Translation

I am really surprised that there is such uproar about the sign translator that was employed by South Africa during the recent memorial service for Nelson Mandela.  People complained that his gestures were complete gibberish.  Being somewhat knowledgeable about signing I can state that nothing could be further from the truth.  Almost everything that President Obama said during his address was signed clear as a bell.  For example:

The first thing that the president did was to quote George H.W. Bush when he said, “Read my lips”.  Did you not catch that?  The second quotation was from one of his many speeches, i.e.  “If you like your insurance, you can keep your insurance”.  I thought the translator nailed that one spot on.  The next one was again from one of his speeches.  I did not catch it all but I did see “most transparent administration”.  The fellow doing the signing was giggling so much that his movements were a bit blurred.

Last but certainly not least was the quotation from Bill Clinton’s statements before the congress during his impeachment proceedings, “I did not have sex with that woman”.  I am sure that if you view one of the many reruns we have seen of the translator you will surely agree with me.

Dal