Nelson Mandela's Funeral.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2524036/Soldiers-seats-Nelson-Mandelas-funeral-service-overruns-hours.html

Nelson Mandela has finally been laid to rest, but what do others think of the extraordinary length of the final proceedings?

Yes and what can be said about all those African dignitaries in their smart suites and fancy dresses, this was a different Africa than is generally displayed to us on our TV screens, not a single poor little infant with faces covered in flies, or women folk walking miles to get a pitcher of muddy water.

But through out all those speeches that were made there was plenty of talk about 'equality', but I saw very little evidence of it this morning.

[sp1814]

Geographical distance is irrelevant. The Falkland Isles are 7,900 from mainland Britain.

Are not the Falklands British?

[sp1814]

jomifl

Are all of us who think of the Falklands as being British also 'idiots'?

[jomifl]

sp, The Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory in the Southern Atlantic. They are not part of the British Isles.
The Seychelles are an independant state. They are a group of islands in the Indian ocean 800 miles from the continent of Africa. They are not a part of Africa. Africa is not a state it is a continent. Does this make any kind of sense or have you muddled everything together again. Do you understand that an apple is not a pear?

[sp1814]

Thanks for you opinion jomifl (seriously).

Like most people I would not have included the Seychelles. Indeed, I wouldn't have even listed it had I not read up about it on Wikipedia.

I was surprised to see it listed when making my eatlier point, but despite what you say, I'm siding with Wikipedia and all the othe sites that regard it as African.

[sp1814]

jomifl

The Seychelles is a member of the African Union.

The African Union (AU, or, in its other official languages, UA) is a union consisting of 54 African states.

The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco.

The AU was established on 26 May 2001 in Addis Ababa and launched on 9 July 2002 in South Africa to replace the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The most important decisions of the AU are made by the Assembly of the African Union, a semi-annual meeting of the heads of state and government of its member states. The AU's secretariat, the African Union Commission, is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Perhaps you went to the Seychelles before 2001?

If so, then arguably, at that point it may not have been part of Africa...which it most certainly is now.

[jomifl]

sp, it may have escaped you notice but we are not discussing the African Union. We are discussing Africa. Try to weasel you way out of that.

[Peter Pedant]

I so enjoyed reproving the Beeb for assisting the business ventures of all the grasping relatives of the Great Man

that now he has been planted.... I quite miss it all

I mean the mad schizophrenic interpreter of Qunu,
you couldn't really make it up...

[jomifl]

Africa is a continent, The African union is a political association. The first is real, the second is an intellectul construct.

[sp1814]

jomifl

Oh...I getcha.

Bad example in the link.

Here you go:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_African_countries_by_population

I suspect however, that this is a rock/hard place interface. There's absolutely no way that you can be persuaded that the Seychelles is part of Africa, and there's no way that I can be persuaded that it isn't.

However, I'm quite enjoying this. Now we can spend fruitless hours arguing over geography...which makes a change from maths.

Next I suggest physics.

[jomifl]

sp, is this habit you have of confusing objects and concepts etc. a deliberate ploy or are you just unable to differentiate between the concrete and the conceptual and between different categories of things? Just a rhetorical question, no need to answer as I doubt any illumination will be forthcoming.

[sp1814]

jomifl

The Seychelles is part of Africa.

And yes, you're correct, there's no need to answer a rhetorical question.

However, I'm a littl chuffed that you've taken the time to ask.

Can I ask a non-rhetorical question in return?

Do you find difficulty in letting go of things?

I know myself when someone states something that I know to be untrue, I can't be happy until I've proven them wrong, even if the matter at hand is of little consequence.

I remember a time (before the Internet) when a mate of mine said in passing that he'd bought Madonna's first UK number one single, 'Like a Virgin'.

I absolutely knew that song hadn't got to number one, but I couldn't let it go until (weeks later), I could prove it.

Do you ever feel like that?

[sp1814]

jomifl

I've just had an idea...and perhaps should've offered this a whole ago.

Let's agree to disagree on the status of the Seychelles!

I think that makes perfect sense, seeing as the likelihood of either one of us persuading the other is zero (I'm resisting the temptation to use the term 'absolute zero' because that might trigger another see-saw).

How's that?

To me, that would be the adult compromise.

[jomifl]

sp, You say that the Sechelles is in the African Union, I am not disputing that. I say that the Seychelles are not in Africa( the continent), any 5 year old with an atlas can see that they are 800 miles away from Africa.., Do you have a problem with that.

[sp1814]

It matters not that they are not geographically on the continent of Africa.

They are still part of Africa and should be included when referring to African countries.

You're splitting hairs to prove a point.

I'm astonished you can't let it go - even though I've given you the opportunity to.

Furthermore, I suggest that very few five year olds have either the language skills nor the understanding of geography to back up your claim.

I'm more than happy to carry on discussing this with you.

Not sure what you're getting out of it though. Will check back tomorrow to read the next chapter of 'Out Of Africa'.

Huh...that's quite funny.

[sp1814]

Actually jomifl - just curious...why do you care so much what I think?

Serious question.

At the end of say, three more days of this - if you wore me down and I said, "Okay...you win...the Seychelles are not an African country" - would you feel happier?

Would if feel like a victory?

If that's the case, even though I know you're wrong...would you like me to say it anyway?

Kinda like an early Christmas pressie?

I'm happy to be the bigger man if that's what you want

Seriously.

Ball's in your court.

You can even keep the link to this thread for future reference.

Whaddya say?

[sp1814]

jomifl

I've just thought - I rescind the offer, and go back to my previous question.

Why is what I think of so much importance.

I ask, because when I first mentioned the Seychelles, I was talking to AOG, but you came in to correct me.

Why is my non-acceptance of your point of view so important to you?

Why don't you shrug and let it go?

I'm not taking the Mickey - I find this quite fascinating. I've not met anyone as stubborn as me. It's quite illuminating.

Again - not taking the rise.

[THECORBYLOON]

According to the United Nations, The Seychelles is in Eastern Africa, see here, http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm

[sp1814]

Thanks THECORBYLOON

I shall not argue against the UN.

I suspect they know where stuff is.