10 thoughts on Nelson Mandela's memorial.

Yeah, I stayed up and watched it.  He wasn't just the father of modern South Africa, but also a global symbol.

1. The memorial service was about celebrating Mandela's life.  People all around danced even as people spoke.  That's what a memorial service should be: A celebration of a person's life, not a mourning of one's death.  Death is inevitable, but a life is uniquely experienced and understood.
2. A cultural point: Rain is seen as the heavens opening up and welcoming a great person, as the more prolific a person's life, the greater the rain.  And boy, it was a downpour!
3. The US media outlets covering this included the three major broadcast stations, but ABC and NBC started early while CBS came up only just before President Obama's speech.  Following the end of his speech, they all promptly moved on to their regularly scheduled programming.  On the east coast, this meant that they were going straight to the early morning news, live.  Online, the news sites continued streaming.
4. Three prior US Presidents attended: Carter, the younger Bush (43), and Clinton.  And of course, President Obama, who addressed the crowd with a fine speech.  They saved money and traveled together on Air Force 1, BTW.  Made it easier for secret service, too, since past presidents have lifetime support from secret service. Speaking of Bush, he was loose and congenial.
5. Ubuntu -- President Obama brought it up.  You may know it as a Linux variant, but it is an important word in South African lexicon, meaning human kindness, in the tradition of Humanism.  When Mandela forged the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, it was Ubuntu.  Instead of retribution, there is understanding and a reconciled people.
6. Speaking of President Obama, no other speaker received more cheers.  You would not believe the reception he received, with several minutes of cheering.  No doubt, South Africans are acutely aware of his significance in American history, just as Mandela's mark in SA's history is indelible.  While longish, Obama's speech was well received and spoke to the inspiration that Mandela shall continue to feed, long into the future.
7. Following his speech, you could see that some folks started leaving.  South African President Jacob Zuma, apparently a divisive figure, faced a half-empty stadium, including the background of empty seats.  When Obama addressed the stadium, you could see the seats all filled and people dancing continuously.
8. Jacob Zuma's speech was a retelling of the history of Mandela's life, I think...it was about 5 6 7 8 pages and 15 20 25 30 minutes long.
9. Everyone is talking about "The Handshake".  Really now, is Cuba a mortal enemy to the US?  It seems to me, there is no point to maintaining the status quo of no relations.
10. A summary of themes from each leader's speech: Brazilian President faced a quiet crowd as she generally lauded Mandela; Chinese President emphasized future economic cooperation; Cuban President focused on the shared history of the two peoples of South Africa and Cuba and his "comrade"; India's President related Gandhi and Mandela as co-inspirational to the people of India.