"It took a man like Madiba [Mandela's tribal name, used affectionately by his people] to free not just the prisoner, but the jailor as well; to show that you must trust others so that they may trust you; to teach that reconciliation is not a matter of ignoring a cruel past, but a means of confronting it with inclusion and generosity and truth. He changed laws, but he also changed hearts."But leave it to the angry right-wing, the anti-Obama fringe and their media megaphones to play up what they considered grave mistakes. It only proves that they learned nothing from the life example of Nelson Mandela.
One was shaking hands with Cuban President Raul Castro. Sen. John McCain seemed incredulous: "Why would he do that? Neville Chamberlain shook hands with Hitler." FoxNews couldn't stop showing the clip and yapping about it. Ted Cruz, who was attending as part of the congressional delegation, walked out during Castro's speech.
The other was the non-infamous "selfie" picture being snapped by the smiling trio of Obama and the Danish and British Prime Ministers. Michelle Obama is seated next to them, looking off in the other direction with a serious expression on her face. Much was made of their "inappropriate" conduct at so serious an event. The Daily Mail even wrote: "It seems that the frosty faced First Lady was so unimpressed with her husband's behavior that she eventually put an end to the fun."
Not true, says the photographer who snapped the picture of this light-hearted trio making the selfie. First, he says that they were completely in synch with mood of the crowd, many of whom were laughing, dancing, and clapping. It was a joyous celebration of the life of Nelson Mandela, not a "funeral" as the scolds would have it.
And then the photographer said Michelle's "stern" look was just a momentary thing [not even looking that way, perhaps at something else]. "A few seconds later she was joking with those around her, including her husband.
Why are we so fascinated with "catching" public figures "misbehaving" or making mistakes? I understand why the media hype it -- it sells. But why do we buy it so avidly? That is the question.
The sad thing is that these two stories got more news time than the wonderful speech that Obama gave.
The even sadder thing is that these critics (McCain included) apparently have learned nothing from Nelson Mandela. He would be the first to reach out to Castro (in fact there is a picture of him embracing Castro) to make peace; to find ways for reconciliation after hostilities have ended. In fact, Castro supported Mandela in his efforts to undo apartheid, while the U. S. opposed him in many ways.
Case rested.
Ralph
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