[Nan]

[color=#000000ost_uid0]Cat, here's some info.

(I may have gotten stuff wrong, this is all off the top of my head, so if you guys can help me out here...)

Nelson Mandela is the hero of the anti-apartheid (and libertarian) group. The apartheid regime was basically a white colonialist regime in South Africa, that figured racism as a governmental policy was a jolly idea. Mandela is a symbol of freedom, and despite being retired from the presidency for many a year now he is still a current figure (I believe Thabo Mbeki is the current leader of SA, but I'm not sure). He's also involved in the AIDS issue, was the first black president of South Africa, etc. Big hero, lots and lots and LOTS of decorations. Like the Nobel Peace Prize. A year or two ago he was given honourary citizenship here, and has had a Canadian school named after him (I think), honourary doctorate, and I THINK the Order of Canada (highest honour here). Loads of stuff like that.

One of the Canadian Alliance (a far-right party) guys called him a terrorist and then refused to see him face to face to sort out the issue. Mandela did use economic sabotage and other, not so pretty methods, but wasn't a warlord.

Here's his BBC biography: ...

The Dalai Lama is the supreme head of...... I believe it's the Mahayana sect of Buddhism. He is, according to Mahayana tenets, the reincarnation of... I can't remember. A Buddha, I think (there are many, sort of). Basically, the spiritual leader of Tibet in exile. He was nearly disappeared by the Chinese government. the Communists were NOT kind to the Tibetans, smashing their temples and generally wrecking their stuff as symbols of the old--and thus soiled, impure, corrupt, inferrior, anti-revolutionary, anti-socialist, etc--regime. Note to future youth: cultural revolution = BAD IDEA. His followers spirited him away through the Himalayas to India. He is not recognized by most governments because of China. More a symbol, really, but he wrote a book or two. A google search should turn up a million or so hits. I've forgotten his actual name.

He's the symbol of hope for the Tibetans (China occupies Tibet and is brutalizing the Tibetans), and a revered figure in many countries. You may have heard of the Free Tibet movement. Actually, a friend of my sister's married a Tibetan (Pema Dolma).

He came to Victoria a few years ago (about an hour's journey sound by car). I was ticked when I only found out much later.

Some info on the Dalai Lama here: ...

Jean Chretien is our current PM, going to retire soon. He's one of the Old Guard Liberals, Pierre Trudeau's close friend. Trudeau is oft described as the sort of "father" of modern Canada, but Chretien did a fair bit of grunt work (as with the FLQ terrorists in the 70s). He's a Francophone from Quebec. Those not in the know, i.e. the people putting out the deck of cards which say he's "more French than Canadian" have made a glaring error: he's not French. Quebec isn't French, they don't speak "Parisian" French, different government, didfferent political alignment. Stupid people. Anyway, he and Bush don't get along that well, being on opposite sides of a large political divide. Issues of divergance include: Kyoto, the anti-landmine treaty (actually a Chretien administration project), softwood lumber tariffs, wheat tariffs, security, etc. Chretien has seen... what, three American presidents as PM? Been in federal politics since the 60s. Long in the tooth. And since he's retiring, not afraid to tick people off. Which just amuses me, but I'm odd that way.

My mum likes Chretien, and you can't really blame her. Those safety nets are sort of why I'm, you know, alive right now. Seriously, not joking.

BBC's profile, sorta: ...

Offical govt. site: ...

Everybody KNOWs who the other guys are..... right?

Nan, compulsive political analyst (it's all my dad's fault)[/colorost_uid0]