A handshake too far?
Many thanks to allmymarbles for the post on inappropriate behaviour abroad (after the Obama policemen handshake)! Any others out there?
I loved on the visit to the UK, if only for this fascinating fact:
"German has the useful word Tantenverführer: 'A young man of excessively good manners you suspect of devious motives [literally, an aunt-seducer]."
As for the substance of handshake-gate - perhaps Chris_Harrogate and Cyril_Croydon are right or even DominickVila. Though at the White House what would happen if someone tried to grasp the hand of that marine standing by the door? Might not end prettily, particularly if the grasper was a Middle Eastern head of state.
Nemius raises an interesting point about the death penalty and European thought, to which I have no ready answer.
I do think the perceived brutality of some aspects of American life put many Europeans off. They want Americans to embrace the NHS or its equivalent (I write this in my book which I must resist the temptation to plug!) and get rid of their guns.
On the other hand plenty of Europeans - as Nemius writes - may well rather approve of the American way but keep quiet about it or get drowned out in public debate.
Perhaps their moment is about to come as being pro-American is the newest coolest
thing...
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