Obama has destroyed so much of his magic by taking that selfie with Cameorn and the Danish woman.

[moondog]

What an appallingly crass thing to do.
I've really gone off him in a big way.

Dancing and singing with total abandonment of the self in praise to the life of another is in total opposition to the self absorption of the people taking this selfie- selfee if you want to pigeon plural it.

The two states are diametrically opposite.

I'd flirt with him

I'm South African and certainly not offended by the "selfie". I doubt Madiba would be too. His funeral is on Sunday, yesterday was a celebration of his life and impact in our country.

It wasn't a funeral, it wasn't even a memorial, it was a joyous celebration of Mandela's life.

Three heads of state were sitting together and decided to take a photo. Who knows when and if they will ever be together again. Maybe when our Queen dies, maybe not even then.

Its no big deal, and unless the Mandela family have complained (which they haven't) why on earth should anyone else? Why is it an issue?

Yes, I'd quite like to discuss Ugandan affairs with Obama myself.

I don't see what's wrong with it.

LES at my gt grandmother's funeral (which this wasn't) most of the wake was spent laughing and celebrating. And yes, photographs were taken of those who hadn't seen each other for many years. I imagine this is similar, sort of, it's like a gathering of friends in a way..

I can't understand why, in cases where a very elderly person has died (and after in many ways a bloody good and heroic life) we shouldn't celebrate. I imagine Mandela wouldn't be too happy with the way in which all three are being condemned for a single picture of them having a bit of fun during a celebration of someone's life.

It just shows how much less formal the world has become since the advent of modern technology.

I can't imagine it happening at Churchill's funeral.

African funerals are very different to white british funerals

Absolutely.

I take it that all the dissenters would be perfectly happy for guests to take selfies, mugging for the camera at their relatives memorial service? Maybe a nice tasteful shot of the grave or coffin in the background? Indeed lets go the whole hog and selfie away at funerals too

That is perfectly normal in some cultures. I have been to a few funerals of Jamaican family/friends family where photos of the deceased in their open coffin is normal and expected.

I take it that all the dissenters would be perfectly happy for guests to take selfies, mugging for the camera at their relatives memorial service

I have a very large family, my father is the final survivor of 11 brothers. At the last funeral everyone was taking photos, because it is the only time we (all the sons/daughters/grandchildren/neices/nephews/cousins) get together. The next time will be my own fathers funeral, and I would expect more photos - because it really will be the last time we all get together - the end of an era if you like. So no, I won't mind at all.

Well, I'll be pissed off if Obama does that at my funeral.

African funerals are very different to white british funerals.

You can't generalise about the funeral rites of an entire continent. But this memorial service certainly was, and that's what matters.

It was a fun thing in a fun atmosphere. The happiest funeral ever. Obamas speech was brril. We must not be po-faced This is 2013

The Mandela funeral was POWER relaxing for a change. The English
have gone some way towards celebratory funerals. Bright clothes and pop songs. I can live with that

He is a front man for a lot of corrupt white money men and has sold the people who voted for him down the river.

Is Moondag a Sun reader

Well fair enough if you are happy with it but I thought it was crass and I wouldn't want this during a memorial service. photographs after but not during.

Seems it isn't enough to just be somewhere or to just do something. It needs to be seen by others that you were doing it or being it.

It was NOT a funeral.

Race of a Lifetime is a fabulous book written by two journalists who travelled with the candidates during the 2008 Presidential campaign. Some of the anecdotes portray Obama as being quite arrogant, which I was really surprised at to be honest as he had always appeared to be quite a decent guy. A great read if anyone likes American politics, the stuff on McCain and Palin is fascinating.

Taking selfies at a memorial service to one of the greatest men that ever lived??

I know - they were even singing and dancing! How fucking irreverent was that?

Meh. Really don't care and am laughing at the VPL of all these judgy pants.

LESuffolk are you english/british?

This was a memorial for a SA man in SA, you can't expect to impose another cultures way of doing things in the mans home country, or to be offended at guests present who went with the flow and followed the 'when in Rome' rule.

YY OP, totally inappropiate. I imagine Mrs Obama called him all kinds of cunts when she got him on airforce one.

If he had really wanted to honour the occasion and Mr Mandela, he would have announced the closure of Guantanamo.

Too fucking right you'll always fall short of Mandela Mr President.

Life of Po, perhaps calling him "a bit thick" is a little strong. But for someone with a supposedly towering intellect he makes quite a few crass, cringy mistakes.
Without even going into his massive U turn on the Guantanamo Bay issue.
But then having an opinion different to yours obviously makes me a knobhead. Nice

'African funerals'
That is a thick comment.
Noone discusses 'European funerals' as if they are all the same.

I'm just bracing myself for mention of 'African drumming and dancing'

Danish woman acted like a total idiot. Cupping Cameron's face ffs.
I saw in the Telegraph today that Michelle Obama took his place by her when he went away briefly so that she was sitting by her.
He acted like an over excited accountant at an office party.

That picture of Will and Kate looking all 'concerned' at the film premire summed him up as an utter chump didn't it.
(Great word, chump.)

And no, I don't give two hoots what Danish woman is called, any more than I care what the Chinese second in command is called.