This week we mourn the passing of
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
A man who, by the smallest measure, was undeniably the personification of the word extraordinary.
No small wonder past and present leaders of the world and
representatives of state gathered to salute the life of this man.
British Prime Minister David Cameron, Helle Thorning Schmidt Denmark's Prime Minister and U.S. President Barack Obama;
all knew this was the place to be at a rare moment in time.
An unknown* at this ceremony, stood next to the world's great and famous and stood out, his vetting and credentials be damned!
The Worlds Most Infamous Sign Language Interpreter
Hundreds took to social media denouncing this (unidentified??!!)* man as a fraud and fake from his first movements on stage. He was in fact an arm flapping mockery of sign language interpreting.
Yes Dear Readers, all three of you read my mind. What we have here is a Saturday Night Live sketch of global proportions writing itself as the world watched and the deaf fumed in outraged.
Whoever he is, he's a funny guy and WHEN he gets (Not If He Gets) his own reality show, I can only hope to play his manicurist.
*Since this writing, Thamsanqa Jantjie has admitted he's been hospitalized in a mental facility and was suffering hallucinations during his stint as interpreter at the Mandela ceremony. As I was saying, "I can't imagine the high level security measures taken to assure the safety of modern day potentates congregating..."
Rhonda Hansome is a writer, directer, actress and stand-up comic. Make reservations now to see her be funny live, Dec. 27th 9:30 PM at the Duplex, NYC. View her on the web in Black Actress as the Casting Director and as Mrs Johnson in Disciplinary Actions.
