Literally Meaningless Signs at Mandela Memorial

The interpreter for the deaf at the Nelson Mandela memorial service held in South Africa was apparently a fake. He was not signing in any recognized sign language. He was apparently just waving his hands in the air; his gestures meant nothing to anyone but himself.

Bruno Druchen, the national director of the Deaf Federation of South Africa, first noticed the meaningless gibberish the man was signing at the Mandela Memorial, saying the interpreter was “moving his hands around but there was no meaning in what he used his hands for.” South Africa is currently preparing a statement for what another sign language expert called “an absolute circus.”

But these weren’t the only meaningless signs at the Mandela memorial. President Obama shook hands with Fidel Castro’s son Raul Castro, whatever that means. Critics think it is a sign of Obama’s dangerous naivety concerning Castro’s brutal regime. Advocates think it will mark a thawing of Cuban-American relations. It probably doesn’t mean anything at all.

In fact, most of the signs of unity and solidarity at the Mandela memorial probably mean nothing. Most of the gestures meant to honor the first black president of South Africa amount to little more than PR and smoke-blowing.

Need proof? How about Obama’s cheeky selfie with the British PM and a flirty Helle Thorning-Schmidt. Apparently Thorning-Schmidt, the Danish leader who sat next to Obama for most of the proceedings, thought it a good idea to share jokes and laugh with Obama during the order of service. The only person in their local vicinity who seemed to recognize just how tasteless all these shenanigans were was Obama’s wife, who sat aside with a rather sour look on her face. Michelle eventually broke up the little party by sitting between her husband and Thorning-Schmidt.

The only person who absolutely received no love was current South African president Jacob Zuma. He was loudly booed and publicly humiliated. South Africans will never forgive him for his “homophobia” and “self-hate.” And they apparently hold him responsible for their currently miserable quality of life. In other words, the clearest inheritor of the reality of Mandela’s legacy is the only person no one at the Mandela memorial wants to hear. Classic. These people might as well have been deaf.

22 responses

  1. Please fact check when writing things like this. Raoul Castro is Fidel’s BROTHER, not his son. Antonio, head of the Olympics Committee is his son. His first born, Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, is a professor in Moscow. Fidel has five other sons by his second wife, Dalia Soto del Valle: Antonio, Alejandro, Alexis, Alexander “Alex” and Ángel Castro Soto del Valle.

  2. Obummer speaks nonsense, is confusing and an idiot.

    It makes sense to have an interpreter who signs in the “Obama” language.

  3. Michelle was just jealous. Had nothing to do with her recognizing tastelessness. She, after all, is no stranger to being tasteless herself.

  4. Yes, Raul Castro is Fidel Castro’s brother and dictator and tormentor at large. The liberals said Obama had to bend over to shake Castro’s hand because he was short, but the only shortness is the liberals brains if they think we fall for that crap twice. They used that crap about the Saudi a few years back, now Castro?? Give me a break, he bows to his senior communist leaders to show respect. Boot the two faced son of a bitch out now.

  5. sign language that does not mean anything, I guess it’s just a sign of the times ; )
    Trained no doubt by current White house press secretary for Obama.

    • Add these idiosyncratic hand-gestures to the meaningless spoken garbage that prevails in the communication of today´s “leaders” . . .

      The pattern of meaningless remains constant.

    • Foreclose – If I pay alimony dis week, I’ll have no money foreclose.

      Rectum – I had two Cadillacs, but my ol’ lady rectum both.

      Hotel – I gave my girlfrend crabs and da hotel everybody.

      Disappointment – My parole officer tel me, if I miss disappointment, I goin back.

      Israel – Alonso tried to sell me a Rolex. I said, “Man dat looks fake.” He said, “Bullshit, dat watch Israel.”

      Catacomb – Don King was at da fight the other night. Man, somebody oughta give dat catacomb.

      Undermine – Dere be a fine lookin ho livin in da partment undermine.

      Acoustic – When I was liddle, my uncle bought me acoustic and took me to da pool hall.

      Iraq – When we got to da pool hall, I tell my uncle, “Iraq, you break.”

      Stain – My muther-in-law stopped by and I axed her, “You plan on stain fo dinner?

      Seldom – My cousin gave me two tickets to da Nicks game, so I seldom.

      Honor – At da rape trial, the judge axed my buddy, who be honor first?

      Odyssey – I tol my brother, “You odyssey the tits on that ho!

      Tripoli – I was gonna buy me ol’ lady a bra for her birthday, but I couldn’t find a tripoli.

      Fortify – I axed the ho, “How much?” She said, “Fortify.”

      Income – I just got in bed with da ho and income my wife.

  6. Mandela means as much to me as riding the roller coaster on the North pole; in Dec…I ‘d like to know why some of these idiots are flying the flag at half staff for this individual! Half staff is reserved for U.S.Citizens….and certainly not for a foreigner from S.Africa who didn’t even care for his own people! The man did as much good for S.Africa as a cup of water in your gas tak would do!!! He made it decidedly “WORSE”!! I just feel sorry for the people in S.A.!!! they are now reaping where that man sowed!!

  7. Many politicians get their ego strokes by pumping up their self image of importance. Because of their self perceived importance, it is compulsory that they occasionally go tell other politicians how important they are. This helps build the hype and they expect the favor in return when needed. It becomes an endless vicious circular cycle of commendations, awards, ass-kissing, generous gratuities that they give to one another. This was just another one of those meaningless ass-kissing opportunities to go stroke and get their own ego strokes.

  8. The list of scapegoating “cards” has grown.

    Add “homophobia” and “self hate” to the list.

    Non sequiturs seem to be the “in” thing with a major group of scapegoaters.

  9. Guys, gals too, that was secret encrypted hand sign language, anyone who takes microsofter’s Encryption 101 could tell you that. Now, the startling interpretation, Cargo ship heading to New Newyonkers, hot dogs are good there, we will by pass Win Dixie, drop off 2 hot chile peppers at aunt Sally’s restaurant. Pick up some southern pecan pie topped with vanilla with a shot of whip. Stop at New NewYonkers, ask the mayor for the best super size meal and head home.” All on the tax paying citizen of the U.S. Isn’t that right President Obama, chuckle, chuckle.

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