Thursday, December 5, 2013

ITP V.013 ONLY ONE PER COFFIN: R.I.P. NELSON MANDELA

   "Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost its father."-SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA                                                                                                                                                       Former SOUTH AFRICAN president NELSON MANDELA has passed at 95. MANDELA spent 27 years incarcerated as a political prisoner opposing apartheid (racial segregation, separate but unequal)  as the government re-located Black Africans to Bantustans, and only whites could vote.
In 1962, NELSON MANDELA was convicted of sabotage, conspiracy and sentenced to life in prison.





An international campaign lobbied by human rights groups  (AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL), as MANDELA was an associate and president of the ANC (AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS), helped FREE MANDELA in 1990.

Within a new autobiography, a freed NELSON MANDELA negotiated with South African president F.W. DE KLERK to abolish apartheid. Within an ANC victory, in 1994 NELSON MANDELA became president of South Africa, promoting a new constitution.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela
http://billmoyers.com/2013/12/05/nelson-mandela-on-non-violence/

SUN CITY (1985- BEFORE THE END OF APARTHEID:)
"Boputhuswana is far away
But we know it's in South Africa no matter what they say
You can't buy me I don't care what you pay
Don't ask me Sun City because I ain't gonna play"


SUN CITY: ARTISTS UNITED AGAINST APARTHEID (1985) featured diverse artists pledging to boycott artist buy outs of SOUTH AFRICA, opposing apartheid.
RUN DMC, BONO (U2), BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, JOEY RAMONE, GILL SCOTT HERON, STEVEN VAN ZANT, RINGO AND ZACH STARKEY, KEITH RICHARDS, PETER GARRETT, PETER GABRIEL, BOB DYLAN, LOU REED and many other artists.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artists_United_Against_Apartheid

ITP V.013 EDITORS NOTE: Back in the 80's, when I was just a teen, I signed a petition to free NELSON MANDELA and end apartheid via AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL.  Considering America's "constructive engagement" an economic dependency on Apartheid (diamonds and other export resources),  and the irony that Apartheid mimicked  the U.S.A.'s  history of slavery, forced relocation of Native Americans, segregation and Jim Crow laws. We figured, we'll say something about apartheid as many recording artists boycotted resorts such as SUN CITY, (and called for economic sanctions) whom offered big name artists millions to play in front of an all white, segregated audience.
R.I.P. brother MANDELA, and THANK YOU

One of the few people i would have loved to have met, and give him a hug. I heard late last night MANDELA was very sick, and not long for this world. Thank you NELSON MANDELA for standing up against apartheid. NELSON MANDELA was jailed for being a member of the ANC and protesting apartheid for over 27 years. In the 80's (when I was a teen) I and many others protested apartheid with cultural boycotts and calls for economic divestment of SUN CITY (via the release with Steven Van Zant ext.). Released from jail in the early 90's, Mandela became president of SOUTH AFRICA. Now you can play South Africa as apartheid is over 20 years abolished.  METALLICA just did this year and LAMB OF GOD will in 2014. R.I.P. Thank you. NELSON MANDELA, (and STEVEN BIKO) you are inspiration.
NELSON MANDELA lived long enough to witness those social changes he worked and sacrificed so mutch for. That indeed is why MANDELA lived to an ancient 95. Live long enough to see positive social change and the fruits of your labor, it feels awesome, for generations to come. "It Get's Better".

FROM HRC (HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION):
HRC Community Mourns the Passing of Nelson Mandela

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/hrc-mourns-the-passing-of-nelson-mandela

"People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." -Nelson Mandela, Former President of South Africa 

‪#‎LoveConquersHate‬


FROM AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL:With the sad news of former South African President Nelson Mandela's passing, the world has lost an inspirational man, strong activist and voice for human rights.
Let us celebrate his life and legacy.Take a few minutes to watch this video and reflect on the life of a human rights champion.
As a world leader who refused to accept injustice, Nelson Mandela’s courage helped change our entire world. Mandela's commitment to human rights was epitomized by his unswerving resolve to stamp out racial inequality during apartheid, followed by his vital work in combatting HIV/AIDS in South Africa. His legacy across Africa, and the world, will stand for generations.

Let us celebrate his life and legacy today. FROM ACTOR IDRIS EBA (MANDELA LONG WALK TO FREEDOM):
Actor Idris Elba on Nelson Mandela’s passing:

“What an honor it was to step into the shoes of Nelson Mandela and portray a man who defied odds, broke down barriers, and championed human rights before the eyes of the world. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”


FROM THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY:
The Weinstein Company Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein on Nelson Mandela’s passing:

“One of the privileges of making movies is having the opportunity to immortalize those who have made a profound impact on humanity. We count ourselves unspeakably fortunate to have been immersed in Nelson Mandela’s story and legacy. It’s been an honor to have been granted such proximity to a man who will go down as one of history’s greatest freedom fighters and advocates for justice. I have had the privilege of spending time with President Mandela and I can say his sense of humor was as great as his optimism. We are deeply saddened by his loss; our hearts go out to his family and the entire South African nation.”



FROM FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE: 
Rest in peace Nelson Mandela. Africa will be forever in our heart.


FROM MACHINE HEAD: 
RIP Nelson Mandela

A true inspiration to Machine Head.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/05/world/africa/nelson-mandela/index.html


FROM RANDY BLYTHE (LAMB OF GOD): 
Today Nelson Mandela died, and many people will take to social media to say RIP Mandela & post a picture of the great man, free & smiling after 27 years in prison for allegedly conspiring to commit sabotage and conspiracy against the South African apartheid government in 1962- he was one of the finest humans of our time. I grew up hearing of this man imprisoned in South Africa, & I like millions world wide, was overjoyed when he finally was released in 1990. He came out of prison and within four years was South Africa's first black president, having spearheaded the political movement that peacefully ended the racist apartheid government. He did great things for his people after he was free, there is no doubt. But this picture is a far more telling testament to what kind of man Mandela was than any modern photo. Here he is defiantly raising his fists with other men on the way to prison- he had JUST been given a life sentence. Mandela knew what would happen with his trial, & instead of focusing all his energy on keeping himself free, he disrupted the trial by wearing traditional garb, refused to call any witnesses to his defense & turned the trial into an arena for political speech to show the world what was happening in South Africa. He sacrificed his own freedom so that his people could one day be equals in their own native country, because he knew something had to change, & if he had to go to prison for LIFE to speed that change, so be it. He was a living example of DOING THE RIGHT THING, NO MATTER WHAT THE COST. THAT is a REAL MAN. In fact, one of his most famous quotes about prison was this: "If I had my time over, I would do the same again. So would any man who dares call himself a man." So rest in peace, Nelson Mandela. I can only hope others will take a page from your book. Your 27 years of hard time are a blessing to us all.


FROM PUBLIC ENEMY: 
Rest In Power to the great Nelson Mandela

FROM OTEP: 
Though I never met the man and was never directly affected by his struggle and triumph, I am profoundly sad at the loss of Nelson Mandela. He lived a long, inspiring life but I sense that we may not see anyone like him again for a long time and for that reason, among many, I lament for our planet.  OTEP

FROM GEORGE TAKEI: 
Today the world has lost one of its greats, a man whose message and impact was as great as his wisdom and spirit.

FROM LEONARD PELTIER: 
Official Statement on the passing of Nelson Mandela 
By Leonard Peltier Dec 5, 2013 6:30 p.m.

Greeting my relatives, friends, and supporters:

It saddens me to hear that a great man like Nelson Mandela has departed from this lifetime. He was a man who was truly inspirational and showed us the possibilities of how a continued struggle by indigenous people could manifest itself in levels of freedom that have been marred by centuries of oppression.

Our Native people suffered the same types of oppression many times. It is not as overt and as easily distinguished as in some places; however, if you are dead because a policeman shot you, or dead because you could not stand the racial and cultural genocide, so you committed suicide-- you are just as dead either away. Nelson Mandela is known for leading the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. America talked about ending apartheid and put sanctions on South Africa. Not being all that adept at the English language, it is my understanding that (apartheid) means to keep someone apart from something; my people have been kept apart purposely from the sacred Black Hills of South Dakota. There was, and still are, measures that keep us apart from our true history, perpetrated by an education system that limits the truth of our being. Right now, here in America, right now in Canada, right now in South America, there is apartheid that seeks to separate us from our sacred places, our lands, and our resources. Right now in Canada Native people are struggling to protect their aboriginal lands from fracking which destroys the water tables and disturbs the natural balance of the Earth. Right now with an apartheid mentality, they seek to build pipelines across Native lands that have the potential of great ecological destruction. Right now there is an apartheid that seeks to separate us from the protection of the constitution of the United States which says treaty law is the supreme law of the land; which also says you have a right to an unbiased fair trial; which also says you have a right to a jury of your peers. Right now our young Native people are tried as adults THREE times more than other groups and kept apartheid from their families and kept apartheid from competent legal representation.

I could go on and on, but you can see where I am heading with this. The struggle from apartheid, I am sure, is not over in South Africa, nor is the struggle against apartheid and slavery over in America. We must all consider Nelson Mandela an inspiration, but I am also inspired by the least of our people who stand up for what is right, like the young man or young woman who peacefully mans a roadblock against developers or fracking companies or some factory that hurts our air. While I am at it, in all this chaos, I also want to remember a brother by the name of Wanbli Tate who tirelessly championed the rights of indigenous people through radio programs, writings, and the internet, to bring attention to the wrongdoers represented in government and corporations. 
We have lost a lot of our people in their last years, and again I remember my brother Russell Means who was also tireless in his efforts in trying to bring about an end to this American version of apartheid that faces Native people.
In the spirit of all those who have gone before us in this struggle, I would like to say stay strong and NEVER, NEVER give up.

Your friend always,
In the spirit of Crazy Horse,

Leonard Peltier
Mitakuye Oyasin


FROM THE HOLLY WOOD PALLADIUM: 
Rest in Peace Nelson Mandela. You will not be forgotten. 

FROM MAXIMUM ROCK AND ROLL: 
RIP

More later..

FROM MICHAEL MOORE: 
If you read just one thing about Nelson Mandela today, make it his historic speech at the opening of his 1964 trial for "sabotage":

FROM THE ONION: 

Nelson Mandela Becomes First Politician To Be Missed


FROM LAST REAL INDIANS: 
RIPower Nelson Mandela

VIDEO BELOW: NBC NEW YORK: 


Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-