This would clearly have been the laugh of the week if it had not been connected to such a solemn occasion.
The crazy sign language guy at the Nelson Mandela tribute could have ruined the occasion, but he really didn't.
As you know, he was supposed to signing for the hearing impaired, but he was signing for no one, as his wild hand gestures could not be translated into any language on this planet.
He claims schizophrenia, he claims that he was hearing voices and seeing things, and that threw him for a loop during this tribute.
Sounds to me like he had an old fashioned panic attack, and he just could not perform his duties.
That being said, this was not the first time he was used as a signer, and security should have known that this guy was a fruitcake to begin with--especially with so many world leaders, including our President, sitting nearby, he might have been labeled as a risk.
And people talk about the lax security in this country!
Look, this story became a focal point of thousands of messages in social media, the news covered it more feverishly than a war, and everybody knew this guy for his 15 minutes of fame.
But did he ruin the day?
No, I don't think so.
World leaders traveled form all points of the planet to attend this thing to honor the memory of Mandela.
Sure, the man's actions were an insult to Mandela, to South Africa, and certainly to the hard of hearing around the world.
But did his actions take away from the day and what everyone gathered for?
I doubt it.
Mandela's words and actions were much stronger, and longer lasting, than anything this guy could do.
And undue it in a single day?
No, I don't think so.
What would Mandela have done if such a circumstance had occurred while he was alive?
I think he probably would have been upset to a degree, but he would have moved on from it, and I think that that is what everyone should do about this episode.
Sure, it was unfortunate, the man is mentally ill, but it could have been much, much worse.
Yes, it was a blot on the day, but it didn't permanently stain the day at all.
Mandela was too big for that, too important for that.
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