Selfies and the Messiah

David, Helle and Barack making selfies (AFP photo / Roberto Schmidt)

Most controversial photograph of the memorial week that just passed is very likely the above picture with the PMs of Danmark and the UK and the President of the USA making a selfie together. However, somehow it matched the humbleness Mandela showed during his presidential years. He wanted to be known as a leader of the people, not as a President of a country. The latter just fell on him while taking office after the most celebrated election victory that once and for all discredited all racial seggregation and discrimination all over the world.

The humanity of these powerful people was shown by this very act of enjoying a moment together while celebrating the life of the personification of humbleness and care for everyday life of all South-Africans. Was it inappropriate as some say? I don't know. I think it was just human. Some powerful people enjoying the company of one another, knowing to some extend they are each others peers sharing similar burdens. 

Messiah
Yesterday I attended a concert of The Messiah performed by the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir lead by conductor Tom Koopmans.  The piece was conducted in its most rudimental form as it was firstly played in Dublin, Ireland with a small number of instruments and a limited number of singers. Even the venue had a sober outlook, neatly fitting the story narrated in this magnificant piece of art. The most powerful one, sending His son to earth to live and die for humanity carrying our burden. If Jesus would have attended in South-Africa, he probably was not in the stadium, but could be found in one of the townships. And if he had a smart-phone he would probably have made a selfie with those still excluded, despised and rejected and not even interested to watch the ceremony.

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