MY DEAR MADIBA...

In case you are not aware of that word, it's the tribal birth name of the man we now know as Mr. Nelson Mandela.  He is a victim of birth, a victim of skin color, a victim of an apartheid government that put him through hell for 30 years for no damned good reason.  And he is now revered as the Father of his country.  He was the first truly generally elected President of a newly free South Africa.  And we are now in the process of losing him to time.

He did nothing more than speak out about the inequalities that the vast majority of his fellow people were being subjected to by a the ruling class.  He was tired of being treated like a 3rd class citizen.  Oh, wait, that's right...  he wasn't even considered to be a citizen.  Yeah, not a single freaking right or privilege.   Of course, he got arrested.  And was given a "trial".  I didn't even know kangaroos had trials.  They put him in a former military prison.  On an island.  Within sight of his homeland.  And for 30 motherfucking years they tried to break him.  And the spirits of everyone like him.  And they failed.  He beat them.  He won!!!

When that nightmare of apartheid finally collapsed he was freed.  And he came back with a vengeance that just makes me salivate.  The world stood up and took notice.  And they applauded.   Mr. President...  Oh, yeah, that had to taste SO good!!!

He came out of 30 years of HELL a kind, gentle, humanitarian with a sense of humor that could melt dry ice.  And a smile.  Oh my stars, what a smile...  And a drive to make his country better.  To make his country a player on the world stage and to raise it up to where it should be..

He won the Noble Peace Prize.  Ain't nothing like that to let you know that you actually have "arrived".  The world embraces and respects him.  Hell, how can you not???   This mans struggles make gay-bashing look like a walk in the park!!!

He is now 94, in failing health and in a hospital on life support.  We are in the process of losing a treasure.  Someone who had the stones to stand up and say "I don't think so!!!".  Someone who stood by those convictions during a conviction of hell-and-high-water and yet still emerged victorious.  With a smile on his face, his hand reached out, a lilt in his step and incredible words of wisdom and guidance.  And the Presidency.

You, my dear sweet man, make me smile...