THE WORLD SAYS GOODBYE

[sheshe2]

Memorial Draws Mourners And Leaders From Around The World... Obama: Mandela Was 'Last Great Liberator Of The 20th Century'... Bush, Clinton, Hollande, Raul Castro In Attendance... Crowd Joyous...



SAFRICA-MANDELA-TRIBUTE
South Africa's archbishop emeritus and honorary Elders, Desmond Tutu (C), gestures while delivering a speech during the memorial service for late South African President Nelson Mandela at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg on December 10, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, died in Johannesburg on December 5 at age 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's irst black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state. AFP PHOTO / PEDRO UGARTE (Photo credit should read PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/09/nelson-mandela-memorial_n_4416410.html

7:10 AM – Today
The historic moment when the US President shook the hand of Cuba's President



Even in death, Mandela showed his power to unite people. This was quite an extraordinary moment between the two nations, hostile for half a century.

Barack Obama did not just given Raul Castro a quick handshake, but bent down and spoke briefly to him.

Obama spoke a few moments later of "Ubuntu", which he called Mandela's "greatest gift: his recognition that we are all bound together in ways that can be invisible to the eye; that there is a oneness to humanity; that we achieve ourselves by sharing ourselves with others, and caring for those around us."

Something he perhaps had in mind as he approached Cuba's president.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/09/nelson-mandela-memorial_n_4416410.html#42_the-historic-moment-when-the-us-president-shook-the-hand-of-cubas-president

[BlueToTheBone]

1. Not to worry

His detractors will say he lied and when Cuba and the US open ties, it will be because _______ did it, not because the president exerted any efforts.

[monmouth3]

2. This could happen sooner than we think. Raul, in many ways, is not Fidel. However, I'm not sure

Fidel who has mellowed a little with age, would look forward to this and most likely enjoyed that handshake also. I get my info from my non-Miami Cuban neighbors...

[BlueToTheBone]

3. I think our two countries

could offer one another a lot. They in terms of their medicine and agriculture, us, a marketplace and a travel destination.

[monmouth3]

4. You got it. Also, fix up those hotels, restaurants and you have a beautiful go-to resort town (HAV)

[BlueToTheBone]

5. I'd like to study their

agricultural methods. I read about them and how they survived the early days of the embargo and how they have grown...could have just been pr, but I'm always interested in how to best grow plants in an integral way with nature.

[Cha]

6. Exactly, she.. that's President Obama.. He no doubt wrote his speech..

"Obama spoke a few moments later of "Ubuntu", which he called Mandela's "greatest gift: his recognition that we are all bound together in ways that can be invisible to the eye; that there is a oneness to humanity; that we achieve ourselves by sharing ourselves with others, and caring for those around us."

"Something he perhaps had in mind as he approached Cuba's president."

Mahalo, she~

[IrishAyes]

7. Sad occasion but wonderful day.

I'm relieved that it's over, though, due to safety concerns. Nobody was getting searched at all entering the stadium, and it only takes one rogue to wreck havoc.

Or maybe there was security in place that we weren't told about.

Regardless, I'm glad so many leaders went, and I'll wish them all safe trips home. You must understand, I was at a tender but very aware age when we lost JFK and Bobby, and MLK. That's the double-edged sword of emotional attachments - if you love somebody who's targeted for violence, it's hard not to worry a lot.