The outspoken Conservative MP was the sole parliamentarian to vote against making Mandela an honorary citizen in 2001, preventing the motion from passing unanimously.
Anders, a Canadian Alliance MP at the time, infamously labeled the anti-apartheid leader and former South African president "a terrorist and a Communist."
"Nelson Mandela advocated violence and used violence to achieve his aims," he said. "It is very politically correct to go ahead and lionize him, but there are problems in South Africa today and we are glossing over these things."
Then-Prime Minister Jean Chretien responded by blasting Anders as "stupid."
On Friday, Global News reporter Laura Stone wrote that she asked Anders if his position on Mandela has softened over the years.
"I wish South Africa peace," he told her.
Anders also referred her to a Mandela obituary from the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a conservative foundation in the United States.
The obit argues Mandela left behind a mess in South Africa and isn't worthy of the "unhinged adoration" he has received across the political spectrum.
"Mandela began as a terrorist and never turned his back on monsters like Arafat and Castro, whom he considered brothers in arms," Horowitz writes.
But many other Conservative MPs and ministers shared condolences after Mandela passed away Thursday.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper paid tribute to Mandela in the House of Commons and even received a handshake from NDP Leader Tom Mulcair after his speech.
"The world has lost one of its great moral leaders and statesmen," Harper said.
Original Article
Source: huffingtonpost.ca
Author: The Huffington Post Canada
No comments:
Post a Comment