First lady Michelle Obama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, center, talk with South African soccer player Matthew Booth as they participated in youth activities raising awareness for HIV prevention at Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday, June 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
My SIL is from Botswana but he spent time in SA going to school there and he has family members who live in Durban. He also has one “neer-do-well” cousin who lives in Port Elizabeth and surfs, lol.
Exactly, on “the liberation of the mind” issue. Education is still running behind from the years when black people were denied even a chance to learn to read in SA. Poverty, crime and unemployment are very high. My statistics are old but last I read only 6% of the population holds more than 98% of the wealth. Seeing how people live in some of the townships would make you weep. Women still struggle with issues such as abuse, rape and abandonment. Much of the countryside is still without electricity or plumbing. Water and fuel are carried in on their heads and laundry is done in the river. AIDS takes a huge toll and children are left orphans when whole villages are decimated by disease. Lest I sound too negative, there are good people working hard every day to make life better and FLOTUS visit there is, indeed, a very BFD!
Flotus’ visit there is a BFD indeed! Flotus’ speech at Regina Mundi Church moved some to tears yesterday. I read it in a Sowetan online newspaper. The media won’t show us that image. Flotus’ speech was very uplifting and encouraging. People love her! She made a huge impression on their lives.
Speak on it, SG2. I’m still searching for a video of the Regina Mundi Church choir singing before FLOTUS spoke.to the audience.
OMG! I never realized how small Bishop Tutu is! I got to sake his hand once after he gave a talk at a seminar I attended. He seemed so ‘large’ and he’s taller than me which isn’t saying much but Oh Wow! Maybe he shrank or is just standing next to some really tall people,lol.
This is just great! I love it that you are working so hard to cover this visit. Just got to pass this on to you from SIL….”Yebo!” (YES!) He’s been visiting your site as I pass on the links.
Whoo Hoo! Tell him to come on in and chat for a minute. He is most welcomed!
LMAO ** I’m keeping my eyes on you, young lady**
I mean it really. Since he is from the Motherland, maybe he can fill us in and tell us what’s it like over there. I chatted last night with a few folks from South Africa. I followed a link to a Sowetan (sp) site. One guy came on and scolded a few folks for being suspicious of Flotus’ visit there and told them to stop with the fears and insecurities. He stated with some, even though the country is liberated, their mind need to be liberated. The conversation was good.
Of course we’d love Mattew stop by and chat with 3 Chics. Some folks who don’t get out of the SA, don’t know any better. It’s good the young man came in and set the record straight.
Indeed. The guy got on them real good. Here is what he said:
i feel so sorry for most South Africans. we are a liberated country, yet their mentalities are still far from liberation. they are still tamed to poverty, fear, insecurities, and a whole lot of negativities. For example @Thandile and @Sandile84 are now doubting Michelle that she mind have hidden agenda. Why can’t you focus on the positive side, for example South Africa will gain more exposure, job opprtunities, etc. Because of the relationship South Africa has got with other countries, people like Terry Pheto, Nonhle Thema, etc, have been recognised worldwide.They are now been paid in dollars. PEOPLE PLEASE, LET US LIBERATE OUR MENTALIES. APARTHEID IS IN THE PAST. LET US MAKE PEACE WITH IT AND MOVE ON. START NOW, BECAUSE TOMORROW WILL NEVER COME. nobody can do it for u only you can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This young man Mr. Mandela. any man that can be PHYSICALLY imprisoned for 27 years, be released, and become president of their country…..