Political deaths

Last year, two political leaders died. Both had been the subject of films of their life. Both were strong characters, evoking strong reactions. Both did things that earned them criticism. Both had an international role. I am talking about Margaret Thatcher and Nelson Mandela of course.

The responses to their deaths were markedly different though. In truth, the outpouring of hatred against Mrs Thatcher was something I struggled with, but understood - I am a child of her time, and she is the one who turned me into a political person, because I saw the damage that she did. She made a difference to the country - and the world - by being firm and uncompromising.

And being wrong.

I am not going to go into the ways that she was wrong, but the present economic situation is one result of her type of argument. Her ideas only work if a) we have constant growth and b) wealth trickles down to everyone. Both are mistaken, and dangerously so. In the short term, it works, but it is unsustainable.


Mandela was not someone looking for a short-term quick fix. 30 years as a political prisoner is probably a good training for not wanting quick fixes. If the state had wanted a quick fix, it would have executed them all, rather than imprisoning them. Mandela wanted a real fix, a long-term solution to black rule in South Africa.

As has been pointed out, the problems of South Africa have not all been solved. His work has not finished, but then he knew that it wouldn't be. He had a view on life that was not just about what he would achieve in his time as president; not even what he would achieve in his lifetime. It was about what his long-term legacy would be.

So it is wrong to judge him on the basis of what he has already achieved, because he has simply started a process that has produced substantial benefits to many millions of South Africans, and will be seen, in time, as the turning point for that nation. The time when peace became a possibility.


Very few of us will ever have a hundredth of the influence that either of these people have had, and continue to have. But if we can take something from Mandela, and be prepared to look at the long term, beyond us and beyond out time, then we might find that our influence is greater and more substantial than we know. Forgoing the immediate gains for long term reward is a part of Christian teaching, traditionally. I think that forgoing immediate gains for other peoples longer term benefit is an even better approach. And even harder.