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25.11.2022
- 59 years ago - 25th November 1963
Emperor Haile Selassie was in Arlington,
Virginia.
The John F. Kennedy
Funeral
By Mulugeta Haile
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Today in history, 59 years ago, on November 25,
1963 - the
funeral of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the US, was
carried out at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. During the
ceremony, 26 heads of States and 85 world representatives were
present to pay their last respect to the late President. According
to protocol, Emperor Haile Selassie stood very close to the
President's casket.
In the early morning service at the church, the Emperor arrived
late and Charles de Gaulle, the President of France inadvertently
sat at the Emperor’s designated place, but was whispered to
move a little farther along the first pew.
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Though
the protocol
officer must pretend that every leader is like other leader,
distinguishable only by the alphabet, this did not apply to the
Lion of Judah, Emperor Haile Selassie . The following day, to
comfort the first family at the White House, only four leaders
were selected and the Emperor was the first to be called in. He
was more effective in comforting the first family, who kept him
busy. The President’s children were on his lap, John-John, a
son
of the President, asking his mom, why their guest had all these
medial on his chest, the first lady answered, “Because he is
a
super hero”.
Rose Fitzgerald, the president’s mother, who discovered that
she
was the same age with the Emperor, she engaged him in intense
conversation. When she said that was not fair for parents to bury
their children, he added that it was not fair either for youth to
bury their father, mother, brother, and sister. He mentioned that
when he was 14 years old and 16, he buried his father and older
brother, respectively. At top of his high career, he also buried
his two daughter, two sons and wife. In that moment, nobody
could speak about a family loss with authority like Emperor
Haile Selassie. After all, he grew up without a mother and
father, brother and sister.
According to Captain Alemhayhu's memo, the airplane that was
carrying the Emperor to Washington DC, one of its engine was
stopped functioning, as they were crossing the Atlantic. The
Captain wanted an emergency landing, but the Emperor insisted
to carry on. He wanted to be on time to say farewell to the late
President who honored him as no other world leader had ever
honored him.
Two
months before President Kennedy was assassinated, the
President invited the Emperor to US and said, “In welcoming
His Majesty, we honor not only a distinguished leader of his
country and a distinguished world figure, but we also welcome a
man whose place in history is already assured.”
It is fitting to remember Edward Ullendorff’s statement,
which
he made to his students at Harvard University, “When great
men described Haile Selassie, he remained to be great, but in the
description of small minds, he will appear to be as small as their
mindset.” Sadly enough in the current Tribal Apartheid
Ethiopia, there is not a day that passes without the tribalists
leaders demonizing the Emperor.
Haile
Selassie & John F. Kennedy in Oval Office - White House - 1st
October 1963
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Photo:
Abbie Rowe - White House Photographs
Text:
Mulugeta Haile / Ethiopia
Copyright:
www.reggaestory.de
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