In 1957 Jerry Lee Lewis composed and sang, “We ain’t fakin’—Whole lot of shakin’ goin’ on.” Those words describe my feelings exactly about the last week. There’s been a whole lot of shaking going on. Handshaking, that is.
My favorite one took place privately with a two-year-old visitor
from China, whose parents want him to learn
American ways.
Most public were the ones that occurred the past two nights at the end of the Democratic candidates’ debates, Then today came the picture of President Trump shaking hands with Vladimir Putin at the G-20 in Oaska, Japan.
Why all these handshakes? When/where/how did they become such a big deal? And what is with the pumping up and down stuff that some people do? To Google I went.
What started all this?
The History website says evidence of handshakes is found in Greek art as far back as the 9th century BC. It goes on to explain, “By extending their empty right hands, strangers could show that they were not holding weapons and bore no ill will toward one another. Some even suggest that the up-and-down motion of the handshake was supposed to dislodge any knives or daggers that might be hidden up a sleeve.”
In the church I attend, the congregation is instructed at a certain point in the service to offer each other a sign of peace. At that time, those in the pews extend a hand. To the persons beside them, in front of them, in back of them. Some people even cross the aisle (Physically, that is. Not necessarily politically.)
Some Big-Time No-Shows
Handshakes aren’t usually mandatory—even when they’re expected. Back in 2016, one handshake that didn’t happen drew much more attention that the thousands that probably took place the same day.
Newspapers, magazines and tv trumpeted “No Handshake” at the last presidential debate in October, 2016, between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. But that wasn’t their first time. They also failed to take part in the customary handshake before their second debate.
No handshake. No sign of cordiality or compromise. As the ancient Greeks might have wondered — Did either of these two presidential nominees have something up their sleeves?
Consider
What’s at stake in a shake? What’s to be made of politicians’ most visible physical exchanges? What was it about the two-year-old’s outreach that touched my heart?
Perhaps to find the answers to those questions we need to look more closely at the handshakes we see— or have our own hand in.
Can we shake on that?
I will pay more attention to handshakes now, especially when and why I extend my hand. Thanks for the history lesson and the opportunity to reflect on the behind the story of handshaking.
You always see things that I’ve missed. Thank you for the history lesson.
I like the variety of topics that you write about. This one on the handshake is very informative and thought provoking. I m thinking now of all the different handshake events in my life. Come to think of it, there are memorable and unmemorable handshakes.Anyway that’s just the start of where my mind is going. I enjoyed your article.
Thank you, Joy!
A shake of my hand for a very interesting discussion on the handshake. A solid handshake for a solid piece of work. O
Thank you for your feedback!