Why A Statue of Nelson Mandela?
A statue of nelson Mandela is to be unveiled in Parliament Square
Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, said that placing the statue in Parliament Square reflected Mr Mandela’s significance as “one of the key political figures of our time”. (The Times)
Why should a statue of Nelson Mandela be put up in Britain at all? He is not a British statesman or even an international one with any real effects on British life. Yes, he was an international and important leader in his time as South African President, but that doesn’t warrant a statue paid for by the taxpayer and erected in Parliament Square.
Mandela seems to be used as a political talisman - MPs named him as their Top Political Idol back in January, and Gordon Brown welcomed him to 10 Downing Street as the “greatest and most courageous leader of our generation”. To invoke the name of Nelson Mandela is almost to make opposition impossible. He is used as the figurehead of the Elders - who have yet to actually do anything since their formation - and seems to be little more than a political shield against any challenge.
How can he really be considered the equal of the other great statesmen whose statue stand in Parliament Square? He achieved some great things, but he was only in office for five years, 1994-1999. I think that the veneration of Mandela has gone too far, and the erection of this statue is an example of it.
UPDATE: Asp also has a good analysis of the same story, and points out that:
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Well, that’s the way it is nowadays TD …this country likes politicians with dodgy wives and exs. At least Cherie didn’t run a football club!
Well said that man.if he had been a Muslim he would have been on top of Nelson’s Column,having removed our Nelson first of course