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Newt Gingrich is the latest right wing figure to make a gracious statement on the death of Nelson Mandela, and find himself the target of thousands of abusive, racist and hateful messages from his own base as a result.

“President Nelson Mandela was one of the greatest leaders of our lifetime,” he wrote. “When he visited the Congress I was deeply impressed with the charisma and the calmness with which he could dominate a room. It was as if the rest of us grew smaller and he grew stronger and more dominant the longer the meeting continued.”

Gingrich’s statement, however, was met with backlash from many of his followers.

“Newt, I was rooting for you to win the primaries and become the next president; please tell me your joking!! Mandela was a commie murderer!!” read one comment that was popular with other users.

“You’re forgetting Mandela’s extreme racism! There are YouTubes of Mandela singing songs about murdering the white man. I spit on his grave….,” read another.

When asked about the criticism in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, Gingrich replied, “I was very surprised by it. [My wife] Callista posted my statement on her Facebook page and was amazed at some of the intensity — some of whom came back three, four and five times repeating how angry they were.”

Gingrich’s words on Mandela may sound sane enough, but I’m not sure why he’s surprised by the response from the right wing base. After all, this is the same guy who was scheduled to speak at hate group leader Pamela Geller’s “Ground Zero Mosque” rally, the same guy who called Obama “the first food stamp President,” and the same guy who said Obama has a “Kenyan world view.” Among many other similar statements.

He’s been blatantly pandering to the knuckle draggers in the right wing base for decades, but now he’s shocked! when they react exactly as he’s indoctrinated them to react? I don’t believe it, sorry. He’s no political dummy; he had to expect this.

These excerpts are from one of the many defining speeches that Nelson Mandela gave, a statement from the Rivonia trial where he was found guilty of sabotage. In it he gives a clear answer to accusations of communism, and the reasons the ANC chose sabotage over other forms of active resistance. After he was sentenced he would not be heard again for decades.

I have always regarded myself, in the first place, as an African patriot. I was born in Mthatha, 46 years ago. My guardian was my cousin, who was the acting paramount chief of Tembuland, and I am related both to the present paramount chief of Tembuland, Sabata Dalindyebo, and to Kaizer Matanzima, the chief minister of the Transkei.

As I understand the state case… the suggestion is that Umkhonto was the inspiration of the Communist Party which sought by playing upon imaginary grievances to enrol the African people into an army which ostensibly was to fight for African freedom, but in reality was fighting for a communist state.

Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact the suggestion is preposterous. Umkhonto was formed by Africans to further their struggle for freedom in their own land.

Our fight is against real, and not imaginary, hardships or, to use the language of the state prosecutor, so-called hardships. Basically, we fight against two features which are the hallmarks of African life in South Africa and which are entrenched by legislation which we seek to have repealed.

These features are poverty and lack of human dignity, and we do not need communists or so-called agitators to teach us about these things.

More: Nelson Mandela Death: Excerpts of His Rivonia Speech

Vimeo

Serving Suggestion: 1080p, lights off, volume up.
Click “Read more” for details about the sequence.

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Images: eol.jsc.nasa.gov
Music: ‘Fill My Heart’ by Two Steps from Hell
Editor: David Peterson

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This montage of time-lapse photography from the International Space Station is collected from many taken in Expeditions 29, 30 and 31.

The previous sequence, ‘All Alone In The Night’, highlighted night sequences and spectacular aurora light shows and intended to give a feeling of flying through space.

The goal with this sequence was to bring a bit more attention to the station itself, including the humans aboard it, particularly Don Pettit (appearing in the final shot) who took many of the sequences in this montage.

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Sequences:

0:03 - Bosnia & Herzegovina to Ukraine
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 55446-55591

0:08 - South Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Liberia
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 154281-154472

0:16 - Greece and Turkey
Mission ISS031, Frames: 26008-26202

0:24 - South Pacific Ocean, near Peru
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 48993-49186

0:32 - Turkey to Syria
Mission: ISS031, Frame: 76590-76782

0:39 - Libya to the Mediterranean
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 25782-25972

0:47 - Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Madagascar
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 50818-51010

0:54 - Pacific Ocean, south of Japan
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 117700-117772

0:58 - Pacific Ocean, facing North passing Hawaii
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 101027-101674

1:02 - China, Japan, Pacific Ocean
Mission: ISS030, Frames: 112458-112553

1:06 - South Pacific to North Atlantic, across Colombia/Venezuela
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 75421-75513

1:10 - South Pacific to South Atlantic, across Chile/Argentina
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 42147-42242

1:14 - South Pacific to North Atlantic, across Colombia/Venezuela
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 48140-48199

1:17 - Pacific Ocean, from New Zealand to USA
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 66043-66136

1:22 - Southern Chile to Angola, facing south
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 49203-49277

1:25 - Iran to Australia
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 180064-180120

1:29 - North America to South America
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 180172-180222

1:33 - Pacific Ocean to Chile/Argentina/Brazil, facing south
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 48094-48139

1:37 - South Pacific/Japan & North Pacific
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 154164-154204,154205-154256

1:40 - South Pacific to South Atlantic, across Chile/Argentina/Brazil
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 44598-44645

1:44 - South Pacific to North Atlantic, across Chile/Argentina/Brazil
Mission: ISS030, Frames: 159064-159113

1:48 - India/Thailand/Indonesia/Australia/New Zealand
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 177704-177764

1:52 - South Pacific to South Atlantic, across Chile/Argentina/Brazil
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 37675-37735

1:56 - DR Congo/Zambia/Mozambique/Madagascar/Indian Ocean
Mission: ISS030, Frames: 21632-21819

2:03 - Lovejoy Comet over Australia
Mission: ISS030, Frames: 14225-14455

2:11 - Moon rising over China
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 27699-27763

2:13 - Moon rising over Pacific Ocean, south of Japan
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 27468-27526

2:14 - Moon rising over Taiwan & Philippines (with Don Pettit)
Mission: ISS031, Frames: 27802-28017

YouTube

Time for something amazing.

Live in 1992 @ North Sea Jazz Festival

Michael Brecker - sax & EWI
Randy Brecker - trumpet
Mike Stern - guitar
James Genus - bass
George Whitty - keys
Dave Weckl - drums

Sound mastered by Steffen Brix.

Please consider this a promotion for the artists - go and buy their albums - and help them make more wonderful music!

Vimeo

It was one hell of a journey during the fourteen months making Wyoming Wildscapes II, my second and final Wyoming related time lapse project. Had plenty of adventures while working on this. Lightning almost got me a couple of times this summer, gear froze up in the winter (literally), and broke a few times (don’t think most of the time lapse gear was meant for extended wilderness backpacking), all that fun stuff. Despite any minor set backs, this was without a doubt one of the most fulfilling personal projects I’ve ever undertaken. Saw some pretty amazing stuff along the way, this part of the country never ceases to amaze and surprise me.

Song is ‘Dance of the Seven Sisters’ - by Ghost Kollective

Thanks for watching!
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Ghost Kollective did an absolutely amazing job on the custom track. I’ve enabled the tip jar and any tips given will be sent to Ghost K (through my lightalivephotography paypal) for creating this track without seeking payment. Or you can cut out the middle man, do one better, and buy some of their music! itunes.apple.com

Ghost K links:
ghostkollective.com
youtube.com
facebook.com
_______
My links:
facebook.com
lightalivephotography.com
plus.google.com

Some long winded stuff here for anyone interested in reading more about Wyoming Wildscapes II, including a bit about licensing.
lightalivephotography.com

At the far right propaganda site that Andrew Breitbart spawned, Ben “Friends of Hamas” Shapiro shares his special take on President Obama’s planned trip to South Africa: AFTER SNUBBING THATCHER FUNERAL, OBAMA AND MICHELLE TO VISIT SOUTH AFRICA FOR MANDELA!!!

I’ve lost track of how many times the Breitbrats have used this photo for their hit pieces; for some reason it really appeals to them:

Hilariously, Shapiro’s predictable slant that Obama “snubbed” Margaret Thatcher’s funeral is undercut by his own article:

The Sun reported, “[Downing] Street is most angered by rejections from Obama, First Lady Michelle and Vice-President Joe Biden. And none of the four surviving ex-US leaders - Jimmy Carter, George Bush Sr., Bill Clinton and George Bush Jr. - is coming either.”

Oh, you mean none of the last five presidents went to Thatcher’s funeral? But of course, it was Obama who SNUBBED, because he’s “arrogant.” You can tell from the photo. Is that an arrogant face or what?

Meanwhile, in the comment section, the right wing base is making things very clear again, in case you were tempted to believe they had some sort of respect for Nelson Mandela’s achievements:

Well Mandela was a communist afterall.

[…]

…as a fellow african the president needs to mourn with his people…

[…]

you’re right about him having to be with HIS people.He’ll always be more part of them than American anyway. he should stay there.

[…]

The whites there have to have an inordinate amount of security around their houses. When blacks do manage to get in, they now torture their victims for days before killing them. The black police usually do nothing. They have been known to wrap babies in newspaper and set them on fire, or drop them in boiling water.
I don’t see this making the news. Thank God they have an evacuation plan.

[…]

They are just as sick here…it must be in their DNA…

[…]

And Mandela became a “good” communist yesterday.

[…]

Maybe we’ll get lucky and their plane will fall out of the sky.

[…]

This is seriously the reason this ass has not been assassinated, nobody wants this guy to be martyred, I actually think the KKK would prevent any attempts on his life. Our luck will be the typical liberal assassin does it.

[…]

Seriously—we’re gonna say it cause we know everyone is thinking it—the reason they snubbed Thatcher is because she was conservative and white while Mandela was a communist and black (like BHO)

[…]

Isn’t this special?
White World leaders don’t receive any recognition from this administration.

How racist is that?
Oh well, I guess it’s just another example of affirmative action.

[…]

Lady Thatcher was a white European. Mr. Mandela was a REAL African. Is there any question which type of person Barry like more?

[…]

Mandala was a corrupt and amoral black racist.

[…]

THIS ARTICLE ALONE puts the LIE to the PR CLAIMING MANDELA an altruist instead of a communist genocidal freak who successfully shed his own reputation off onto Winnie, while ignoring all his own ACTIONS.

WHEN has the WORLD MEDIA so highly praised and EX-COMMUNIST, much less OBAMA.

As usual, when most of a Dictator’s GENOCIDAL VICTIMS are CHRISTIANS, whether Black or whatever - in this case as with Obama’s forefathers, PRIMARILY BLACK - it is highly irrelevant - like with CAIR, Muslim Brotherhood, Syrian Al Qaeda cannibals…

[…]

And not a word from the MSM about “necklacing” torture… or machete hackings. Sorry Liberals but your Mandela is not your grand parent’s MLK.

[…]

Obama should just stay over there and find him a little African country to run.

[…]

Where was Obama, blowing dogs at the bath houses?

[…]

It’s no big deal. Just another dead communist.

[…]

Let this LIAR and fat so muchella STAY THERE…………..

[…]

Would be the perfect time for the first cow to get that saucer fitted for that lip.

[…]

Moochelle can be fitted for a lot of neck rings. It will help keep her nose in the air because she has such a big head

[…]

I agree that the saucer and rings would make her culturally compliant along with her other offensive attributes.

[…]

The Obamas…back to their roots…the jungles & trees of Africa.

[…]

If they don’t want o be associated with jungles and trees then they shouldn’t claim t be “African” Americans.

That’s just from the first few pages of comments, and this stuff is by no means unique to Breitbart.com; you’ll find similar deranged rants and overt racism at nearly every right wing website today.

(But remember, there’s no such thing as right wing racism.)