Let me only touch on rainbows--for his presidency was marked by diversity, more black and white than colors, but, nevertheless a lesson for world politics today--and sports. Archbishop Desmond Tutu describes post-apartheid South Africa as the Rainbow Nation, nicely symbolized by their national flag. I wrote an article for the Huffington Post entitled, "Barack Obama is Gray." The South African rainbow is gray.
He willed South Africa to host the Rugby World Cup in 1995, even though this would be their very first participation, and they went on to edge New Zealand for the championship. The movie Invictus (Rotten Tomatoes 76% by reviewers and 75% by audiences), with Morgan Freeman as Mandela and Matt Damon is symbolic of how greatness can come from cooperation. South Africa leveraged this monumental victory to host the Soccer World Cup in 2010, which popularized that obnoxious vuvuzela.
There is a brand new movie, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, which was rated by Rotten Tomatoes to be 56% from reviewers and 80% from the people. I suspect this film will do a lot better in week #2.
There have been others:
- 1987: Mandela, by HBO with Danny Glover
- 1997: Mandela and de Klerk, another TV film, with Sidney Poitier
- 2007: Goodbye Bafana with Dennis Haysbert
- 2009: Mrs. Mandela by the BBC with David Harewood
Mind you, Mandela has only initiated the effort. Inequality remains. With more than 90% of the population black, they make one-sixth the annual salary of whites. Only 8% have had any post-secondary education versus 37% for whites. There is crime, so much so that I have avoided visiting this country. On the other hand, I find this mind-blowing, but the USA has six times more crime than #2 Germany and three times more than #5 South Africa. To be more accurate, though, we have six times more people than South Africa, so the per capita crime in South Africa is double that of the USA.
Well, can't end on a Friday with that, so let me close with colors. The Pantone color of next year is radiant orchid. That's to the left.
And, in case you missed it, this year was emerald. Who or what is Pantone? Ah, it's just a a color company, purchased in 2007 by X-Rite for $180 million.
Upcoming this weekend will be the annual grand gathering of Chaine des Rotisseurs, with tuxedos and the finest cuisine...at the Halekulani Hotel. Have a great weekend!
Upcoming this weekend will be the annual grand gathering of Chaine des Rotisseurs, with tuxedos and the finest cuisine...at the Halekulani Hotel. Have a great weekend!
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