THE MANDELA SAGA

As Nelson Mandela fights for his life it almost seems like his family is fighting to see who can get more attention. Nelson Mandela's grandson accused his brother of fathering a child with his ex wife during an illicit affair. While no one knows if this is true or not, I would venture to say it's not really the time to make claims of that nature. The Mandela family is not just a public family but it's the family of a figure that stands out for landmark achievements. For someone to go ahead and start a family feud during this period is an act of ignorance. I understand that Mandela's grandson is angered but still, is this the right time?

Chances are Mandela will not last much longer and it would be a shame if this is the last thing remembered as one of the world's great leaders fades away. The legacy of Nelson Mandela needs to be respected and not tarnished, let alone by his own family. I hope his grandson tries to put this soap opera aside for the time being and shows his grandfather's legacy the proper respect that it deserves.

MADIBA

Chances are likely that the 94 year old former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela will not survive much longer. It's been reported that he can no longer breathe without assistance and more than likely his family will have to make a decision. Mandela is in critical condition even though he shows some signs of improvement.

I think it's admirable that Mandela is still showing a warrior spirit at his age and in a twilight period of his life. Mandela served 27 years in prison for fighting oppression from a minority rule. Mandela, a successful attorney, could have walked away and done something else but chose not to. Nelson Mandela is the kind of person that you may not agree with often, but you must respect him.

There will likely never be another individual that's willing to give up as much in his life and still fight on. Nelson Mandela is proving, even today, why he was designed to be great. If racism has taken a back seat and the ridiculous idea of separation is no longer a nasty reality we have to deal with, we owe it in part to him. Mandela is all but gone, but he merits respect and admiration even from history marks that think they know everything. Go on Madiba, raise your hand one last time and show us what a real winner looks like.