Not that I want to defend Gingrich, but the guy does have a PhD in History from Tulane which means he's more justified in calling himself a historian than most people.

@ 1, slightly. I believe his actual work in the field of history, which none of his bestsellers from the past 30 or so years counts as, is thin if not simply nonexistent.

Being a member of the Republican party makes Newt a rewriter of history. Like Newt's buddy Karl Rove once said, "That's not the way the world really works anymore." He continued "We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality—judiciously, as you will—we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors ... and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do."

So mean of Mr. Mandela to die just to spite Reagan.

IOKIYAR part MCXVII

Back then there were a good many conservatives who were anti-apartheid, but also anti-sanctions. The reasoning was that economic entanglement with the global businesses would eventually melt away South Africa's peculiar institution.

Thus, while Mandela was one part of the struggle, he and his nationalists, were not the only part. IBM putting branch offices there, and giving jobs with good wages to the Coloured and Bantus was just as.

And in the long run, Mandela became every bit a part of global capitalist symbolism (hands raised high with a Pepsi as Olympic runners go past...etc..etc).

So yes, praise Mandela. But also, praise IBM.

@6: JBITDMFOTP.

@6 I am no expert on the subject, but what I have observed is that global enterprises generally protect human-right violations, so long as the abusers generally leave their employees alone and continue to let them make a nickel or two in the background. If BigWidgetsCo is making a mint in Timbuc-Hell, they are more likely to lobby Washington DC on behalf of the villains, than they are to challenge the abuse.

I know it's not that black and white, but don't try to sell me that any wallstreet-traded corporation is opening (or once opened) offices because it's so humanitarian.

Reagan liked racists. They elected him.

@7 +1

@9 - Well said.

Not sure who said it first but "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. Nary a doubt at one time Nelson Mandela was dubbed a "terrorist" along with the ANC, PLO, IRA, Irgun, the Stern Gang, FALN among many others. Only when an abhorrent system like apartheid becomes politically untenable does a change occur and a "terrorist" become a politician. Non-violent negotiation happens and political prisoners released.

I was living on the continent when Mandela was released from Robben Island. It was an extraordinary event in human history. His election to the Presidency was just as important.
On the other hand, I admire him but don't lionize him. I think it not constructive otherwise:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/07/world/…

May he rest in peace.

Quotes from Newt's dissertation, in comic book form,

http://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2…