowakia after the death of Vaclav Havel in 2012.. There, things remained quiet after his death. The Velvet Revolution there was a permanent change, and while Havel played a vital and symbolic role, he symbolized the movement, not embodied it. And after his death the movement kept him as a symbol, and carried on as before.
Me neither, but he’s had a full life if anyone has.
While I agree he’s an important historical figure, I think the reason we are paying attention is because he’s worth 6 points.
d+r.
Well…there were some years there that I’m sure didn’t feel very full. He sure did handle it with superhuman strength and grace, though.
Strange. Nothing about this on BBC yet, and they’ve been all over the story like flies on honey. If it’s true, should be announced soon.
They are saying he is still alive.
Any word on Generalissimo Franco?
Didn’t he die several decades ago?
I’m wondering if he’s still dead. Last I’d heard, he was in critical condition after his funeral. It sounded pretty grim.
One of the headlines on the BBC’s web site today said “Nelson Mandela much better today”.
I hope I’m not the only one who can’t read that without hearing Monty Python…
Yes, but his death was accompanied with similar degrees of scrutiny, anxiety, and speculation. It’s a joke about the drama around the death of long-running leaders.