Was it only me, or did Nelson Mandela’s appearance on stage in Hyde Park seem somewhat orchestrated?

What concerned me most was the prompting from his female companion who held his arm throughout the process. She guided him onto the stage, and then, in a loud stage-whisper, said “Wave to them, Pappa”. Of course, the crowd went wild,  cheering him like a hero. After he had read his speech which was obviously written for him, his aide again prompted him: “Wave now, Pappa”.

Yes, he is nearly 90. A man of that age certainly does need help to get around. The question I found myself asking,  though, is why he is seen as such a hero, saviour, “Father of a Nation”. I came across this article which asks similar questions about other so-called “heroes”

I also found myself questioning the nature of the Fund Raising effort – Mandela is good at stirring up guilt amongst particularly white -oriented countries. Showing pictures of babies with aids, starving children. Laying the guilt trip. Is that why the concert was held in London, I wonder. It must have raised a good deal of money. A phone number was given out where you could send Mandela a birthday message. It would cost you R20. My question is of course, who is getting that money – the telephone companies? Is it really going to where it is meant to go – Somehow I doubt it. If all the money received from these concerts were really reaching the AIDS patients, I am pretty sure there would be a decrease in the number of people suffering from this disease.  I have a sneaking suspicion though that a large portion of it may  actually be going to Mandela’s  “Aides” – those cronies and sycophants surrounding him.

There was just something strange about the woman accompanying him that night…..