Margret Thatcher famously called Mandiba a terrorist. Mandiba was on America's terrorist watch list until 2008. This is a very, very serious point that we must have in mind anytime we hear that someone is a terrorist.
To quote Mandiba, there comes a time when "you must submit or fight". He chose to fight for peace, and short sighted as we were, we labeled him a terrorist. Imagine what the world will be like if Ian Smith had a drone in his arsenal. I don't think it takes too much imagination to see who would have cheered if Mandiba had been killed while the rest of us mourn at the tragedy. Thank God the worse they could do to him was to take 27 years of his life: 27 years that made him a great man; for if there had not been the 27 years, the world would not have seen an example of how to live a bitter-free life.
As I reflect, I can only think of the many who were imprisoned for fighting for peace, including our own Kwame Nkrumah. In the end, they got us to attack our own heroes. They got Mobutu to hand them Lumumba who they slaughtered for fighting for peace. Africa, Africa: we must break free. A pat on the back is all it is; a pat. I must note that President Obama, who I support, has gone to Ireland to tout his ancestral link, but has not gone to or sent any member of his family to Kenya since he became President.
Having been all over, let me bring it home. Today, people are labeled terrorist and before long, a drone drops a bomb on them and I am ashamed that Barack Obama is leading it and we continue to sit aside and say nothing.
Tony Pobee-Mensah
