"Why separate the words from the orator?"
I would say that there was much in that speech that would ring true, irrespective of who said it. There are times that one should listen carefully and constructively and take cognizance of the intrinsic content of a speech.
The contents of that speech were a reflection of the man that was being remembered on the day. And that man gave an example of someone who was prepared to suffer great hardship and personal sacrifice for what he truly believed in, primarily because it would be for the ultimate benefit of his own countrymen and women, and not for his own aggrandizement.
Whether or not one regards Barack Obama as a liar has nothing to do with the sentiments he expressed about Nelson Mandela, because what he said about the man was not an untruth.
There are thousands, if not millions, both here in South Africa and throughout the rest of the world, who could stand witness to what Nelson Mandela achieved in his lifetime and would soon perceive and determine whether or not Barack Obama were lying about the central subject of his speech.
And, if one is prepared to listen instead of watching a surface of paint dry, one would have noted that the influence of Nelson Mandela caused Barack Obama to question his own actions, failings and weaknesses and, who knows, maybe it will cause him to tread a more reputable path, .... going forward. |
