Should I say something to my friend from South Africa tomorrow?

[Anonymous]

Not really sure what to say. Just thinking I should say something sort of a condolence on the passing of Nelson Mandela. Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Why not? The man was. Global icon and died at 95. It's not exactly a touchy subject.

[Anonymous]

Just say you were thinking about her.

[Anonymous]

How old are you to even ask this question? Mandela is an international legend- unless your friend is a KKK person, I don't see any reason not to mention his passing. You can mention his passing to ANYONE ..

[Anonymous]

WHO THE F CARES ??????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are you to even ask this question? Mandela is an international legend- unless your friend is a KKK person, I don't see any reason not to mention his passing. You can mention his passing to ANYONE ..

seriously, are you a complete moron?

[Anonymous]

Of course!

[Anonymous]

Of course. Just say you saw the news about Madiba and you want to pass your condolences.

[Anonymous]

Are you serious OP? what a dumb question. If Obama died I would not expect anyone to pass condolences to me....this is just a weird question.

Its not like you were related to him.

I think your friend would find this odd and strange, almost uncomfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you serious OP? what a dumb question. If Obama died I would not expect anyone to pass condolences to me....this is just a weird question.

Its not like you were related to him.

I think your friend would find this odd and strange, almost uncomfortable.

PP, I think you're the strange one. It's hard to think of a contemporary political figure on par with Nelson Mandela.

And yeah, if President Obama died, I would appreciate any non-American friends expressing their sorrow for our loss. I happen to love Obama and share his politics, but I would view it as a kindness for the same kind of expression if the president were George W. Bush.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you serious OP? what a dumb question. If Obama died I would not expect anyone to pass condolences to me....this is just a weird question.

Its not like you were related to him.

I think your friend would find this odd and strange, almost uncomfortable.

+1 Totally agree.

[Anonymous]

I would. We have many Czech friends, and when Vaclav Havel died, we just said that we were sorry to hear that he had died, and that he was a great man. Something along those lines would seem appropriate here. Not, "I'm sorry for your loss," but "the world has lost a great man."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you serious OP? what a dumb question. If Obama died I would not expect anyone to pass condolences to me....this is just a weird question.

Its not like you were related to him.

I think your friend would find this odd and strange, almost uncomfortable.

+1

This need to personalize "celebrity" death always puzzles me.

[Anonymous]

No. I would have felt very strange if someone from abroad had offered condolences when Reagan died. Or Ford. Or when Carter dies or Bush Sr.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you serious OP? what a dumb question. If Obama died I would not expect anyone to pass condolences to me....this is just a weird question.

Its not like you were related to him.

I think your friend would find this odd and strange, almost uncomfortable.

+1

This need to personalize "celebrity" death always puzzles me.

+1