Just hope every person on this planet reflects on the fact that no other human has ever achieved the respect, love and admiration of billions. It’s not just the scale of numbers of persons but the vast diversity of those who comprise the billions. He is truly the first ‘global’ representative of what is the very best of humanity.
Our President Obama is truly the only other global leader of similar inspiration and stature.
Thank you, TOD FP correspondents! Your quiet unending efforts are MUCH APPRECIATED! It’s so ‘warm’ to be able to attend this service WITH all gathered here!
Agree, VC. Chips has nurtured a very special community and I’ll always be grateful to her for her dedication to our President, our Democracy and our opportunity to gather together.
Here I am. In the middle hours. Hanging with Dudette. Again! OT-Ms. Nichols was so much fun to watch in ‘Snow Dogs’ with Cuba Goodings, Jr. (2 Hotties regardless of age or gender—jmpo).
‘The Tracks of my Tears’ of joy that I have lived to see this day! World leaders and peoples everywhere have come together in celebration of a life well lived in service to all humanity. What more proof do we need of ‘Give Peace a Chance’?
Oh wow, they just showed the President and the First Lady up in the big screen in the stadium and the crowd went crazy, completely drowning the poor fellow who was at the mic….He had to stop speaking for a few mins for the crowd to silence…:-)
I hope they don’t miss calling out anyone, which would be so easy to do given the circumstances and all that is going on. The problem with naming dignitaries is that once you start, you have to cover everyone in order not to have hurt feelings.
No question in my mind, theo. And, like President Mandela, President Obama’s ability to shape the future will stand the test of time in ways as yet unimagined.
I was thinking the SAME thing. No, it’s no coincidence. The energy in that stadium changed dramatically once the Obamas arrived. I noted the difference, and I’m not mistaken about it.
Good morning everyone. Been up since 4:00 watching from various sources. Now watching on C-span and the White House feed. Some of the ABC commentary was tiresome, just as well that local news cut them off. Waiting eagerly for PBO.
The roots of Mandela’s service
Temba Maqubela is headmaster at Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts. He fought against apartheid, escaped persecution, and, in 1986, came to the United States as a political refugee.
By Temba Maqubela,
No one should have doubted that, in the end, Nelson Mandela would be buried in his village, not in a grand public setting in Johannesburg. For it was Qunu that made Mandela a leader.
………………..
To really know Mandela, it helps to understand the concept of ubuntu. The Xhosa word is difficult to define, but it refers to the interconnectivity of one to another. In a Xhosa village like Mandela’s, when someone asks, “How are you?” the answer is not “I am fine.” It is, “We are fine.”…
In Qunu, Mandela lived a life of relative privilege, but in the village culture, that called for an extra dose of humility. His uncle was the acting king of the Thembus, part of the Xhosa people, and young Mandela was present during the many meetings in his village, where he would hear the egalitarian aspirations of elders, absorbing their dreams and frustrations. Mandela also herded cattle, as I and any boy growing up far from the townships did. Humility defined him.
Yet, when Mandela was 33 and heading the Youth League of the African National Congress, he announced publicly during protests on Jan Van Riebeeck Day, a holiday celebrating the whites’ arrival in South Africa, that he would someday become the first president of a liberated South Africa. Were these the words of a humble man? Yes—but also the words of a man who realized black South Africa needed energy, and, despite the callous and brutal killings, hope. Those who were fighting against apartheid had, up to that moment, been focused on equal rights. They had not considered for a moment that the highest office in the country could belong to a black…
It will be very interesting if the singing stops when President Obama begins to speak … that might be a contrast that will cause a total melt down of US #NEWSTAINERS 🙂
I hope security doesn’t have to move to quieten those behind the podium. They seem to be having their own celebration/memorial – a pity they won’t cooperate a bit more.
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
Congrats Bobfr.
Thanks cos 🙂
Just hope every person on this planet reflects on the fact that no other human has ever achieved the respect, love and admiration of billions. It’s not just the scale of numbers of persons but the vast diversity of those who comprise the billions. He is truly the first ‘global’ representative of what is the very best of humanity.
Our President Obama is truly the only other global leader of similar inspiration and stature.
True.
THIS!
Lovely and reassuring.
Thank you, TOD FP correspondents! Your quiet unending efforts are MUCH APPRECIATED! It’s so ‘warm’ to be able to attend this service WITH all gathered here!
It’s overwhelming! So glad I’m here with all of you too!
Glad to be in the presence of our TOD Fam.
We are blessed, I think, to have all been drawn together to this village by the warm spirit, and vision, that CC has nourished.
Agree, VC. Chips has nurtured a very special community and I’ll always be grateful to her for her dedication to our President, our Democracy and our opportunity to gather together.
Amen.
Here I am. In the middle hours. Hanging with Dudette. Again! OT-Ms. Nichols was so much fun to watch in ‘Snow Dogs’ with Cuba Goodings, Jr. (2 Hotties regardless of age or gender—jmpo).
I blame George and Laura Bush.
Aha! My rumor takes hold! 🙂
not surprised, at home these Africans are making the same “impatient demands”
That was beautiful. My feed on cspan was blinking.
good morning TOD, thank you ut & chips for having this for us ~ so grateful for all of you.
Thanks, Sherijr.
you are so welcome ut.
wow, the applause and cheers when the previous speaker mentioned President Obama’s name- was so beautiful.
It is fine now on this end, mtmarilyn. Good morningHZ.
Good morning sherijr.HZ
good morning HZ- what a wonderful celebration of a life lived completely ~
G M HZ. What a blessed celebration.
‘The Tracks of my Tears’ of joy that I have lived to see this day! World leaders and peoples everywhere have come together in celebration of a life well lived in service to all humanity. What more proof do we need of ‘Give Peace a Chance’?
It is an exceptional moment for all humanity, Lynn. Nothing like it has ever happened before.
This is a moment in history for sure, Bob.
Awesome! There’s a sign language interpreter on the stage! I know my deaf sister is watching this and will be thrilled!
Well, I won’t be able to keep, so I guess I will miss PBO. Can someone please ask chips to record the arrival so I can see it tomorrow?
What’s the schedule/ order of speakers? I’m fading & would like to stay up, and watch PBO before retiring.
Pam, you can see the program on this link to one of the earlier TOD threads. The grandchildren have just started their tributes.
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/12/09/tuesday-in-south-africa-part-2/
The grandchildren who spoke seemed quite lyrical.
Thank you.
Madiba’s granddaughter is a FORCE!!!!
And, his grandsons are also a FORCE!!
This family will lead, well into the future.
That is a true Legacy!!
There they ARE!!!!!
President Obama IN THE HOUSE. The crowd goes wild!
you got that right!
The President is in the house and the crowd is loving him!!! Praise God.HZ
PBO’s in the house!
Yay!
Morning, Gurl!
I think whatever time was ‘allotted’ for this service will easily be doubled. This service will unfold as it unfolds. 😀
I can’t believe I’ve stayed up… Glad I did, though… 🙂
Well worth it, and well done!
🙂 I see your “internal alarm” worked quite well for you – despite my doubts…
😆 And that was the THIRD time it woke me after I finally fell asleep! It tends to work too well, if you ask me. 😀
Ha!
Take that Andrea Mitchell! That’s love!
#BAM
yah!
POTUS and FLOTUS!!!!!! Crowd is cheering loudly.
We love our President and First Lady, all over the world and yes here in the U.S. too.
Oh wow, they just showed the President and the First Lady up in the big screen in the stadium and the crowd went crazy, completely drowning the poor fellow who was at the mic….He had to stop speaking for a few mins for the crowd to silence…:-)
we love out POTUS and FLOTUS
ANY QUESTIONS?
Only one question, hopefruit. Can haz MORE?!?!?
You sure can Lynn!!! 🙂
Doin’ the happy dance!
Want to replay recording of that many many times!!!!
Who is that blond lady sitting next to POTUS and FLOTUS?
I first thought it was Hillary.
I was wondering the same thing
A Scandivian PM.. I cant remember if it was Sweeden or Norway
Prime Minister of Denmark Helle Thorning-Schmidt
She’s the President of Denmark, I believe.
Danish PM. I just read.
Thank you.
Sit down Bubba
Those two mf’rs — take you f-ing seat and show some RESPECT!
I hope they don’t miss calling out anyone, which would be so easy to do given the circumstances and all that is going on. The problem with naming dignitaries is that once you start, you have to cover everyone in order not to have hurt feelings.
Hey, was that Huma Abedin talking to Hillary just now?
Yes.
Yes it was Huma, Dudette. But Bubba and W really needed to sit down. That was not called for in this setting.HZ
Agreed.
Seems like that podium of dignitaries just got lively, alert and fun… Coincidence that President Obama just arrived?
I can’t wait until he takes center stage, theo. Bet it will register on the Richter scale.
He’s carrying on the mantle of Nelson Mandela.
No question in my mind, theo. And, like President Mandela, President Obama’s ability to shape the future will stand the test of time in ways as yet unimagined.
So true.
I was thinking the SAME thing. No, it’s no coincidence. The energy in that stadium changed dramatically once the Obamas arrived. I noted the difference, and I’m not mistaken about it.
I thought I was seeing things. Thanks for verifying! 🙂
Was that Chelsea I spotted beside Hillary? If so, probably explains why Bill didn’t travel on AF1.
Apparently, Bill Clinton was coming from South America, which is why he travelled separately. I think someone posted this yesterday.
So was Chelsea there with him?
I believe so.
Not that it matters, of course, but ….
Yes, he and his daughter were at an event in Rio and traveled from there to South Africa
Yep.
Wonder if she is there as a ‘reporter’?
She shouldn’t be sitting with the dignitaries if she’s there as a reporter. I’m sure they’re all in a pen somewhere.
Tsk! Tsk, Theo! 😉
Hee hee
I had to discontinue the CBS feed once they started “narrating”. Ugh. Can’t they just let the ceremony flow?? Thank goodness for CSPAN2.
Ditto. Immediately switched to cspan
That’s where I am watching. It’s the best.
CSPAN2 is the way to go.
With you all the way, muscatinegal. Left the andrea witchell channel for CSPAN2.
Lots of enthusiasm in that stadium!!! Rather difficult challenge to get them to allow the speakers to deliver their messages.
It will be rather interesting to watch what happens when President Obama steps to the microphone 🙂
Good morning everyone. Been up since 4:00 watching from various sources. Now watching on C-span and the White House feed. Some of the ABC commentary was tiresome, just as well that local news cut them off. Waiting eagerly for PBO.
PBO is next after Ms.Zuma finishes!
Many thanks, Music Maven. The speakers have been fabulous in spite of the rain.
The roots of Mandela’s service
Temba Maqubela is headmaster at Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts. He fought against apartheid, escaped persecution, and, in 1986, came to the United States as a political refugee.
By Temba Maqubela,
No one should have doubted that, in the end, Nelson Mandela would be buried in his village, not in a grand public setting in Johannesburg. For it was Qunu that made Mandela a leader.
………………..
To really know Mandela, it helps to understand the concept of ubuntu. The Xhosa word is difficult to define, but it refers to the interconnectivity of one to another. In a Xhosa village like Mandela’s, when someone asks, “How are you?” the answer is not “I am fine.” It is, “We are fine.”…
In Qunu, Mandela lived a life of relative privilege, but in the village culture, that called for an extra dose of humility. His uncle was the acting king of the Thembus, part of the Xhosa people, and young Mandela was present during the many meetings in his village, where he would hear the egalitarian aspirations of elders, absorbing their dreams and frustrations. Mandela also herded cattle, as I and any boy growing up far from the townships did. Humility defined him.
Yet, when Mandela was 33 and heading the Youth League of the African National Congress, he announced publicly during protests on Jan Van Riebeeck Day, a holiday celebrating the whites’ arrival in South Africa, that he would someday become the first president of a liberated South Africa. Were these the words of a humble man? Yes—but also the words of a man who realized black South Africa needed energy, and, despite the callous and brutal killings, hope. Those who were fighting against apartheid had, up to that moment, been focused on equal rights. They had not considered for a moment that the highest office in the country could belong to a black…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/it-took-a-village/2013/12/09/7487c3c2-6128-11e3-bf45-61f69f54fc5f_story.html?hpid=z3
Poor lady~ the crowd is singing and her voice isn’t that loud. I think the crowd is similar to the TOD Gang, and can’t wait for PBO to speak.
I think she might be a member of the opposition… Not sure.
I wish they would chill and let her speak.
They really should chill!!!
It will be very interesting if the singing stops when President Obama begins to speak … that might be a contrast that will cause a total melt down of US #NEWSTAINERS 🙂
I hope security doesn’t have to move to quieten those behind the podium. They seem to be having their own celebration/memorial – a pity they won’t cooperate a bit more.
I agree vc. But unfortunately, with public events like these, crowd control is difficult. It goes with the territory.
I don’t really mind. They are after all celebrating a life well worth celebrating.
streaming from youtube seems to have a clearer picture.
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/12/10/live-streaming-from-south-africa-part-4/
PBO!!!!!!!!
Is that Kirk Franklin?
Welcoming President Obama!!!
Can we say COMMAND !!!
I just knew it.. FANTASTIC speech. Asking the world to honor Mandela’s legacy by working THEMSELVES to make the world a better place.
President Perez from Israël is there. Good.