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

[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.

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.

No, you're odd my fellow DCUMer along with being high maintenance and self-centered. No one reached out to me when the Pope died or when Regan died, both GREAT men of courage. their actions certainly did have a tremendously positive global effect...still felt today mind you. Frankly, I would be so weird-ed out if someone did call me after their deaths. This is NOT taking away from the great man that Mandela was, but that does not mean that YOU a total stranger should expect anyone to send you a condolence for something like this. Gosh this is on another planet to me.

[Anonymous]

he was an icon and was LOVED by all. Does not compare to Bush/Reagan/whomever.

I'd mention it in passing. Condolences are only something I'd offer if your friend knew/was close to/is related to him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

No, you're odd my fellow DCUMer along with being high maintenance and self-centered. No one reached out to me when the Pope died or when Regan died, both GREAT men of courage. their actions certainly did have a tremendously positive global effect...still felt today mind you. Frankly, I would be so weird-ed out if someone did call me after their deaths. This is NOT taking away from the great man that Mandela was, but that does not mean that YOU a total stranger should expect anyone to send you a condolence for something like this. Gosh this is on another planet to me.

Get over yourself. OP is meeting her friend face to face, so it's not about calling to express condolences. It would be weird if it didn't come up, considering the new coverage.

[Anonymous]

just say wow that sucks so what are your palns this weekend?

[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.

+100! It's enough to talk about his death, say how great he was, etc. but that's it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

No, you're odd my fellow DCUMer along with being high maintenance and self-centered. No one reached out to me when the Pope died or when Regan died, both GREAT men of courage. their actions certainly did have a tremendously positive global effect...still felt today mind you. Frankly, I would be so weird-ed out if someone did call me after their deaths. This is NOT taking away from the great man that Mandela was, but that does not mean that YOU a total stranger should expect anyone to send you a condolence for something like this. Gosh this is on another planet to me.

Get over yourself. OP is meeting her friend face to face, so it's not about calling to express condolences. It would be weird if it didn't come up, considering the new coverage.

The accused "high maintenance and self-centered" poster here. (Love it!) That last post wasn't mine, but yes, that expresses what I meant and the assumption that OP was meeting up with this friend anyway. I wasn't thinking in terms of a personal and specific condolence call where I expect the person to be crying into their pillow at night. More an acknowledgement that a friend's particular public sphere has lost someone important. If you were traveling abroad when MLK was killed, wouldn't it seem normal for people to express to you what a loss it was? Nelson Mandela was a transformational figure who impacted the life of every South African.

And the cult of celebrity remark by a previous poster. . . Yeah, because Mandela is in the same category as Paul Walker, Heath Ledger, Kurt Cobain and Michael Jackson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

drama, drama, drama, OP let us know if you need help deciding whether or not to wipe your ass too

[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.

hmmmm a little different. Shosholoza

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

No, you're odd my fellow DCUMer along with being high maintenance and self-centered. No one reached out to me when the Pope died or when Regan died, both GREAT men of courage. their actions certainly did have a tremendously positive global effect...still felt today mind you. Frankly, I would be so weird-ed out if someone did call me after their deaths. This is NOT taking away from the great man that Mandela was, but that does not mean that YOU a total stranger should expect anyone to send you a condolence for something like this. Gosh this is on another planet to me.

hmmm still a little different movie star... Robben Island vs Bedtime for Bonzo