Wednesday, December 11, 2013 South Africa’s deaf community on Wednesday accused the sign language interpreter at Nelson Mandela’s memorial of being a fake, who had merely flapped his arms around during speeches. “He’s a complete fraud,” Cara Loening, director of Sign Language Education and Development in Cape Town. “He wasn’t even doing anything, There was not one sign there. Nothing. He was literally flapping his arms around.” The interpreter, who translated US President Barack Obama’s speech, looked as if he was “trying to swat a few flies away from his face and his head”. “The deaf community in South Africa are completely outraged and nobody knows who he is,” said Loening. “We can’t find a name or anything. The organisations who have accredited interpreters do not know him at all.” The government organisers of the event, as well as broadcaster SABC could not immediately be contacted. Attended by nearly 100 sitting and former heads of state, the speeches at Mandela’s memorial on Tuesday were supposed to be interpreted into sign language for deaf viewers. Delphin Hlungwane, a spokesperson for the Deaf Federation of South Africa, said the man picked for the job was “just gesturing in the air”. “He didn’t interpret at all, he had zero percent accuracy,” he said. “International people were watching it as well and they all said he was not using any kind of sign language. They all said they don’t understand him,” said Hlungwane. Loening said her organisation was getting mails from around the world “wondering what on earth this man was doing there”. “It’s a real embarrassment. Its complete disrespect for the deaf community and for what Nelson Mandela stood for and the support which he gave toward he deaf community.” The government communications office said a statement would be put out shortly. The country’s public broadcaster, which provided the feed of the event, could not be immediately reached. Source: AFP

"Perhaps Somalia, and the international community, should be encouraging these areas to share these governance lessons with the rest of the country, rather than force them to bow to the authority of a government in Mogadishu that has contributed so much to Somalia's malaise." Excellent conclusion.

I don't think my home transforms into a factory when I assemble the modular furniture I sometimes buy from IKEA;)

Maqane;990546 wrote: The coat of Arms of Tanzania. Which one is Tallaabo like? Lol :rolleyes:

magicbird;989369 wrote: Haha like we're going to take the narrative of a white man that doesn't even clean his butt. When I say cadaans are najjas, I mean it, so next time you shake his hand, you better wash it seven times. So according to you Muslims can not be white. All the white people are non Muslim. All the black or coloured people are clean. All those with coloured skin are Muslim. Its ok to type this insult from the comfort of a warm home built and given to you by a man whose dirty hand you can't shake in greeting. I think it would be better if you do not engage in a discussion of a topic you are incapable of comprehending. Stick to other easier topics please.

Alpha Blondy;990526 wrote: WSKW. What do these letters mean? Bal inoo macnee;)

^ With dulqaad and cafis comes the task of deciding who to ban and who to forgive plus the inevitable accusations of favouritism directed at the admin. So to maintain order in this forum I support the draconian application of the rules.

He blasted his HAG clansmen. I do agree with him in many of his views.

Rules are made to be followed. Mr Kaluun started a thread to attack another member and for that reason got banned because the rule is- do not insult other nomads.

guleed_ali;990306 wrote: It is already imposed on Somalis, unless of course you're counting qurboo joog as Somalis Iyaga dayuusbaro ayaa la dhahaa;)

In my opinion the Christmas festival lost its original meaning completely at least here in the western world. I think of it now more of a shopping festival or "an excuse to lit up the house and have a feast" festival.

Gar_maqaate;990249 wrote: ^^ What do think about this? Dadka Reer Somaliland Oo Ku Guulaystay In Ay Calankooda Ka Dhex-Muujiyaan Madashii Xuska Qoomiyadaha Itoobiya They are just ordinary people waving their flags. Landers wave their flags wherever they can. Watch out for them waving that flag in Soweto during Mandela's funeral service:p

Homunculus;988560 wrote: I can't believe it, what you're suggesting here is a union with borders. What next? A unified currency? A mutual defence pact? I see cracks in your armor Xaaji. There are no cracks in his armour. I too believe that with more educated politicians on both sides who have the knowledge and the skills to engage in an in depth negotiations, Somaliland and Somalia along with Djibouti can have a common market, single currency, one passport, single air traffic control, and a NATO style defence pact. We can even have a common ceremonial head of state like the UK, Canada, and Australia do. But unfortunately, to Somalis politics is nothing more than deception, thievery, lies, corruption, nepotism, dishonesty, suppression, oppression, arrogance, and all the other evils we see in most of them. Most have no concept of what public service is about.

Waar HAGawiyoow Rabigiina idi abuuray ka cabsada oo dulmiga aad wadiin joojiya xisaab ayaa idinka danbaysee:(

Nin-Yaaban;989810 wrote: Just came back from outside, walked 'bout 3 miles and its 42 degrees with rain....shitt was cold. Cant wait until i get my license back, and are able to drive again. 3 more months. Waaryaa you should add your mug shot to that infamous thread for losing your license:mad:

I think the message Ethiopia is sending by inviting all these Somali leaders to this event is that the Somaliwayn ideals and aspirations and Somali nationalism is defeated and dead. They are showing the Somali Ethiopians and the ONLF that there is no Somali nation to claim ownership of the Somali region in Ethiopia, no Somali leader to support their movement, and nowhere to run to if they resist the Ethiopian control. This is a very shrewd move indeed.

What is all this calaacal about? There is nothing wrong with politicians looking after the vested interest of their peoples. Madoobe, Faroole, Silaanyo, and the others are all sitting there because they benefit from the relationship they have with the Ethiopian regime. Call it whatever you want, but today the reality is that there is no Somaliwayne, no Somalinimo, no unity, no Somali Republic to compete with Ethiopia and the rest of the world; but there are other happy political entities which attach great value to the relationship they have with Ethiopia.

Guje;989897 wrote: ^ you don't know anything about what the world thinks of you, ee iska amus. Btw i don't have anything against your clan, just an honest critique. If the world does not take us seriously then they would not have treated us so differently from Somalia. Just look at the way they give aid.

Haatu;989784 wrote: As for this current debate, haddii ay XX iyo xulafadiisa dhab ka tahay, then marxaba. Qabiil walbow goosa oo mooradaada atoorkeeda noqo. No need to make it complicated. Let each clan go it's separate way. We're tired of this nonsense. I think there is no need for more fragmentation of the former Somali Republic as long as it is broken up into its constituent parts i.e, Somalia and Somaliland. I think it would bring a lot of peace and stability to Somalia if Puntland also broke away and was recognised. Smaller pieces are certainly more manageable. Please don't confuse by political believes with being anti Soomaalinimo. I am just being pragmatic about a very difficult situation in our homeland.

Guje;989888 wrote: Waqooyi pple are all ( the vast majority of them ) like kaluun, xunjuf and the other swivel eyed lunatics on this site and other somali sites talking ad nauseam about SL and their clan. waa dad iska waalan, nobody takes them seriously . Not according to the world.

Cadale;989838 wrote: why is the pedophile sangub even allowed to be in xamar miyaanay interpool raadinayn? http://www.interpol.int/Wanted-Persons/%28wanted_id%29/2008-7769

Why is Ceerigaabo written as Erigavo in English? Why do we have to repeat the mispronunciation of some foreigner?

If Somalis could learn from anyone they would have learnt it from prophet Mohamad (scw) who was the best creation of Allah to walk on earth.

Somaliland is protected by the Almighty Lord and as long as we have that Divine protection, non can harm us. I ask the Lord to protect all our Somali brothers and sisters everywhere. Amin