The State Funeral of Madiba (not the Memorial Service in the stadium) is happening live

[MADem]

right now. Al Jazeera is providing coverage. You may be able to find live feeds on the web as well.

[Tx4obama]

1. A live stream on the link below

Here: http://www.mediaite.com/online/watch-live-state-funeral-for-nelson-mandela/

[Tx4obama]

2. This is the ceremony that I wish President Obama, Michelle, Carter, and the Clintons had attended

It is much more dignified than the one at the stadium.

But I think that Obama probably wanted to be in the states today for the Sandy Hook one year anniversary.

Obama pauses in remembrance of Sandy Hook victims

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[MADem]

5. The stadium one was better. Prince Charles looks like he's doing the

wake-up-head-bounce.

A lotta folks look like they need to pee, and the speeches are interminable. Everyone is saying the same damn thing--I wish they'd get a little more personal.

[Tx4obama]

8. Pres Zuma is hollering now - that will wake everyone up!

[MADem]

12. That dude (not Zuma) with the leopard shawl??

Damn, he brought the house down--he brought the house down at the stadium, too! No idea what he was saying, but he meant it....

[Tx4obama]

15. Well, I got confused. I thought right before he came out they introduced him as Zuma

I guess I don't know who the heck he was - but that was something.

[MADem]

16. He's not Zuma the President of SA, that dude is wearing a suit.

He might also be named Zuma, he's the only one who hasn't been bilingual in his speeches, and he hasn't had a translator, so it's a bit of a mystery...!

[Tx4obama]

17. Goodnight. I'm heading to bed and will watch the rest on the TV.

[chillfactor]

3. I watched the funeral service....

it was serene and breathaking beautiful!

[MADem]

4. That was the Memorial (in the rain at the stadium). The funeral is happening now.

President Kikwete of Tanzania is speaking right now. Oprah is there with her fellow, as is Richard Branson and other dignitaries.

Only 450 will go to the burial site.

[Tx4obama]

7. So far I've seen Oprah, her friend Gale, boyfriend Steadman, Branson, and maybe Desmond Tutu

... but no one else looks familiar to me.

I read that the U.S. Ambassador is supposed to be there but I do not know what he looks like.

[MADem]

9. The US Ambassador is Patrick Gaspard.

Last time I saw him, he'd done the "Telly Savalas" and had a gleaming head (he went gray before he did that). He has a smile that lights up the room, this is not the best pic of him.

[Tx4obama]

6. Funeral is happening now. Do you mean when they moved his casket to lie in state?

Here's a link that has a live stream of the funeral service: http://www.mediaite.com/online/watch-live-state-funeral-for-nelson-mandela/

[MADem]

10. Right now, SA Prez Zuma is speaking.

They are in Madiba's hometown. These are the speeches in front of the casket. There are only a few hundred people there.

That link of yours is about two seconds ahead of AJ's. This is what I am talking about--it's happening live.

[Tx4obama]

11. Yes, I know. My comment was for 'chillfactor' - was asking him/her what he/she meant

[Tx4obama]

13. I think what 'chillfactor' referred to is what happened yesterday... video below

[MADem]

14. +1....Winnie and Graca must be exhausted; this is a long process. nt

[countryjake]

18. Lots of pics of the march to the dome and the funeral ceremony...

here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2523695/Military-honor-guard-escorts-Nelson-Mandelas-casket-final-resting-place-funeral-takes-place-anti-apartheid-leader.html

[MADem]

19. That tent is something!

And whoever did the staging with the candle for every year of Madiba's life should get a huge UP! Very compelling.

AJ has been doing commentary over the speeches--I think there is a lot of repetitive droning going on.

Apparently the idea is to bury the gentleman when the sun is highest in the sky, but they're going to miss that window because everyone wants to have their moment at the podium.

[countryjake]

20. I'm surprised there hasn't been more singing...

and yes, I'm about to fall asleep trying to watch and it's not even that late out here.

Here comes the sermon.

[countryjake]

21. High noon...

and they are heading for the grave site.

[MADem]

22. They didn't quite make the window, but it didn't matter.

They said it was more important to memorialize him than meet the precise moment in time. I can see their point.

I thought it was a pity that they cut the feed and "privatized" the last bit. If it were me, I would have had some sort of conclusion, and then had an "after ceremony" for family alone. It left a lot of the "mourners from afar" who feel that is an important aspect a bit discombobulated.

Still no clarity as to whether his gravesite will be opened for visitors to come and pay their respects. Initial suspicions are that it won't be--I hope that's not accurate either.

[countryjake]

23. I guess those helicopters with the flags...

that went around as the casket was lowered were supposed to signal the end, but I do agree, it was rather abrupt. I know I continued watching, long after the six planes flew over and the helicopters disappeared from sight. Beautiful vista of Mandela's homeland, tho, and a time for reflection.

[malaise]

24. We watched it all on South African Broadcasting Corporation

the best coverage of the entire 10 days bar none.

[MADem]

26. They supplied the master feed, the videographers are to be commended. nt

[malaise]

27. Indeed

I hope (as someone in South Africa suggested) that they put everything on DVD so we can buy and keep for the generations to come.

[countryjake]

29. It's been an awe inspiring time, they really should be commended.

I'm exhausted from the experience, even tho I am normally a night-owl, these past few days have been too sad and I'm now worn out.

My man wants to go into town....I'm ready to go back to sleep.

[malaise]

30. Truth I am drained and sad

but I had to see everything for myself uninterrupted and SABC was fabulous. THey should take a bow.

[MADem]

25. That was one helluva fly-by, I must say.

I liked the helo/flag thing. The more I watched it, the more I liked it!

[countryjake]

28. I loved that, too!

But the moment the trumpeter began, my emotions welled up and I was bawling like a baby again.

Now that I think about it, I do believe that allowing a certain privacy for the traditional rites and family goodbyes at the graveside was appropriate. I put my own old mother into the ground this year and I couldn't even imagine having a camera prying into those final personal moments. Of course, she didn't belong to a nation, either, but still.