Tag: Nelson Mandela

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Real sign language interpreter “translates” what Mandela sign language imposter actually signed

From Jimmy Kimmel Live:

Many prominent leaders from around the world went to Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in South Africa and, as is often the case at big events like this, they had a sign language interpreter there to translate for the hearing impaired.

The only problem was that the movements the translator was making with his hands made no sense and many people became suspicious of him.

So we brought in a real sign language interpreter to tell us what this guy was actually signing.

Here’s just a bit of the translation: “Hello, welcome so far. Well cigarette join, bringing in different to you – a circle – and I would like to pray this offering, basically this is fun, all of these balls, to prove this is good, I’m sorry.”


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President Obama speaks at Nelson Mandela memorial

The Washington Post has published a full transcript of the president’s remarks at the funeral of Nelson Mandela, which includes a reference to LGBT rights.  

Here’s the excerpt:

It is a question I ask myself – as a man and as a President.

We know that like South Africa, the United States had to overcome centuries of racial subjugation. As was true here, it took the sacrifice of countless people – known and unknown – to see the dawn of a new day.

Michelle and I are the beneficiaries of that struggle. But in America and South Africa, and countries around the globe, we cannot allow our progress to cloud the fact that our work is not done. The struggles that follow the victory of formal equality and universal franchise may not be as filled with drama and moral clarity as those that came before, but they are no less important.

For around the world today, we still see children suffering from hunger, and disease; run-down schools, and few prospects for the future. Around the world today, men and women are still imprisoned for their political beliefs; and are still persecuted for what they look like, or how they worship, or who they love.


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Nelson Mandela dead at 95

From Yahoo News: Former South African President Nelson Mandela has died at age 95 of complications from a recurring lung infection.

The anti-apartheid leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate was a beloved figure around the world, a symbol of reconciliation from a country with a brutal history of racism.

Mandela was released from prison in 1990 after nearly 30 years for plotting to overthrow South Africa’s apartheid government. In 1994, in a historic election, he became the nation’s first black leader. Mandela stepped down in 1999 after a single term and retired from political and public life.

Upon hearing the news, U2’s Bono said: “He was an idealist without – naiveté, a compromiser without being compromised.”

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Nelson Mandela on life support

Nelson Mandela is reportedly on life support. Reports indicate the news is grave for the 94 year old former South African President.

South Africa’s president visited a gravely ill Nelson Mandela in the hospital on Wednesday night, and canceled a visit planned for the next day to Mozambique, an indication of heightened concern over the deteriorating health of the man widely considered the father of the country.