Jack’s Winning Words 12/6/13
“We must realize that the time is always ripe to do the right.”  (Nelson Mandela)  It was said of Mandela when his death was announced yesterday…”He was influential, courageous and profoundly good.”  He was South Africa’s MLK Jr.  His birth name, translated, means, “troublemaker.”  The “trouble” Mandela caused won for him the Nobel Peace Prize.  His biography is truly amazing.  I liked his smile, too.    ;-)  Jack

 FROM CL IN MICHIGAN:  Truly one of the giants of our time!!!!!!!====JACK:  I like one of his quotes..."I'm not a messiah.  I'm just an ordinary man."

 FROM ANONYMOUS:  I heard one man on the "News Hour" PBS say last night that Mandela always had profound "respect for the law." What's so impressive about him and MLK is how these two gentlemen seemed to be able to do what was right and most beneficial to the community, in the face of laws that were not fair and needed to be changed. Truly, a man to be inspired and encouraged by!!!!!!!!

 FROM CP IN WISCONSIN:  I am watching all the news about Nelson Mandela.  What wonderful tributes!====JACK:  "Tribute" is an interesting word, originally meaning, "to pay."  Now, I see where the word, "contribute" comes from.  Many news stories are paying homage to Mandela.  Homage is another interesting word.

FROM HONEST JOHN:  Isn't it interesting how people like that are hated so much while they live?  It seems so difficult to accept goodness in our midst.====JACK:  I once had a funeral for an older lady.  I did not know her and, so, relied on what her son told me.  After the funeral, the son's wife said that her mother-in-law was the opposite of how I had described her.  Whose view was the right one?  I'll go with the son's.  Mandela's words and actions speak for themselves.

 FROM RI IN BOSTON:  Did you put that second "the" in the quote to see if anyone would catch it? ====JACK:  Far be it for me to words into Nelson's mouth, but you're right, the second "the" is mine.  It probably goes back to an English writing class.  Something is implied. like..."the time is always right to do the right (thing)." You have an eagle's eye.

 FROM TARMART REV: He definitely made a name and difference in his world while living!====JACK:  Sometimes in death (with the passage of time) people become "larger" than in life.

 FROM HY YO SILVER:  May God bless this righteous soul in Heaven and protect and grow his achievements on Earth.====JACK:  Would that the same could be said about each of us.

 ====RI:  And far be it for me to question your usually astute writing.  Have you seen the eye teaser that's a triangle with Paris In The The Spring printed in the triangular space?  Typically people don't read that extra "the".  Your quote reminded me of that.  Regarding Mandela, the real focus of today's WW, he was a global role model.====JACK:  I was one of the strange ones who liked English writing classes.  I was also interested in diagramming sentences.

 FROM BBC IN ILLINOIS:  Loved his character and his words.  He will be missed, but remain a light in the darkness for all of the lives he touched.====JACK:  No one has yet commented on his birth name, which I thought really interesting.  It used to be that people named children with descriptive names.

 FROM MY LAWYER:  After 27 years of tough incarceration, it is amazing that he was able to turn the other cheek.  His ability to place his punishment behind him and move forward is one of the great marvels of my lifetime.  And, his smile was infectious.====JACK:  One of my favorite parts in the New Testament is where St. Paul gives some advice to the Christians in Rome.  " Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."  I would like to think that Mandela was following that advice.  In the Old Testament there's this passage..."Vengeance is mine, says, the Lord.  I will repay."  . Deuteronomy 32:35   God has ways of working out his will.  27 years would give you ample time to study the Bible and to ponder your relationship to God.

 FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  Yes, and it was amazing that he invited some of his guards to his inauguration and that he emphasized that resentment is no excuse for holding a grudge.  He and DeClerq  together both received the Nobel Peace Prize.====JACK:  I hadn't heard that about the guards.  I've heard that when people are in captivity for a long period of time, they often become close friends with some who are guarding them.

 FROM PH IN MINNESOTA:  try to see the new movie,  A Long Walk to Freedom...  i believe it was premiering in a theater at the exact time of his death...