g**1 发帖数: 10330 | 1 Obama, Castro shake hands; Zuma humiliated at Mandela memorial
(Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama shook hands with Cuba's Raul Castro
at a memorial for Nelson Mandela on Tuesday, a rare gesture between the
leaders of the ideologically opposed nations that reflected the anti-
apartheid hero's spirit of reconciliation.
But the peace and harmony did not stretch to South African President Jacob
Zuma as the crowd at the rain-soaked Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg
booed and jeered him as he prepared to give his closing address.
The death of Mandela on Thursday at the age of 95 has distracted attention
from a slew of corruption scandals in Zuma's administration and has
underscored the gulf between South Africa's first black president, a
towering figure of the 20th century, and its fourth.
"Mandela had a vision. Mandela lived that vision," said Funeka Gingcara-
Sithole, 31, who was in the crowd. "But what Zuma speaks he doesn't live. He
should do the honorable thing and resign."
Zuma's reception was in marked contrast to the rock-star welcome for Obama,
one of about 90 world leaders in Johannesburg to bid farewell to Mandela.
As he bounded onto the podium, Obama extended his hand to communist leader
Castro, who shook it and smiled back.
The only previous known handshake between U.S. and Cuban presidents since
the island's 1959 revolution was at the United Nations in 2000, when Raul's
brother Fidel shook the hand of then-U.S. President Bill Clinton in a chance
encounter.
TOUGH WORDS
But Obama's gesture of friendship did not prevent him delivering tough words
to leaders who, he said, embraced Mandela's struggle against oppression
while squashing opposition and dissent at home.
"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," he said, speaking yards
away from communist leader Castro and Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao.
"There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba's struggle for
freedom but do not tolerate dissent from their own people," he said,
referring to Mandela's clan name.
The crowd's reaction to Zuma - many also gave the thumbs down sign or rolled
their wrists in a soccer substitution gesture - is a worrying sign for the
ruling African National Congress (ANC) as it heads towards an election in
six months.
Although Africa's biggest economy has undergone huge change since the end of
white-minority rule in 1994, it remains one of the world's most unequal
societies and is plagued by poverty, crime and unemployment.
Support for the 101-year-old ANC is on the wane, although it is almost
certain to maintain power in next year's vote.
SINGING IN THE RAIN
Coinciding with U.N. Human Rights Day, the memorial at the stadium - scene
of the 2010 World Cup final - was the centerpiece of a week of mourning for
Mandela, who was revered across the world as a symbol of reconciliation and
forgiveness. He shared the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize with South Africa's last
white president F.W. de Klerk.
"He was more than one of the greatest leaders of our time. He was one of our
greatest teachers," U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the crowd. "His
boabab tree has left deep roots that reach across the planet."
Since Mandela's death, Johannesburg has been blanketed in cloud and
torrential rain - a sign, according to African culture, of an esteemed elder
passing on and being welcomed into the afterlife by his ancestors.
The atmosphere before the ceremony was one of joy and celebration, more akin
to the opening game of the World Cup three years ago that pitted jubilant
hosts South Africa against Mexico.
Flag-waving whites and blacks danced, blew "vuvuzela" plastic trumpets and
sang anthems from the long struggle against apartheid. The packed carriages
of commuter trains heading to the ground swayed side-to-side with the rhythm.
"I was here in 1990 when Mandela was freed and I am here again to say
goodbye," said Beauty Pule, 51. "I am sure Mandela was proud of the South
Africa he helped create. It's not perfect but no-one is perfect, and we have
made great strides."
Celebrity mourners included singers Bono and Peter Gabriel, film star
Charlize Theron, supermodel Naomi Campbell and Virgin entrepreneur Richard
Branson. Francois Pienaar, captain of South Africa's victorious 1995 rugby
World Cup-winning side, was also in the stands.
After Tuesday's event, Mandela's remains will lie in state for three days at
the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where he was sworn in as president in 1994.
He will be buried on Sunday, December 15 in Qunu, his ancestral home in the
rolling hills of the Eastern Cape province, 700 km (450 miles) south of
Johannesburg. Only a few world leaders are due to attend the Qunu ceremony,
a more intimate family affair.
(Additional reporting by David Dolan and Peroshni Govender; Writing by
Pascal Fletcher and Ed Cropley; Editing by Janet Lawrence) | g**1 发帖数: 10330 | 2 巴马又一次占领道德制高点,古巴,土共又一次中枪:
But Obama's gesture of friendship did not prevent him delivering tough words
to leaders who, he said, embraced Mandela's struggle against oppression
while squashing opposition and dissent at home.
"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," he said, speaking yards
away from communist leader Castro and Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao.
"There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba's struggle for
freedom but do not tolerate dissent from their own people," he said,
referring to Mandela's clan name. | T***S 发帖数: 764 | 3 奥巴做的不错,拿了和平奖了就要争取多做有利于世界和平的事情。 | s*x 发帖数: 8041 | | g******l 发帖数: 5103 | 5 obama speaks the truth
words
for
【在 g**1 的大作中提到】![](/moin_static193/solenoid/img/up.png) : 巴马又一次占领道德制高点,古巴,土共又一次中枪: : But Obama's gesture of friendship did not prevent him delivering tough words : to leaders who, he said, embraced Mandela's struggle against oppression : while squashing opposition and dissent at home. : "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," he said, speaking yards : away from communist leader Castro and Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao. : "There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba's struggle for : freedom but do not tolerate dissent from their own people," he said,
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