The Queen's Mandela tribute wasn't very good

Here is what Britain's Head of State said about Nelson Mandela:

"The Queen was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Nelson Mandela last night. He worked tirelessly for the good of his country, and his legacy is the peaceful South Africa we see today.

Her Majesty remembers with great warmth her meetings with Mr. Mandela and sends her sincere condolences to his family and the people of South Africa at this very sad time."

Now let’s play a tasteless game. Let’s say that it was former United States President George Bush (Senior) who had died. Let’s apply The Queen's words to him instead:

  

"The Queen was deeply saddened to learn of the death of George H.W. Bush last night. He worked tirelessly for the good of his country, and his legacy is the peaceful United States we see today.

Her Majesty remembers with great warmth her meetings with Mr. Bush and sends her sincere condolences to his family and the people of America at this very sad time."

 

OK the bit about a "peaceful United States" might seem a bit fanciful but you could make the case. Actually you could make the case for the US being peaceful rather better than you could say the same about South Africa. With one of the highest murder rates in the world South Africa is sadly far from “peaceful” 

Nelson Mandela was so much more than a man who worked for his country (although he did of course do this). This is a pretty down key commendation that applies to most politicians. Its looks like whoever drafted the Monarch’s “tribute” dusted-off things that she’d said in the past about others and gave them a whirl again.

The bit about “the warmth of her meetings” is a bit gratuitous and changes the focus of the tribute a bit from Mandela to The Queen. It adds little of substance other than motherhood stuff. So what should she have said (and keeping to approximately the same word count)?

How about this:

"The Queen is deeply saddened at the death of Nelson Mandela. Mr Mandela suffered at the hands of those who abused him and his people - but in his battle he ultimately triumphed to live to create the democratic and proud South Africa we see today.

Her Majesty sends her condolences to Mr Mandela’s family and to the people of South Africa who can remember with pride a truly great man.”