Barack Obama
Related: About this forumThe Obama's at Robben Island
Last edited Mon Jul 1, 2013, 12:36 AM - Edit history (1)
By chipsticks
The Obama Diary~
Margaret Talev @margarettalev
#Obama signs guest book message at #Robben Island pic.twitter.com/9AUZR6gE02
9:19 AM - 30 Jun 2013
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/06/30/robben-island-updating/
Cha
(304,902 posts)TheObamaDiary.com @TheObamaDiary
Photo: President Obama stands in Robben Island prison cell where former SA President Nelson Mandela spent 18 yrs pic.twitter.com/CSV15DVTj8
TheObamaDiary.com @TheObamaDiary
The First Family listen to Robben Island prison guide Ahmed Kathrada, who was an inmate with Nelson Mandela pic.twitter.com/OVEDaBhNP6
Valerie Jarrett ✔ @vj44
Robben Island tour guide (former prisoner) said prison is a state of mind. They always knew they would prevail.
Robben Prison's long history of political prisoner's including South Africa's current President, Jabob Zumba..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robben_Island
Mahalo, sheshe, for this very poignant OP.. Pres Obama has said he started his political activism in college because of Nelson Mandela. This has to be a very deep and personal journey for the President and his family.
Why Mandela looms large in Obamas political psyche
In a Thursday press conference in Senegal, Obama recalled, My first act of political activism was when I was at Occidental College. As a 19-year-old, I got involved in the anti-apartheid movement back in 1979, 1980, because I was inspired by what was taking place in South Africa.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/06/28/why-mandela-looms-large-in-obamas-political-psyche/
BOG
sheshe2
(87,176 posts)Thank you for providing the information on Ahmed Kathrada~ From inmate to guide at Robbin Island. The unbelievable history of both Nelson Mandella and Jacob Zumba, becoming President of So. Africa after imprisonment.
From your link~
These Presidents truly are alike in so many ways...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/06/28/why-mandela-looms-large-in-obamas-political-psyche/
Thank you Cha, BOG
Cha
(304,902 posts)can achieve, she..
More on Mandela in Robben Island prison..
The Prisoner
In the winter of 1964, Nelson Mandela arrived on Robben Island where he would spend 18 of his 27 prison years. Confined to a small cell, the floor his bed, a bucket for a toilet, he was forced to do hard labor in a quarry. He was allowed one visitor a year for 30 minutes. He could write and receive one letter every six months. But Robben Island became the crucible which transformed him. Through his intelligence, charm and dignified defiance, Mandela eventually bent even the most brutal prison officials to his will, assumed leadership over his jailed comrades and became the master of his own prison. He emerged from it the mature leader who would fight and win the great political battles that would create a new democratic South Africa.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/mandela/prison/
BOG
sheshe2
(87,176 posts)His indomitable spirit
It is shown when a courageous person and his principles are pitted against overwhelming odds.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Indomitable%20Spirit
It gave him everything that he needed to take South Africa out of the darkness and into the light. Thank you Nelson Mandela~
Your goodness is felt and passed along to the world. You will be remembered as a man who touched and changed the world. We pray for your continued health.
Thank you Cha~ That was beautiful.
BOG
Cha
(304,902 posts)Here's the Message left in the Robben Island Guestbook from PBO.. that I can read better.
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/06/30/south-africa-the-day-in-images/
Compelling, she.. BOG
it is hard not to tear up, Cha
BOG
Cha
(304,902 posts)This first sentence of the top quote reminds me what I read about Pres Obama today ..
President Barack Obama is to launch a $7 billion US-funded program to double access to electricity for people in sub-Saharan Africa, the first new big bucks initiative of his tour of the continent.
The Power Africa plan is expected to be announced during Mr. Obamas visit to Cape Town later Sunday. It follows announcements of new US funds for food security and leadership mentoring schemes for young Africans.
Taken together, these all signal a shift in US policy that would leave the worlds poorest continent less a dependent or a charity case and more a partner, to use buzzwords that the president has repeated during his visit. In these times of austerity and sequestration, this new approach to foreign aid the least popular part of the federal budget, Obama concedes is also cheaper and makes use of innovative joint public-private cash vehicles.
More & Vid at link..
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2013/0630/Obama-pledges-to-help-double-electricity-in-sub-Saharan-Africa-video
PBO has learned well from his "personal hero", Nelson Mandela
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/06/201362972025584105.html
Mahalo for this Inspiring thread, she BOG
treestar
(82,383 posts)As Obama was growing up, knowing about Mandela - they have both accomplished so much.
I remember Mandela being in prison too and it seemed like such a long time. It was good to hear of his release and good that he lived many years after that to be able to do so much good.
sheshe2
(87,176 posts)He was an amazing teacher to the world. We are all better for having him in our lives~
IrishAyes
(6,151 posts)One of the points made on a national news report was that Mandela and his prison guard became close friends, and the guard once smuggled in Mandela's new grandchild to see him. That was taking quite a risk.
sheshe2
(87,176 posts)I think that you've just outdone yourself too~
Thank you!
BOG
IrishAyes
(6,151 posts)Cha
(304,902 posts)Kasai @Kahsai
Syrians Message to Nelson Mandela! pic.twitter.com/g0lEegSrpM
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/06/30/a-picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words-2/#comments
BOG