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Thursday, January 6, 2005

Mandela

Nelson Mandela’s Son Dies of AIDS
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This article provides just one more reason Nelson Mandela is on my short list of most-respected people. Unlike most American politicians, he is a true leader and voice of the people.

The United Nations has estimated that about five million South Africans, including more than one in five adults, have AIDS or have been infected with H.I.V. But families usually attribute deaths from the disease to other causes.

Mr. Mandela challenged that practice on a number of fronts, suggesting that openness is actually the way to greater dignity . If members of the family keep quiet, he said, “Doctors, the nurses and other medical staff in hospital are going to talk about it: ‘Did you know that Mandela’s son or grandson has died of AIDS?’ And it gives a a very bad reflection indeed to the members of the family that they themselves could not come out and say bravely that a member of the family has died of AIDS.”

Posted by Aaron on January 6, 2005 10:46 AM