Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts

Monday, December 16, 2013

Memorializing Mandela

Nelson Mandela was a _________________________ man. What goes in the blank depends on who you ask. After hearing him memorialized on mainstream media, one would think he was a perfect human being…a spotless saint. But anyone with an iota of intelligence knows that’s not true; it wouldn’t be true for anyone.

The world is being done an injustice greater than apartheid by not divulging the ENTIRE truth about Mandela. Withholding the complete truth only creates or perpetuates mindsets that are counterproductive to freedom. Teach TRUE history and give people the FREEDOM to draw their own conclusions instead of force feeding one sided point of views. One should always be cautious of one-sided tales. The problem these days is that most people simply accept what is fed to them by mainstream media. I guess it’s just too much of a burden to seek out information on your own. However, I need truth, because truth is indeed powerful enough to set you free.

It doesn’t take much research to realize that the man some call the “Father of a Nation” quite far from sainthood. Since the mainstream media has done nothing but shine Mandela’s halo, I will be the bad guy and point out some facts about Mandela that you many or may not have heard. It is always up to the individual to form their own opinions… it’s just that I believe opinions should be formed based upon facts and complete details.

MOST believe that Mandela was arrested SOLELY because of his fight against apartheid and for his Communist political beliefs. This is simply not true. He was actually a terrorist. In fact, the evidence of his terrorism wasn’t so strong; Amnesty International wouldn’t even consider him a political prisoner.

Mandela was arrested and charged with 193 acts of terrorism between 1961 and 1963. He was caught trying to smuggle, prepare, or manufacture Soviet made munitions that included over 200,000 hand-grenades, 48,000 anti-personnel mines, 144 tons of ammonium- nitrate, 21.6 tons of aluminum powder, and 1,500 timing devices. In other words, he was planning to do a LOT of damage.

Perhaps he later became a non-violent man, but the munitions he was found with certainly refute that he was a peace loving man his whole life. Mandela was in prison for 27 years, and each year he was offered his freedom if he would only denounce violence and the terrorism being carried out by the ANC (African National Congress)…. but he would not.

Let us not forget that during his trial, Mandela ADMITTED to his dirty deeds. He plead guilty to 156 of the counts against him. He was the ruler and co-founder of the African National Congress (ANC), more specifically, Umkhonto we Sizwe which was the armed wing of the ANC (means "Spear of the Nation"). While there is no evidence that Mandela ever personally murdered anyone, the ANC, under Mandela’s orders was responsible for killing thousands of people. A series of bombs were set off in Johannesburg and surrounding areas by the ANC, killing and/or injuring hundreds of people…. many were women and children.

Mandela was also charged with sabotage and trying to over throw the government. He was on a quest for power, which is typical of a Communist. Communism has never worked anywhere it has been tried. Study the current plight of blacks in South Africa or the people of any nation that is under Communist rule and tell me if they are truly free? Under Communism, Citizens are virtually slaves because the government owns everything and creates all the rules that one must live by. Was Mandela really fighting for the freedom of his people, or simply for a different type of rule over his people; a rule where HE had the power? He did eventually get that power when he became the first black president in South Africa from 1994-1999.

In an attempt to ensure that the ANC became THE political party, it is reported that the military wing (Umkhonto we Sizwe) set out to remove those in opposition of the ANC, specifically those of the Zulu Inkatha party, which was one of the two largest “black” parties; Xhosa (Mandela’s party, ruled by the ANC) was the other. It is estimated that roughly 50,000 Zulus’ were killed by the ANC. The violence against the Zulu’s started in 1944 and lasted over a two year span leading to elections. Mandela was ordering these attacks.

Maybe prison changed Mandela’s violent nature. He did divorce his wife Winnie due to here demonic punishments of her adversaries. She is infamous for ‘necklacing”. This is a method of murder where a tire that is filled with gasoline, placed around a person and then ignited. I found no evidence of Mandela participating in these acts and they were carried out during the time he was already in prison.

There is MUCH history to be learned about Mandela and Apartheid and the massive amounts of information can never be captured completely in a blog. There was exponential violence by both Mandela’s party and the White majority government. The South African government was by no means innocent. Both Mandela and those in charge of the National Party (established “White” government) have blood on their hands.

I set out to understand a bit more of South Africa’s history and the role Mandela played. But, most importantly, I was able to reiterate my belief that as long as there are those desiring to stick their big, fat, black, white or any shade in between NOSES into the lives of others, and in the process of that intrusion, begin to take away what God gave to each of us…..which is freedom….. the blood baths, violence, hatred and power struggles like the one that took place in South Africa will never be done … they will only become more brutal. The next one will be bloodier than the last one and given the massive intrusions by our own government as it grows more communist each day, that next battle just might go down right here in the good old US of A.

Let me clearly state that the notion of apartheid is nauseating. Had I been born a South African, I would have fought for my freedom legally and violently if necessary. Had I been around during the time of Nat Turner, you can bet your last dollar that I would have ridden with him. However, Mandela’s lust seemed to be more for power than for the freedom of a nation or “his people”. Liberation is not in gaining freedom for one race while enslaving, demonizing or “getting even” with another.

If only Mandela had fought to allow people to be free to live their lives without government intrusion; to rise and fall on their own volition, or lack thereof, and to be responsible for their actions, blacks in South Africa would most likely have faired much better than they have to date. That’s what he should have fought for…true freedom, for blacks and whites alike, but he did not.

The quest for power, especially under a Communist regime is like a vampire’s bite… it can “ turn” a man from a well meaning do-gooder, into a power hungry, insatiable monster. This is one of the reasons why I don’t idolize man. Man will ALWAYS falter…some worse than others. God created me free…. only man stands in the way of that, so I am very cautious of man.

Mandela was merely a man. He did a lot of harm. I can’t discount or marginalize the killing of innocent people. He was no saint, so I will never treat him like one. He is a manufactured, flawless hero created by communist/liberal ideologues and he actually did some good. He helped make apartheid in his country a national debate. But for me, the bad deeds are so severe that they negate anything that others might consider good or great.

You’ve already heard the wonderful side of this man, now you’ve heard about his dark side, so fill in the blank.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Why Black History Month is an Insult.

 

“African American” History month is an extension of Negro History Week, which was founded by Carter G. Woodson. The first celebration of Negro History Week was in February of 1926. The month of February was chosen so that the celebration would coincide with the birthdates of Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglas.

Carter G. Woodson was born in Virginia, in 1875, to former slaves. He grew up to become a Harvard trained historian who believed that he could only escape poverty through education. He also believed that un-denied truth would prevail over prejudice, so he set out to establish a way to disseminate the historical contributions of “African Americans”. Through his determination, along with the determination of Minister Jesse E. Moorland, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) was established. It was this association that sponsored the first Negro History Week in 1926. Today, this association is known as the Association for the study of “African-American” Life and History.

In 1976, the celebration of Negro History week, expanded into “African American” History Month, coinciding with the nation’s bicentennial. Starting with Gerald Ford, every American President since 1976 has officially designated the month of February as “African American” History Month. The United Kingdom and Canada have also designated a month to celebrate this history.

I applaud Carter G. Woodson’s efforts to make sure that the more than substantial contributions made by Black Americans would not be lost. However, by this time, the contributions made by Blacks, from Crispus Attucks to Dr. Ben Carson, should be taught in mainstream education, and be a part of the normal American history curriculum. If this history is not being taught as part of the main curriculum... why not?  If it is being done (I don’t believe that it is), why do we need a month dedicated to Blacks?

To separate Blacks from AMERICAN history is a major insult in my eyes. Those Blacks WERE Americans who deserve the same recognition of any other American making history. For many Blacks, they were not even considered human, so separating them at this point in history books is not only an insult, it’s unforgivable. It’s a form of segregation. Out ancestors, of All hues, worked to mold this country into the greatest nation on the planet, so, why are we still carving out a month of each year for some? It’s an insult as it suggests that Blacks in history are only a footnote.

I’m not looking for special consideration of Blacks…. that’s what Black History month is.  I’m suggesting that someone like Captain Robert Smalls should be discussed when discussing the Civil War… he certainly earned his spot in the history books. Come on! It’s 2012! Blacks who are happy with anything less than equality in the history books have fallen to the soft bigotry of lowered expectations.

Perhaps the first step towards integrating all Americans in history books is for Blacks and other minorities to stop hyphenating. Stop referring to yourself as ________-Americans. We’re all Americans.  Our ancestors sacrificed a lot for us to be here, so embrace it.

Mr. Woodson was correct when he said “un-denied truth would prevail over prejudice”. It is the opinion of some that truth has been denied; seemingly on purpose. It seems impossible that this copious and rich history has been evaded by accident. Perhaps some are afraid that true history shows Blacks as strong, Christian, fighters, achievers, business owners, military personnel, authors, doctors, lawyers, slave owners, slave traders, and politicians (amongst other things). I guess it would be hard to promote a mentality of victimhood once you know the stock from which you came… and truth!

I believe that if our children were taught that Whites were the first slaves in this country; that the first slave ship was rejected; that slavery was initially determined by religious and class status, not skin color; that Antonio the Negro was the first documented, outright slave owner; that Blacks were more than slaves; that the Republican party was formed to end slavery and that the Democrat party started the KKK to harass Republicans… we would begin to heal as a nation in ways you could not imagine. That prejudice that exudes from many Americans, of every shade these days, would be a rare occurrence. Truth must have it‘s day if we hope to unite as a nation. 

Our history is well rounded. There is a lot of beauty mixed in with the ugly, but to this day, too much focus is given to the ugly parts of our history. Until unadulterated, true history is taught, we will retain the negative impact of racial divide and prejudice in our society, because even if you can teach history in a day, a week, a month or for years… when it’s revised, hidden or stolen… what good is it?


I challenge Black parents to ask your  children who Crispus Attucks, Captain Robert Smalls, Phyllis Wheatley, Elizabeth Keckly, Rev. Jonas Clark, James Armistead Lafayette, Benjamin Banneker,  John Rock or Antonio the Negro was. If they don’t know, not only has the school system and society failed, so have you because the responsibility of educating starts and ends in the home.