The ‘selfie’ seen around the world

When is it appropriate for heads of state to have a bit of fun?

Not a funeral service, apparently.

When President Obama attended the funeral service for Nelson Mandela, he along with Denmark’s Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and UK Prime Minister Cameron got together to mug for her iPhone.  In the language of teenagers, it is called a “selfie,” a self-portrait that is usually meant to post instantly on social media

The picture of these powerful world leaders crowding together made for an even greater picture.  Adding to the excitement, was Obama’s wife looking away and very stern. Every man of dating age knows that look of utter disapproval.

Almost as fast as the picture spread across the world, the photographer who took the shot came to the defense of the three leaders.  He discounted that it was inappropriate or immature.  He said it was during a time of “celebration” and not a somber moment.  According to him, he thought nothing of it at the time he snapped the shot.

Well, he thought enough of it to send it around the globe.

This bit of levity is another reminder of the power of the internet and how nothing and nobody is anonymous anymore.  It seems that every human movement is caught on video by someone, someplace.  Certainly, world leaders should be cognizant of the fact that they live in a proverbial fish bowl and need to be more careful.  But one has to believe that if they engaged in what many are calling childlike behavior at a somber event, they collectively had to believe it was not inappropriate and not childlike.

Or maybe they just didn’t care.

Defenders of the pic have also come forth to discount that the First Lady was upset, explaining that the camera just caught her in moments when she looked angry, but really wasn’t.

My take on the “selfie” is that if you’re a world leader, and you want to act human, do it in a room and make sure the only camera in the room is the one pointed at your face.

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President Obama gets into a shot with Denmark’s Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and UK Prime Minister Cameron at the funeral service for Nelson Mandela.  First Lady Michele Obama doesn’t look amused.