# Nelson Mandela **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 24, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749 "2013-06-24T01:54:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/1 "2013-06-24T01:54:48Z")
I noted this in [another thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=682070&highlight=Mandela) 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](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-23024836). ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/2 "2013-06-24T13:26:00Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/3 "2013-06-24T13:50:22Z")
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. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/4 "2013-06-24T13:56:41Z")
I second **MeanOldLady** ’s sentiments. He is/was an admirable politician - and it seems that there are so few of those these days. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/5 "2013-06-24T13:58:49Z")
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](http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/fear-of-mayhem-after-mandela-s-death-1.1532927) about how the country’s going to implode on itself after he goes. ---
**Author:** ![Hermione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cdc98d/32.png) [@Hermione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermione)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/6 "2013-06-24T15:57:09Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/7 "2013-06-24T16:20:01Z")
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.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A1clav_Havel). There, things remained quiet after his death. The [Velvet Revolution](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/8 "2013-06-26T22:53:59Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > 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. ☹ Me neither, but he’s had a full life if anyone has. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/9 "2013-06-26T22:56:37Z")
[He’s now on life support at the Mediclinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria.](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57591195/nelson-mandela-on-life-support/) ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/10 "2013-06-26T23:09:19Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/11 "2013-06-27T02:52:19Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Me neither, but he’s had a full life if anyone has. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/12 "2013-06-27T04:28:23Z")
[Nelson Mandela Life Support Shut Down as Respected Humanitarian Dies Age 94](http://guardianlv.com/2013/06/nelson-mandela-life-support-shut-down-as-respected-humanitarian-dies-age-94/) RIP ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/13 "2013-06-27T04:32:49Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/14 "2013-06-27T05:14:21Z")
> **[Minister sorry for 'Mandela's dead' statement](http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/8848847/Minister-sorry-for-Mandelas-dead-statement)** > > Australian minister apologises to South Africa for mistakenly saying Nelson Mandela had died. They are saying he is still alive. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/15 "2013-06-27T06:21:32Z")
Any word on Generalissimo Franco? ---
**Author:** ![Recusant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@Recusant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Recusant)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/16 "2013-06-27T06:53:36Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Any word on Generalissimo Franco? Didn’t he die several decades ago? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/17 "2013-06-27T06:56:11Z")
> [@Recusant](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/18 "2013-06-27T19:53:26Z")
[Condition improved.](http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/06/27/nelson-mandela-south-africa-thursday.html) ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/19 "2013-06-27T20:43:16Z")
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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=dGFXGwHsD_A#t=53s)… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749/20 "2013-06-27T20:53:29Z")
> [@Recusant](#): > > Didn’t he die several decades ago? 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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nelson-mandela/661749.md?page=2)