Rare display of unity: President Obama shakes hands with Cuban leader Raul Castro in spite of the animosity between their governments
Barack Obama today paid an emotional tribute to Nelson Mandela, calling the South African leader a ?giant of history? as he spoke at a memorial service in a stadium where around a third of the seats were mysteriously left empty.
The U.S. President, who moments earlier had shaken hands with Cuba?s Raul Castro in a historic moment of reconciliation, receivied a rapturous reception for his eulogy at the service in Johannesburg?s FNB Stadium, which started an hour late in the pouring rain.
Cyril Ramaphosa, the deputy president of the ruling ANC party who opened the proceedings, said: ?In our tradition, when it rains when you are buried, your gods are welcoming you to heaven.?
Mr Obama arrived almost an hour after the ceremony started, but was greeted with prolonged applause by the crowd ? in stark contrast to South African president Jacob Zuma, who was loudly booed whenever he appeared on the stadium?s big screen.
When Mr Zuma walked up to the podium to deliver the keynote speech at the ceremony, he was met with a huge chorus of boos, forcing organisers to bring in a choir to drown out the noise of the crowd and save the president?s blushes.
Mutual respect: President Obama speaks to Nelson Mandela?s widow Graca Machel during the memorial service
Mr Obama opened his speech by thanking Mandela?s family, then continued: ?To the people of South Africa ? people of every race and walk of life ? the world thanks you for sharing Nelson Mandela with us.
?His struggle was your struggle. His triumph was your triumph. Your dignity and hope found expression in his life, and your freedom, your democracy is his cherished legacy.?
He continued: ?Mandela taught us the power of action, but also ideas; the importance of reason and arguments; the need to study not only those you agree with, but those who you don?t.?
Fitting setting: A general view of the arena which was the location of Mr Mandela?s first speech in Johannesburg after he was released from prison in 1990
Referring to the anti-apartheid icon?s friendship with his own prison warders, the President said: ?It took a man like Madiba to free not just the prisoner, but the gaoler as well.?
He also spoke out against the dictators from countries such as Zimbabwe and China who pay lip service to Mandela?s legacy while repressing their own people, saying: ?There are too many of us who happily embrace Madiba?s legacy of racial reconciliation, but passionately resist even modest reforms that would challenge chronic poverty and growing inequality.
?There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba?s struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people. And there are too many of us who stand on the sidelines, comfortable in complacency or cynicism when our voices must be heard.?
Mr Obama concluded: ?We will never see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. But let me say to the young people of Africa, and young people around the world ? you can make his life?s work your own.?
On his way to the podium, the President shook hands with Raul Castro, whose brother Fidel has long been one of the fiercest enemies of the U.S. ? testament to Mandela?s ability to bring warring parties together in his memory.
The two countries have not had diplomatic relations since the Communist revolution of 1959, and their leaders are not believed to have communicated with each other in recent years.
Source-Dailymail.co.uk
