I respect him for saying that the society of the time was wrong and for being political about it. My only disappointment was that when he was President his impact was largely compromised by national debt and international finance. In essence it meant he adopted the same kinds of hideous policies adopted by extremists in America and the UK; thus the so called 'terrorist' as labelled by Thatcher actually become somewat akin to a reflection of the hideous creature who would call him a terrorist; at least in terms of actual policies as President. South Africa today is still a country with blacks much poorer than whites, has serious problems violent crime, and has massive inequalities of wealth. I have a hard time reconciling anyone becoming President and after all the struggle not standing up for what is right. The Western blackmailers kept the old system in as long as possible and then when change had to come, they made sure they kept it in their interests. In that sense Mandela was used a little like a puppet. Probably a very decent man, but politically very vulnerable and manipulated.