OK world, I get it. South Africa was certainly not on its
best behavior yesterday in front of the world. Even the South African Broadcasting Company tried to spare the world, to no avail. I’ve read how many South
Africans were mortified about the boos, that people were being rude and lamenting
that Madiba would be upset about how people behaved
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| Photo via http://1.usa.gov/IF82Kd |
But would he?
He spent his whole life fighting so that people could boo,
so they could voice their support and their dissent… regardless of who
they were. So maybe he would have wished that people had more class, but he
probably would have been proud that people were able to make their dissent known–
without violence but with their voices.
Of course the reasons for it are complicated and largely
internal to South Africa. Perhaps people are disappointed that President, Zuma,
the ANC and its leadership are something Mandela would be less than pleased
with. It might be directed exclusively
at Zuma for his transgressions, recent and historic. It might be that people
feel that things haven’t changed enough since Mandela fought so hard to get
them there. It could be that the spectacle yesterday was the world’s and not
the people of South Africa’s… who may mourn differently through song, noise and
dancing.
Whatever the reason, they do have the right to bitch. Just
maybe not in front of the world.
A highlight from yesterday was certainly President Obama.
The handshake with President Raul Casto showed the world that the day was
beyond politics, unlike those mentioned above. The speech showed the personal
connection for Obama, as well as the unique connection between South Africa and
the US as multi-racial democracies. The irony of President Obama’s words in
front of many who profess to admire Madiba but also continue policies against
his ideas should not be lost on anyone. But I think that was point – everyone
could find something to admire in Nelson Mandela – dictator, Democrat or
Republican alike.
