Posted on 07/19/2003 12:38:17 PM PDT by kattracks
Clinton and his wife, Hillary, joined the audience as they sang "Happy Birthday" to the former South African president, who turned 85 on Friday.
Later, they were among some 1,600 guests who attended a banquet to honor the man who is revered at home and abroad as a hero who preached racial reconciliation to his apartheid-scarred nation despite the 27 years he spent imprisoned by the white, racist regime.
Guests at the banquet included celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Robert DeNiro, South African President Thabo Mbeki and former President South African President F.W. de Klerk, who released Mandela from prison in 1990 later shared the Nobel Peace Prize with him.
In his earlier speech, Clinton laid out a three-step plan he said Western nations could use to help raise Africa out of poverty. It included relieving Africa's foreign debt, increasing trade and helping to "unleash huge amounts of resources" for development.
Speaking to an audience that included retired Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, rock musician Bono and politicians from across South Africa, Clinton was interrupted several times by applause during a speech in which he compared Mandela to Mahatma Gandhi.
He spoke at length about his family's attachment to Mandela. It began when he and his daughter, Chelsea, watched a television broadcast of Mandela "walking to his freedom" in 1990.
"I am only his third-biggest fan in my family," Clinton said, bringing a wide smile to Mandela's face who received a hug from Hillary Clinton.
Clinton also spent considerable time outlining what he felt were the continent's priorities the menace of AIDS, the need for education, and the success of democracies.
Of the 42 million people worldwide infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, 29 million live in sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS has already killed more than 17 million in that region and more than 11 million African children have lost at least one parent to the pandemic.
"We can't work for Africa, or against Africa, but must work with Africa," Clinton said.
Clinton and his wife, Hillary, joined the audience as they sang "Happy Birthday" to the former South African president, who turned 85 on Friday.
Later, they were among some 1,600 guests who attended a banquet to honor the man who is revered at home and abroad as a hero who preached racial reconciliation to his apartheid-scarred nation despite the 27 years he spent imprisoned by the white, racist regime.
Guests at the banquet included celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Robert DeNiro, South African President Thabo Mbeki and former President South African President F.W. de Klerk, who released Mandela from prison in 1990 later shared the Nobel Peace Prize with him.
In his earlier speech, Clinton laid out a three-step plan he said Western nations could use to help raise Africa out of poverty. It included relieving Africa's foreign debt, increasing trade and helping to "unleash huge amounts of resources" for development.
Speaking to an audience that included retired Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, rock musician Bono and politicians from across South Africa, Clinton was interrupted several times by applause during a speech in which he compared Mandela to Mahatma Gandhi.
He spoke at length about his family's attachment to Mandela. It began when he and his daughter, Chelsea, watched a television broadcast of Mandela "walking to his freedom" in 1990.
"I am only his third-biggest fan in my family," Clinton said, bringing a wide smile to Mandela's face who received a hug from Hillary Clinton.
Clinton also spent considerable time outlining what he felt were the continent's priorities the menace of AIDS, the need for education, and the success of democracies.
Of the 42 million people worldwide infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, 29 million live in sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS has already killed more than 17 million in that region and more than 11 million African children have lost at least one parent to the pandemic.
"We can't work for Africa, or against Africa, but must work with Africa," Clinton said.
Clintons, Oprah Lead Star Studded Tribute to Senile, Communist Mandela
"Der Shlickmiester" really has a fixation for criminals doesn't he.
You got THAT right!
Yeah, but that's only because Chelsea had control of the remote.
Yeah, but that's only because "Girls Gone Wild" hadn't come out yet.
Does this mean that the X42-Sinkmaster has changed his pet name for his "l'il willie" to Mandela now?
We were told that Mandela was imprisoned for killing a cop. Is it only "white, racist regimes" that execute justice?
He should have been pushing up daisies instead of occupying jail space and using the Earth's air.
Isn't that pouring it on a little thick Bubba? He is such a suck up!
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