Today in Africa, a funeral was held in remembrance of freedom fighter Nelson Mandela, who died Thursday at the age of 95. Rather than, you know, remember all the things Mandela did to fight towards peace and freedom, everyone is freaking out over the moment when U.S. President Barack Obama shook Cuban President Raul Castro‘s hand because: ‘Murica vs. Communism. The Obama administration has worked to warm relations with Cuba in order, it says, to advance civil rights causes on the island and engaging Raul, brother of ailing Fidel, is an obvious next step. We found a variety of responses covering the good, bad, ugly and just plain stupid, with every one of them coming from the all-knowing Twitterverse.
Of course, there were jokes.
wow michelle caught obama kissing on raul castro and now theyre driving air force one home in icy silence
— max read (@max_read) December 10, 2013
How dare Obama shake Raul Castro’s hand? Would’ve been more presidential to pull his hand away like a bad guy in a frat movie. — CC:Indecision (@indecision) December 10, 2013
All I’m saying is that Obama should have punched Castro in the mouth, screamed “Capitalism!!” and then eaten a Big Mac. — William K. Wolfrum (@Wolfrum) December 10, 2013
But then things got serious.
You know what would be stupider than outrage over the Obama-Castro handshake? An embargo on Cuba in the year 2013. — daveweigel (@daveweigel) December 10, 2013
Yup, Obama shook hands with Raoul Castro at Nelson Mandela’s funeral. He should also end the embargo: http://t.co/TMGaWBTwsq — Slate (@Slate) December 10, 2013
Theories on personal motives flew.
Obama-Castro handshake: effort to reach out or just trying to avoid snub at memorial focused on forgiveness? @shearm http://t.co/Xvx7nl4MGh — Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) December 10, 2013
While comparisons to previous moments in history were made.
Grumpy @SenJohnMcCain goes there on Obama-Castro handshake: “Neville Chamberlain shook hands with Hitler.” http://t.co/omK96b8V74 #edshow — Ed Schultz (@edshow) December 10, 2013
Then there was stuff like this. #IMPEACHOBAMA now. This guy is a DISGRACE to AMERICA!! Rubio slams Obama handshake with Castro
#IMPEACHOBAMA now. This guy is a DISGRACE to AMERICA!! Rubio slams Obama handshake with Castro | TheHill http://t.co/oCzid3qkYE via @TheHill — Thomas Sonderman (@amatt2004) December 10, 2013
And…this.
Dictators Obama and Castro Shake Hands at Communist Funeral http://t.co/Tp6gNL2PbH — David Sucharzewski (@oddball143) December 10, 2013
But at least one person gets it.
Why the big deal about @obama shaking hands with Raul Castro? This is about #MandelaMemorial not about either of them and political stance
— Uncle Wil (@Uncle_Wil) December 10, 2013
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