It's almost 12:30pm.. and everyone's in a meeting. Except for me. Heh. So anyway, I am supposed to do my work.. reply some emails and draft a survey form.. but here I am, blogging.
Well.. there's an excuse for that. I am freezing in the office and I can't seem to focus on anything. (Bahhhhh.. alasan je semua tu.. hahaha..)
But yes, I wasn't kidding about the coldness. Even today, as I was walking to the office, I can feel the wintry weather. Apparently, the temperature will drop to single digit this weekend (Saturday and Sunday). Fuuuhhh.. boleh lah fen-feeling London.. *hahaha.. perasan*
Anyway, today's story (in the papers and online) sibuk pasal Mandela, who passed away at the age of 93. Now I only know briefly about his story.. as in he was the first Black president in South Africa and he was imprisoned for a few years fighting against apartheid.
And he's been pretty sick in the past few months.. but finally drew his last breath on Dec 5, 2013. He was supposed to be buried next week. (Amongst South Africans, he's often referred to by his Xhosa clan name, Madiba, or as Tata which means "Father".)
Yes, he was loved. So many people prayed for him.. but funnily, in South Africa, death seems like a celebration. Instead of the usual mourning, there were celebrations held in honor of Madiba.
So when news broke out about Obama's selfie with the Danish and British Prime Ministers and people questioning why they could even take a selfie at a funeral, I wondered if everything needs to be debated these days.
Hmmm.. ok lah. So it's not appropriate to play with your phone at a funeral. It's rude, especially when everyone is busy reciting some prayers and there you are, playing with your phone and taking a selfie with the deceased lying behind you.
But when Obama was taking the selfie with the other Prime Ministers, they weren't at Madiba's house. They were at a Stadium, attending a memorial service for one of the world's greatest leaders. Apparently it was an event to reminisce about the late Madiba. While it wasn't exactly a party or a concert, it definitely wasn't the sombre event where everyone is supposed to offer their prayers for the deceased.
So yeah.. I don't think it's wrong or rude to take a selfie at that particular event. The three Government Heads probably want to put the picture in the Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts with a caption.."Hey, I'm at Madiba's memorial. Rest in peace, Sir. We love you."
I mean, wouldn't we have taken the selfie too, if we were at the Memorial?
Oh well. I guess, while it's okay for "commoners" to do "fun things", world leaders must behave all the time, huh? Hahah. How boring.... :)
Anyway, rest in peace, Madiba. Thank you for teaching me a thing or two about the apartheid. I never knew what it was, until I read about you and your fights for a better world.
Here's to an apartheid-free, discrimination-free and a colored world. PEACE and LOVE.
Well.. there's an excuse for that. I am freezing in the office and I can't seem to focus on anything. (Bahhhhh.. alasan je semua tu.. hahaha..)
But yes, I wasn't kidding about the coldness. Even today, as I was walking to the office, I can feel the wintry weather. Apparently, the temperature will drop to single digit this weekend (Saturday and Sunday). Fuuuhhh.. boleh lah fen-feeling London.. *hahaha.. perasan*
Anyway, today's story (in the papers and online) sibuk pasal Mandela, who passed away at the age of 93. Now I only know briefly about his story.. as in he was the first Black president in South Africa and he was imprisoned for a few years fighting against apartheid.
And he's been pretty sick in the past few months.. but finally drew his last breath on Dec 5, 2013. He was supposed to be buried next week. (Amongst South Africans, he's often referred to by his Xhosa clan name, Madiba, or as Tata which means "Father".)
Yes, he was loved. So many people prayed for him.. but funnily, in South Africa, death seems like a celebration. Instead of the usual mourning, there were celebrations held in honor of Madiba.
So when news broke out about Obama's selfie with the Danish and British Prime Ministers and people questioning why they could even take a selfie at a funeral, I wondered if everything needs to be debated these days.
Hmmm.. ok lah. So it's not appropriate to play with your phone at a funeral. It's rude, especially when everyone is busy reciting some prayers and there you are, playing with your phone and taking a selfie with the deceased lying behind you.
But when Obama was taking the selfie with the other Prime Ministers, they weren't at Madiba's house. They were at a Stadium, attending a memorial service for one of the world's greatest leaders. Apparently it was an event to reminisce about the late Madiba. While it wasn't exactly a party or a concert, it definitely wasn't the sombre event where everyone is supposed to offer their prayers for the deceased.
So yeah.. I don't think it's wrong or rude to take a selfie at that particular event. The three Government Heads probably want to put the picture in the Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts with a caption.."Hey, I'm at Madiba's memorial. Rest in peace, Sir. We love you."
I mean, wouldn't we have taken the selfie too, if we were at the Memorial?
 |
| Danish prime minister Helle-Thorning Schmidt poses for a 'selfie' with David Cameron and Barack Obama at the Nelson Mandela memorial service, while Michelle Obama looks on. Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images |
Anyway, rest in peace, Madiba. Thank you for teaching me a thing or two about the apartheid. I never knew what it was, until I read about you and your fights for a better world.
Here's to an apartheid-free, discrimination-free and a colored world. PEACE and LOVE.
 |
| Add caption |
No comments:
Post a Comment