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PUT INTO LESS WORDS... PEOPLE OPPOSITE OF GEORGE W. BUSH
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GHANDI
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in the town of Porbander in the state of what is now Gujarat on
2 October 1869. He had his schooling in nearby Rajkot, where his father served as the adviser or prime minister to the local
ruler. Though India was then under British rule, over 500 kingdoms, principalities, and states were allowed autonomy in domestic
and internal affairs: these were the so-called 'native states'. Rajkot was one such state.
Gandhi later recorded the early years of his life in his extraordinary autobiography, The Story of My Experimentswith
Truth. His father died before Gandhi could finish his schooling, and at thirteen he was married to Kasturba [or Kasturbai],
who was even younger. In 1888 Gandhi set sail for England, where he had decided to pursue a degree in law. Though his elders
objected, Gandhi could not be prevented from leaving; and it is said that his mother, a devout woman, made him promise that
he would keep away from wine, women, and meat during his stay abroad. Gandhi left behind his son Harilal, then a few months
old.
In London, Gandhi encountered theosophists, vegetarians, and others who were disenchanted not only with industrialism,
but with the legacy of Enlightenment thought. They themselves represented the fringe elements of English society. Gandhi was
powerfully attracted to them, as he was to the texts of the major religious traditions; and ironically it is in London that
he was introduced to the Bhagavad Gita. Here, too, Gandhi showed determination and single-minded pursuit of his purpose, and
accomplished his objective of finishing his degree from the Inner Temple. He was called to the bar in 1891, and even enrolled
in the High Court of London; but later that year he left for India.
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Nelson Mandela 
"We stand here today as nothing more than a representative of the millions of our people who dared to rise up against a social
system whose very essence is war, violence, racism, oppression, repression and the impoverishment of an entire people."
CHRONOLOGY
1918 He was born in Mvezo, South Africa. (July 18)
1939 He entered the University College of Fort Hare in Alice.
1940 He was expelled from the University College of Fort Hare after participating in a student demonstration.
1941 He went to Johannesburg, fleeing an arranged marriage.
1942 He received his B.A. From the University of South Africa.
1943 He entered the University of the Witwatersrand.
1944 He joined the African National Congress (ANC).
1948 The system of racial segregation known as apartheid was established.
1952 He and Oliver Tambo opened a law practice in South Africa. He helped organize the Campaign for the Defiance of Unjust
Laws.
1956 He was arrested and charged with high treason.
1957 He divorced his first wife, Evelyn Mase.
1958 He married Nkosikazi Madikizela who became known as Winnie Mandela.
1961 He was acquitted.; He organized Spear of the Nation (Umkhonto we Sizwe). (December)
1962 He was sentenced to 5 years in prison for inciting a labor strike. (August)
1964 He was convicted of treason and sentenced to life in prison. (June)
1990 He was released from prison. (February 2)
1993 He convinced then president, F. W. de Klerk to hold open elections.; He and de Klerk together won the Nobel Peace
Prize.
1994 LONG WALK TO FREEDOM was published. He was elected president of South Africa. (April 27)
1995 He formed the Truth and Reconciliation Committee.
1996 He and Winnie Mandela divorced.; He signed into law a new constitution for South Africa. (December)
1997 He stepped down as leader of the ANC.
1999 His presidency ended. (June)
Bob Marley
Bob Marley was born 6 February 1945 in a small village called Nine Miles in the parish of St. Ann, Jamaica.
His father was a white British Naval Officer named Norval Marley. Bob had only a scant recollection of his father. This was
largely due to the fact that the 'well to do' Marley family did not approve of the relationship Norval had formed with Bobs
mother Cedella. His father therefore, despite marrying Cedella, was more an occasional visitor. He did not live to witness
the success of his son Bob.
Bob cut his first record at the age of 16 in Kingston. A song called 'Judge Not'.
In 1963 the original Wailers were formed, the line-up being Bob Marley, Bunny Livingstone (who was later
to take the name Wailer), and Peter Tosh. Their first song 'Simmer Down' was an instant number one in Jamaica.
In 1966 Haile Sellasie visited Jamaica and Bob and the other Wailers embraced the Rastafarian faith and
began to grow their 'locks'. Also at around this time they teamed up with the producer Lee Perry for what was to become a
very productive but ultimately soured relationship. The union ceased when Perry allegedly sold their material to another label
without knowledge.
In 1972 Chris Blackwell
signed the Wailers to his 'Island' label, and gave them 8000 to produce a record. The result - 'Catch A Fire', released in
1973 - was a breakthrough album, triggering international recognition of the Wailers. In the UK they appeared on BBC television,
and in New York they opened for Bruce Springsteen at Max's Kansas City Club.
The touring schedule proved too much for Bunny
and he announced his intention to quit the Wailers. Soon followed by Peter Tosh who left to concentrate on a solo career.
And so a new line up emerged, with Bob being the front man of 'Bob Marley and the Wailers'. He retained the stalwart rhythm
section of the Barrett brothers (Aston and Carlton) on bass and drums, and added a trio of female backing vocalists called
the 'I-Threes', one of which was his wife Rita who had sung occasionally with the Wailers since the beginning.
The first album of the new line-up 'Natty Dread' was a major success. In 1975 Bob Marley and the Wailers
played the Roxy in Los Angeles. Among the ectstatic audience (apparently some were dancing on the tables) were Beatles George
and Ringo, Bob Dylan, and Jack Nicholson! Back home in Jamaica Bob was becoming revered as a mystic and prophet, his influence
was noted by politicians. When Bob approached the then Prime Minister Michael Manley offering to stage a free concert he responded
by fixing a date (5 December) that would conveniently coincide with the national elections, thus implying that he had the
support of Bob Marley. This dangerous move resulted in an attempt on Bobs life.
On the evening of the 3 December a number of gunmen arrived at Bobs house on Hope Road and shot Bob, his wife Rita, and his
manager. These gunmen were thought to be the henchmen of the opposition leader Edward Seaga. Fortunately, nobody was killed,
and Bob went ahead with the planned concert defiantly appearing with his arm in a sling. The following year Bob cancelled
the last few dates of a big European tour when doctors diagnosed melanoma cancer in the big toe of his right foot. This was
the result of a neglected football injury (football being Bobs other major passion alongside music) which occured in Paris
when the Wailers took on a team of French journalists some time earlier.
Back home in Jamaica the gunmen
leaders of the two warring political factions (The Jamaican Labour Party and the Peoples National Party) approached Bob and
asked him to perform at a concert marking a truce between them. The concert titled the 'One Love' Concert took place on 22
April 1978. During the concert Bob persuaded the Prime Minister Manley and the opposition leader Seaga to join him on stage
where they shook hands. An incredible event in Jamaica at that time. As a reult of this act Bob received the United Nations'
Peace Medal in New York the following June.
During 1979 Bob introduced reggae music to the world, touring Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
In 1980 he
headlined the independence celebrations in Zimbabwe, one of the dignitaries present being non other than Prince Charles! In
September of this same year Bob collapsed while jogging in Central Park, New York, just after commencing the American leg
of a world tour with the 'Commodores' playing support. Doctors told him the shocking news that the cancer (previously considered
to have been cleared) had returned and was present in his lungs and brain. Despite this he flew to Pittsburg where on the
23 September 1980 he performed his last concert at the Stanley Theatre.
Initially Bob was treated in New York but the doctors eventually said there was nothing more they could
do for him. He flew to Bavaria where he was treated by the unconventional Dr Issels. First signs were encouraging and for
a while it appeared that Bob was improving. However by the beginning of May Dr Issels had to tell him that there was no longer
any hope. Bob intended to end his days back in Jamaica but was so ill that he had to check into a hospital in Miami en route.
Here he died on 11 May 1981.
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