Help me,Im a little confused here?

Nelson Mandela was once leader of the ANC,a terrorist outfit who wanted power for blacks at any cost.Yet Mandela is a national icon all over the wold with concerts,presidential invites,mive celebrations for his 90th birthday.On the other hand Gerry Adams was the leader of Sinn Fein,the political wing of the IRA and yet is hated as a terrorist and he and others wanted a united Ireland,generations of persecution of the Irish created the IRA.Tell me if you feel this is a case of double standards,oh,and South Africa is worse now than under any white rule,any thoughts?