CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
One of the earliest changes in day-to-day life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic was how people greet each other.
Society has been forced a rethink of the handshake. No matter how friendly, it is an exchange of potentially infectious micro-organisms.
While the Japanese seem to have it made with their historical use of the subtle bow, South Koreans have since developed the new corona-friendly shoe tap.
In Australia, the population remains divided.
The elbow tap has found mild success with those still going to work each day, while others avoid any form of touching at all.
However, there are still some that insist on the handshake – be it out of ignorance, or as an alpha way to assert authority by showing you don’t think this virus can kill you.
When you apply this inconsistency to Australia’s well-documented cross-cultural handshake landscape, white people are now more confused than ever. Particularly when greeting black friends.
White Australians have for many years been plagued by the high-octane differences in handshakes according to culture.
While skateboarders and surfers seem to love hugging each other, the Aboriginal and Islander community are known for the possibility of a brotherly grip-lock with the option to bring-it-in.
While it would seem easiest to just avoid any form of contact with anyone in this uncertain times, White Australians say they are struggling with whether or not this is entirely polite in the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter marches that took place over the weekend.
In response to this, prominent Aboriginal hip hop artist and well-known bring-it-in-handshaker, Briggs, has today released a statement clarifying that it is not rude for white people to avoid any form of handshake – “even during protests”.
Briggs joins thousands of other high-profile not-white people who say that if white people don’t wanna shake hands, then don’t. Because chances are that black people have the same concerns as they do when it comes to a global pandemic that indiscriminately infects whoever comes in close contact with it.
However, this advice contradicts that offered by prominent Lebanese-Murri-Jewish-Irish-Cowboy politician, Bob Katter MP, who says he will not let Coronavirus stop him from kissing his mates on the lips – which is the universally accepted way of greeting someone in Mount Isa.
