'That man is just Tutu cool'

[tabatha]

Desmond Tutu fans have flooded social networking sites, wishing the struggle icon happy birthday on Thursday as he officially began his retirement.

Real-time results on Twitter flooded in by the second.

http://twitter.com/search?q=Desmond%20Tutu

"Sometimes strident, often tender, never afraid and seldom without humour, Desmond Tutu's voice will always be the voice of the voiceless," tweeted @CharlieZulu75, quoting Nelson Mandela.

Others were more jovial, in keeping with Tutu's famed sense of humour. "I wonder if Desmond Tutu knows his name is an anagram of mounted stud?" tweeted @Shrimpin.

The former archbishop's 79th birthday brings the curtain down on a career that saw him win a Nobel Peace Prize for battling apartheid before emerging as South Africa's conscience.

Tutu announced in July that he would step down from public life on his 79th birthday, which he will celebrate on Thursday on board a cruise ship docked in Cape Town, where he served as archbishop for the Anglican Church.

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-10-07-that-man-is-just-tutu-cool

and I will never forget this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMUhmiPUT2s&feature=player_embedded

[marmar]

1. He deserves a rest......but he will be greatly missed in public life.

Thank you for your extraordinary life's work, Bishop Tutu.

[babylonsister]

2. Rec'd! Love this. This man is an icon; he will be missed. nt

[tabatha]

3. I forgot to add this slideshow.

http://www.mg.co.za/multimedia/2010-08-02-tutu-retires-from-public-life