President Mandela

I join in that mourning as well as the celebration of a life so committed to the long walk to freedom

and so devoid of bitterness after twenty-seven years as a political prisoner. It is important to

remember that the U.S. was the last country to take President Mandela off the “terrorist list”

in 2008, eighteen years after his release from prison.  In my opinion, this country has NO IDEA

how racist we are and how “white privilege” along with white money still rules in the U.S. just like

in apartheid South Africa.  We are all masters of denial and self-deceit. No wonder we support

the Israeli government’s racism and continued violations of international law.  No wonder we

continue to practice “targeted assassination” so often inflicting tragedy upon innocent civilians

with our increasing use of drone attacks.  We praise President Mandela with words but our

actions speak a louder and clearer story of violence and racism.  I pray that our country will

make decisions based on our hopes for justice rather than upon our fears of “terrorism” and

the loss of white power and white money.