Whether or not it was a memorial or a funeral, to me it shows disrespect. If it was a national block party why wasnt Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus entertaining...
On Tuesday, conservative news outlets in the United States decided that the best way to commemorate the life of Nelson Mandela, and to report on the memorial services in his honor, was to manufacture a controversy about an AFP photo of President Barack Obama shooting a selfie with Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. According to Fox News, the “international incident” was so bad that, “The tsk-tisk-ing could be heard across continents.”
Liberal news outlets countered with a photograph from former President George W. Bush’s Instagram feed, taken at the same memorial, in which he’s seen posing with pop star Bono.
Two things were lost amid the nonsensical partisan wrangling. First, the furor shamefully overshadowed the memorial service itself, and the heartfelt messages that were delivered by Mandela’s family and colleagues. Second, such outcries overlook the close quarters in which our Democratic and Republican politicians actually live and work.
Candid images from White House photographer Pete Souza tell another story.
Members of the media regularly look to sensationalize things, frequently out of context to further their fame.
What would you prefer people do when your time comes?
1. Be suitably solemn when appropriate, considering your time to shine has ended?
2. Grieve for the surviving family members who will miss you?
3. Celebrate what you've accomplished & what a great person you've been?
4. All of the above?
I suspect Nelson Mandela would be humbly pleased that all of the above were expressed during his funeral by an unprecedented assemblage of world leaders.
We should conduct ourselves in our own little worlds to achieve likewise, eh?
I didn't read this yesterday, and can see now I needed a different perspective. Obviously, once you get to be an elite political operative, you are welcomed into the exclusive inner circle where " We know it is all for show, don't we? " Makes that Illuminati thing plausable, doesn't it?
None of which changes Obama's lies and thumbing his nose at the ( apparent ) Constitutional separation of powers.
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09:01 AM
jaskispyder Member
Posts: 21510 From: Northern MI Registered: Jun 2002
We all look at death differently. We all show different forms of respect. None of it is wrong. My reasons for posting the pic were just that, mine. To some it is a celebration of life. I did not see it that way, but after reading through the responses here, I can see why he may have snapped a selfie. I am still not happy about it, but that, once again, is my view. My feelings. All should grieve in their own way, and I apologize for the direction of my OP.
[This message has been edited by Tony Kania (edited 12-13-2013).]
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10:56 AM
dratts Member
Posts: 8373 From: Coeur d' alene Idaho USA Registered: Apr 2001
Regardless, thanks for the thread. Seeing Michelles expression in the first two photos was priceless. Then in the last one she has moved between Barack and the woman.
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04:35 PM
Tony Kania Member
Posts: 20794 From: The Inland Northwest Registered: Dec 2008
The loss of a great man is made more painful because 0bama had to live through it. Can't we all put aside our petty differences for one moment to grieve for President 0bama having to wake up with the knowledge Mandela is no more? What about Michelle, Malia, and Sasha? Surely the impact Mandela's death had on 0bama can be felt at home.
Pray for 0bama in his hour of need, even though the burden he carries cannot be comprehended by the mere masses.
Much like the burden he carried when Margaret Thatcher passed... oh, nevermind. He didn't go to her funeral. But that's to be expected, with her being old, white and rich - the very embodiment of the evil 0bama is fighting.
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08:24 PM
Dec 14th, 2013
jaskispyder Member
Posts: 21510 From: Northern MI Registered: Jun 2002
Much like the burden he carried when Margaret Thatcher passed... oh, nevermind. He didn't go to her funeral. But that's to be expected, with her being old, white and rich - the very embodiment of the evil 0bama is fighting.
I guess the same can be said for these folks who didn't show up either? Look at all those people that hate old, white, rich women....
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
