I love the Dutch. I believe liberating that beautiful little progressive country was the best thing this country has ever done. I love the way they send us tulips every year. I'm sorry so many are so sad tonight. But I'm glad Spain won the World Cup. Not just because they were the better, classier team. But because I can't think of a worst day for the Dutch people to go wild with joy.
Some 30,000 Bosnian Muslims had flocked to the UN military base in the town's suburb of Potocari for refuge, when Serb forces came and the outnumbered Dutch troops opened the gates. The Serbs separated out men and boys, putting them on trucks and carting them away, the vast majority never to be seen again.
I know those Dutch soldiers weren't entirely to blame for what happened. They weren't given enough support. It was the blackest day in the history of the United Nations.
But I can never forget how they partied when the Serbs announced they were letting them go. Or how their general toasted the war criminal Ratko Mladic.
Even as his death squads were preparing to murder thousands of men and boys.
I realize the date of World Cup final was a cruel twist of fate. But to celebrate wildly on such an anniversary would have been unfortunate to say the least.
The good news? Serbia's long and painful journey out of the darkness into the light. The Serbian President attended today's memorial.And I found this particularly moving.
But until this monstrous war criminal is captured and punished.
Until the last remains of his victims are found and returned to those who loved them.
The Serbs are condemned to keep looking for him, if they want to complete their journey.
By all rights, this was Nelson Mandela’s day. The fans said it. The organizers said it. For the man who had discovered the enormous power of sports to transform an apartheid-blighted country, this was the culmination of everything he had fought for in his long life.
But in one of those cruel twists that have often marked South Africa’s history, the 91-year-old hero of the liberation struggle was absent from Soccer City stadium yesterday when South Africa fought to a 1-1 draw with Mexico on the opening day of the first-ever World Cup on African soil.
His absence would have, clearly, broken his heart. Despite his frail health, Mr. Mandela was determined to attend the historic opening match.
What a cruel blow. How unfair. As if he hasn't had enough precious moments stolen from his life.
It would have been beyond awesome to see him there being cheered by the crowd. I'd been looking forward to that moment for weeks.
Because as far as I'm concerned we can't cheer that grand old man enough.
And this amazing soccer party is also a celebration of his journey and his South Africa.
The belief that has started to course through the country in the past month, and the feverish anticipation that has been expertly brought to the boil by organisers, erupted in a joyous outpouring. "The atmosphere, the vibe is incredible. It is going to be a great month. People don't sleep nowadays. All you hear is vuvuzelas."
At a time when most stories out of Africa are ones of war and suffering isn't it great to see so many Africans so happy and proud?
Thokoza means "be happy" in Zulu. Mandela means FREEDOM in all the languages of the world.
Oh boy. As you know these days it isn't easy to be a Canadian.
Once we used to wear our maple leaves proudly all over the world to let people know where we came from eh? But now that Stephen Harper has had his way with us, and people all over the world are calling us torture enablers and planet burners, we don't brag about that anymore.
Lest we attract the wrong kind of attention. Or a rock ..... or a doughnut. So you can imagine how happy I am to report that thanks to this awesome Canadian poet, rapper, and musician.
Wooh. What a great song. I've been humming it all day. And soon BILLIONS will. Maybe my hero Nelson Mandela will like it too, and ask the world to give us a second chance. As long as we get rid of the Cons. Hey. Who knew a kid from Mogadishu would save us? Way to go K'naan !!!!
