Posted on 12/12/2013 8:31:05 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Hiring a sign language interpreter who claims to have had a schizophrenic episode while translating at the Mandela memorial was a mistake, the government has said.
Thamsanqa Jantjie, who was criticised for apparently making "meaningless gestures" while interpreting the speeches of world leaders on stage, said he takes medication for the condition.
He said he did not know whether it was the scale of the event or the happiness he felt about being involved that triggered the episode.
The 34-year-old, who was pictured signing next to the likes of US President Barack Obama, claimed he suddenly lost concentration and started hearing voices and hallucinating.
He also had visions of angels coming into the stadium and was trying not to panic because there were "armed policemen around me".
Mr Jantjie said the episode impaired his ability to hear things properly and interpret what was being said, but he did not feel able to leave so continued to sign words and phrases that did not make sense.
He apologised and was quoted by South Africa's Star newspaper as saying: "There was nothing I could do. I was alone in a very dangerous situation.
"I tried to control myself and not show the world what was going on. I am very sorry, it's the situation I found myself in.
"Life is unfair. This illness is unfair. Anyone who doesn't understand this illness will think that I'm just making this up."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.sky.com ...
I’d like to know how much he got paid!
If they were “meaningless gestures”, I’m sure the Kenyan understood every word.
Has anyone ever seen this guy employ any legitimate signs? The current excuse seems to be that he’s a qualified signer that just had a bad day. Can he show that he actually can sign intelligibly?
At least he didn’t see Cabbage Patch Kids coming after him. THAT would have been weird.
"Life is unfair. This illness is unfair. Anyone who doesn't understand this illness will think that I'm just making this up."
Are you sure this wasn't the official statement from the White House about the selfie?
If he did that here, we'd just call him "Mr. President" and move on.
RE: I’d like to know how much he got paid!
The more serious question is how did a schizophrenic fake translator get so close to the world leaders that security did not even notice?
‘Fake singer’? So what... WE sent a FAKE President!!
My deaf wife watched him. She said his signing had absolutely no meaning; it was gibberish.
His concept of reality would not surprise someone from Africa, but here in the West we live in the infantile delusion of “equality” (meaning sameness, of which there is no proof”
And if he had pulled out a gun and shot up the dais we would be looking at the possibility of another World War, a la Sarajevo. Where were the SS, out whoring around again?
this is hugely serious... or hugh and series.. whatever.
and I agree, the point is, how did this man get so close? what a disaster it could have been, had he attacked you know who.
quite a country they have over there... wow.
we need to re-think attending these events. was this man even frisked? what if he had carried plastic explosives? or even a simple box cutter...
good lord, what the heck is going on with our people to put our president so close to a whack job?
Nice!
I know he was signing gibberish at the memorial service. I was wondering if he ever has shown at another time that he could sign legitimately. If he can't (as I suspect) then his excuse of having a schizoid episode doesn't hold water (unless, of course, every time he goes to sign it brings on a schizoid episode).
Inquiring minds want to know.....
My Inquiring mind wants to know:
1) Who hired him?
2) How did he get pass security?
Well, they know him even better than we do.
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